Madeira Friends Tech Lab Program
Building the Next Gen of AI App Creators

“The presence of digital nomads and remote workers on the island allows for the sharing of new knowledge, skills, and opportunities. We’re here to make it happen.” – Luís Calado, Madeira Friends Co-Founder

Madeira Friends — the island’s leading international non-profit where locals and internationals create, learn, and grow together — is launching it’s first Tech Lab in September 2025, with two cohorts of up to 10 students.

  • First cohort: September to December 2025

  • Second cohort: January to March 2026

This free, almost too good to be true, hands-on incubation program will empower students aged 16–22 to design, prototype, and launch AI-powered apps using real-world tools like LLM APIs, mobile frameworks, and modern dev stacks.

Why Tech Lab?

Tech Lab will help accelerate Madeira’s transformation from a tourist destination into a vibrant innovation hub — by turning bold ideas into working AI-native tools that solve real-world problems, from Madeira to the world.

The program is free of charge and all AI tool costs are covered by Madeira Friends.

What Makes Tech Lab Different?

  • Community-Driven: With a burning desire to contribute to the island’s progress, our community of experts is eager to work with the future generation and give-back.

  • Mentor‑Powered: Each team is matched with experienced mentors in AI, product design, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship from the Madeira Friends global network.

  • Build‑First Sprints: Students will work in fast-paced prototyping cycles focused on building LLM-based tools, smart apps, and real software — no passive lectures.

  • Scalable Pathways: Top teams can access internships or keep evolving their ideas inside the Madeira Friends ecosystem.

Who Should Apply?

We’re looking for creative, proactive minds who:

  1. Think in products, not just code.

  2. Want to master building AI-powered mobile apps, web tools, and LLM integrations.

  3. Have an entrepreneurial spark — curious, motivated, passionate, and ready to build.

How to Apply?

Fill out a short 5-question Google Form.

Accepted students join weekly hands-on workshops, regular mentor check-ins, and showcase their apps to an international audience at the end of the program.

Apply now: madeirafriends.org/sign-up

More info: [email protected]