NSBE - Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation
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- From chemicals to clean beauty: developing natural and non-toxic cosmetics and personal care productsPublication . Lerner, Laura; Queiró, FranciscoThis thesis develops a business plan for a 100% natural cosmetics and personal care brand in the United States, addressing the health risks posed by chemical ingredients in everyday products. Market research, consumer surveys, and interviews were conducted to identify target audiences and market opportunities. The analysis defines an immediate target group with subsegments and a broader, later-stage audience, and outlines a product and marketing strategy and distribution approach. The business plan demonstrates the feasibility of launching a natural cosmetics brand that responds to growing health concerns and demand for natural products while achieving commercial viability in the U.S. market.
- From patient needs to market leadership: a comprehensive strategy for salvia healthcare in digital healthPublication . Waalkens, Harm Pieter Herman; Rodrigues, Ana Maria; Jacinto, Maria JoãoThis work project investigates strategies to enhance Salvia Healthcare's value proposition by identifying key features for patients with chronic conditions and developing a sustainable business model to support its market entry and growth in the U.S. and French markets. To achieve this, we have two interconnected research objectives. The first (task 1) research question centers on understanding the unmet needs of individuals with chronic conditions noncommunicable diseases to develop patient-centered solutions. By conducting qualitative research and interviews with patients, this study identifies key challenges in chronic care management, highlighting the need for personalized and holistic healthcare solutions. The insights from this analysis have informed the design of tailored features for Salvia Healthcare’s platform, enhancing its value proposition for chronic disease management. The second (task 2) research question centers on Salvia’s competitive positioning and business model development in the United States of America and French digital health markets. Through a comprehensive market analysis, key competitors—both direct and indirect—are identified and evaluated. The study also investigates potential revenue streams, including patient subscriptions, fees from healthcare providers, and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. Financial projections provide insights into revenue potential and strategic growth opportunities. These findings deliver actionable recommendations to strengthen Salvia’s market presence and optimize its business model for sustainable success. Together, these two complementary studies provide a comprehensive framework for Salvia Healthcare to address both the competitive and patient centric dimensions of its growth strategy. By integrating market insights with patient-centered innovation, this work supports Salvia’s mission to improve healthcare delivery throughtechnology-driven solutions.
- From patients’ needs to strategic implications: leveraging stakeholder insights in an early-stage biotechnology startupPublication . Thiele, Emely; Rodrigues, Ana Maria; Jacinto, Maria João CardosoCurrent treatments for diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) often provide insufficient pain relief and impose side effects or regimen burdens, underscoring the need for effective and patient-centered therapeutics. This thesis examines how patient-derived insights can informearly drug development. Semi-structured interviews with seven DPNP patients were thematically analyzed, revealing priorities for reliable pain alleviation, preservation of cognitive clarity, and low-burden treatment regimens. These insights were integrated into Akasi Pharma’s Target Product Profile to enhance its product concept and refine product attributes that align with patients’ lived experiences and therapeutic expectations. The study outlines implications to strengthen Akasi Pharma’s strategic positioning.
- Building a matchmaking platform to enable skill-based collaboration between young international talent and startups in emerging markets: insights from the startup sidePublication . Haas, Hanna Katharina; Alfaiate, Filipe; LehmannLilian, LilianThis work project examines the need and feasibility of skill-based collaborations between young international talent and small organisations, particularly startups, in developing countries such as Kenya. Using a mixed-methods approach with interviews and surveys, the study identifies strong motivational alignment as well as structural barriers, including low opportunity visibility, skills-fit requirements, and credibility concerns. To address these challenges, Scoped IMPACT was developed as a skills-based matchmaking platform distinct from traditional volunteering and employee-volunteering models. Its development was informed by the Business Model Canvas and Human-Centred Design principles. The research concludes with a business concept, an MVP, challenges, and future success factors.
