Both a new semester and a new startup project are officially underway at the Instituto Politécnico da Guarda (IPG), where another American entrepreneur has partnered with the Portuguese institution via the HQA® Visa Program. SOLO, a company launched by investor Sudesh Sangelkar, will partner with IPG to develop an interactive digital platform that will match the accredited skills of students and workers from all over the world with the professional profiles that are being sought at any given time by companies and institutions in the global market.
Opportunities for Students
SOLO’s founder, Sudesh Sangelkar, is also the founder and CEO of SPARK+ Technologies, which offers Blockchain technology-based solutions to the United States and Asian markets. His latest startup, SOLO, is poised to transform how students and professionals connect with opportunities worldwide, and he’s determined IPG is the perfect fit to make that vision a reality through this collaboration.
“The Polytechnic Institute of Guarda has created a nurturing environment for innovation, attracting both local and global talent,” revealed Sangelkar through a post on LinkedIN. “This partnership allows us to plant the seeds of change in Portugal, but our vision extends far beyond. We are building a future where accredited skills are instantly matched with the demands of the global market, creating a seamless pathway from learning to career success. This collaboration marks the beginning of our global mission to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, no matter where it’s found.”
IPG President, Joaquim Brigas, responded in kind as he welcomed Sangelkar to campus for the official signing of the agreement between the two entities.
“The way SOLO is developing its platform has the potential to revolutionize the way students and workers around the world will be able to approach their studies and lifelong learning,” commented Brigas.
HQA® and IPG Growing Together
SOLO is the third technology company with capital from the United States of America that Empowered Startups has brought to the IPG Incubator through the HQA® Visa Program in 2024, as the burgeoning partnership between the Canadian multinational and the Portuguese Polytechnic continues to thrive. Empowered’s innovative program continues to propel direct foreign investment in Portugal while simultaneously improving territorial cohesion throughout the western European nation by primarily partnering with higher education institutions outside of major urban centres.
“IPG is proving to be very capable of attracting not only ideas with high potential, but also highly qualified foreign investment and entrepreneurial talent to this inland region,” explained Brigas. “With this tangible contribution to an increasingly expressive local entrepreneurial system, the Polytechnic of Guarda reinforces its role as an economic and social driver for the entire region.”
More Investment Coming
SOLO’s launch was the first of many project announcements that will be made across Portugal over the next few months as a result of the HQA® Visa Program. With its proven ability to stimulate economic growth while creating needed opportunities for domestic PhD and master’s students, the program continues to gain international attention as the best business immigration program available in Europe.
In a June meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Empowered Startups’ President Chris Lennon revealed the company expects to “bring over 50 million Euros of foreign direct investment” to Portugal over the next three years through its HQA® Visa Program.
Learn more details about the HQA® Visa Program
