In a thrilling finale at Web Summit 2024, Intuitivo, a Porto-based EdTech startup, took home the coveted PITCH trophy. Competing against top contenders GovGPT and Scoutz from the U.S., Intuitivo stood out to a panel of distinguished judges, including Seven Seven Six Founding Partner Katelin Holloway, Race Capital General Partner Edith Yeung, and Coelius Capital Founder Zach Coelius. Intuitivo’s victory reflects its innovative approach to educational technology and its mission to empower teachers worldwide.
Intuitivo’s Impact on Education
Founded to address the administrative burdens that hinder teachers, Intuitivo is an all-in-one digital assessment platform that automates grading and improves productivity. According to CEO João Guimarães, the platform is already making a significant difference for over 35,000 teachers and 300,000 students. By automating the creation and grading of assessments, Intuitivo allows teachers to reclaim time typically lost to repetitive tasks, ultimately letting them focus more on what they love: teaching.
Intuitivo’s solution is especially relevant given the scale of the problem in education. Globally, there are an estimated 85 million teachers, and many report spending over 46 percent of their time outside the classroom preparing and grading assessments. By saving up to 40 percent of the time spent on grading, Intuitivo is helping to reshape the educational experience for both teachers and students. The platform is backed by prominent investors, including Techstars CORE Angels Lisbon and Demium, to support its growth within the $5 billion assessment software market.
A PITCH Experience to Remember
Winning the PITCH competition at Web Summit was no small feat. Out of 105 startups, Intuitivo rose to the top through a series of rigorous group rounds. Reflecting on the experience, Guimarães described pitching as nerve-wracking but ultimately rewarding. “For us to appear in the news is amazing. We’ve met a lot of other co-founders from around the world and some of the amazing judges,” Guimarães shared. “Just to be with other people from the ecosystem is the best part of Web Summit. We’re making something that is impactful and that is actually making a change in the world.”
This exposure marks a pivotal moment for Intuitivo, not only as a win in a high-profile competition but also as a chance to gain visibility, build relationships, and learn from other innovators in the tech ecosystem.
Web Summit 2024: A Record-Breaking Year
Web Summit 2024 has proven to be the biggest event in its history, with over 71,528 attendees from 153 countries. The three-day event hosted 3,050 exhibiting companies, including tech giants like IBM, Adobe, Meta, Huawei, SAP, and Qualcomm. An impressive 44 percent of the startups at this year’s summit were founded by women, and women also represented 42 percent of attendees and 37 percent of speakers—a milestone for diversity and inclusion in tech.
The event also fostered new opportunities for global networking, with 62 trade delegations from 36 countries and significant representation from Germany and Brazil. Thousands of community meetups were organized, providing attendees with the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, build partnerships, and find their place in a thriving tech ecosystem.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Intuitivo?
With the Web Summit win, Intuitivo is set to continue its journey of scaling and innovating in the EdTech space. The support from Techstars CORE Angels Lisbon, Demium, and now the added momentum from their PITCH victory will enable them to expand further in the global education market. Their mission is clear: to continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of teachers and students by simplifying assessments and improving productivity.
Intuitivo’s success highlights a key trend in education: leveraging technology to make teaching more efficient and impactful. As Intuitivo scales, we can expect even greater advances in how technology can serve education, fostering an environment where teachers can focus on teaching and students on learning.