- Strengthening the environmental performance of Águas do Tejo Atlântico: a deep dive into priorities, best practices, and regulatory implications to inform strategic decision makingPublication . Cook, Giles; Aguiar, Hugo MeninoA focus on strengthening the environmental performance of Águas do Tejo Atlântico by examining the four areas identified as strategic priorities; wastewater reuse, energy efficiency, biodiversity stewardship, and sludge valorisation. Through a review of academic literature, industry case studies, and key regulatory frameworks, namely Portugal's Decree-Law 119/2019 and the EU Water Framework Directive, best practices and regulatory implications are identified across each area. Findings reveal significant interdependencies between the four priorities, highlighting the need for an integrated, performance-based approach underpinned by unified KPIs, digital monitoring, and proactive stakeholder engagement, providing an evidence-based foundation for strategic decision making.
- Strategic value creations for developers in the German battery energy storage market: application quality structuring as a UPSPublication . Wenner, Till; Castro, JoãoGermany's rapid expansion of battery energy storage systems is increasingly constrained by procedural bottlenecks in grid connection processes. This study investigates how developers create strategic value under these conditions and seeks the development of potential unique selling points in collaboration with a German BESS developer. Drawing on an interpretive qualitative design, eleven semi-structured expert interviews were analysed using Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. The study derives an Internal Standardised Application Structuring & Validation System that turns completeness, consistency and maturity-gating into a repeatable discipline for credible grid connection dossiers.
- NutriSync - replacing one-size-fits-all micronutrients with adaptive FemTechPublication . Rybak, Laura Jantina; Zózimo, RicardoThis work project presents NutriSync, a health-tech startup that delivers personalized micronutrient supplementation tailored to women’s unique needs across life-stages that addresses declining nutrient density and limitations of one-size-fits-all supplements. NutriSync offers an adaptive supplement kit combined with a smart coaching app that integrates wearable data to dynamically adjust recommendations and provide actionable health insights. Applying the 24-step disciplined entrepreneurship framework, the thesis identifies the beachhead market, quantifies the value proposition, defines a subscription-based business model, and outlines a scalable path to acquire and retain customers, positioning NutriSync as an impactful, women centric solution in the global supplements industry.
- Bridging the funding GAP: navigating venture capital for female-specific diseases-insights from femtheraPublication . Kirchschlager, Laura; Pestana, JoanaThis work project analyzes funding challenges that early-stage women’s health therapeutic companies face. It is built on the case of FemThera and was developed in collaboration with the company. It has a specific focus on attracting venture capital investment. The work project draws on a literature review, stakeholder and patient interviews and a venture capital landscape analysis. The outcomes show that structural biases and misconceptions about market size shape investor decisions - despite a proven market need. The findings suggest that meeting key venture capital criteria and targeting investors that align well with the venture can strengthen FemThera’s fundraising position.
- Evaluating the market entry potential of the musculoskeletal risk management solution octohealth: a roi and pestle analysis in the construction industryPublication . Moll, Julia Theresa; Pestana, Joana; Jacinto, Maria João; Rodrigues, AnaMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a major occupational health challenge in the European Union (EU), particularly in the construction industry, creating substantial costs for employers. This thesis assesses the market attractiveness of introducing the musculoskeletal risk-management solution OctoHealth in France and the United States (US) using a political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental (PESTLE) analysis and evaluates its financial feasibility through a return on investment (ROI) case study for France. The findings indicate that the French market offers a slightly more favorable market entry environment than the US, and that a positive ROI is achievable for a French employer.
- From ideation to automated service: the case of Ohana surfboard rental at Nova SBE campusPublication . Merle, Zita; Herniman, JohnThis work project documents the real-time development of Ohana, an impact-driven surfboard rental on the Nova SBE campus. Combining case-study methodology with practical Lean Startup experimentation, it traces three phases of venture development and progressive automation, supported by surveys, interviews, operational data and impact activities. The findings show that Ohana’s subscription-based, access-over-ownership model can viably serve the student community, and that automation is attainable by codifying validated manual routines. The thesis contributes to the fields of Lean Startup, Impact Entrepreneurship and Access-Based Consumption