Hello everyone and welcome back to Adamastor, As we move from September into October, weâre entering one of the busiest stretches of the year for the Portuguese entrepreneurial ecosystem. What excites me most is seeing major events spread beyond Lisbon and Porto, with Algarve, GuimarĂŁes, Viseu, Leiria, and other cities stepping into the spotlight. This...
September 15, 2025
Portugal has a long tradition of bold, visionary ideas in science and technology. Yet, history shows that many of these ideas failed to take root for lack of consistent institutional support. A striking example is Father Bartolomeu de GusmĂŁo and his famous âpassarolaâ â an experimental hot-air balloon presented in Lisbon in 1709. It was a remarkable vision...
September 10, 2025
Hello everyone and welcome back to Adamastor, How Portuguese Startups can rise in a sector of opportunity? In the wake of global geopolitical turbulence and shifting investment paradigms, a new frontier is emerging for Portuguese startups: defense technology. Once an outlier, defense tech is now yielding national unicorns, international funding, and...
September 5, 2025
Hello everyone and welcome back to Adamastor, Every summer, Portugal faces one of its most dramatic challenges: wildfires. They devastate forests, threaten communities, disrupt industries, and deeply impact the economy and our collective well-being. This is not just an environmental issue, itâs a societal and economic battle that demands innovative...
September 2, 2025
In recent weeks, immigration has dominated the political and social debate in Portugal. Regardless of individual opinions, whether one believes there is or isn't a problem, whether immigration should be more restricted or not, whether it is a valuable asset or a structural challenge, there is one thing we can all agree on: we want the Portuguese economy to...
August 28, 2025
Hello everyone and welcome back to Adamastor, Hope you all had a great summer, whether you unplugged completely, traveled, or just caught up on some long-overdue sleep. Now itâs time to get back to building, connecting, and making things happen. At Adamastor weâre excited to restart our weekly journey together, bringing you the most relevant events,...
August 26, 2025
Talking about public programs for entrepreneurs often leads to one of two extremes: either we pretend theyâre magical tools that turn ideas into unicorns, or we dismiss them as useless bureaucracy. Neither is true. Somewhere between ambitious goals and practical limitations, a few programs actually work â quietly, without headlines. The Startup Voucher,...
August 4, 2025
With the upcoming Summer break, itâs that time of the year when we have more time to read, itâs the perfect time to dive into a new book and begin learning a new skill or maybe just find some extra inspiration. Reading is a superpower for founders, and here at Adamastor, we know how important it is to keep growing. This is week#3 of our curated list of...
July 24, 2025
As I write this, two friends â Malik Piara and Nuno Vilaça â are meeting in Dubai. A casual encounter between two Portuguese professionals working in innovation. That moment, together with the work being done by Hub Outono, sparked a simple thought: the Portuguese diaspora is one of our biggest untapped assets in the startup ecosystem. We have talent...
July 21, 2025
As summer unfolds, the learning journey never takes a break. For founders, reading remains a transformative superpower. At Adamastor, I understand the vital role continuous learning plays in growth. That's why, as we dive into this season, I'm thrilled to bring you our curated selection of essential reads. Over the next weeks, we'll spotlight books that can...
July 15, 2025
As temperatures rise across Europe, startups are feeling the heat, not just physically, but financially. The effects go far beyond discomfort: a global study of 17,000 companies found that days above 30âŻÂ°C lead to an average 8.4% drop in daily revenue and a 26% hit to operating profits. Another analysis of 2.7 million firms across 23 countries revealed that...
July 1, 2025
What makes someone a true entrepreneur? Is it resilience, creativity, risk tolerance or a bit of everything, deeply wired into who they are? This week, I want to explore the idea of "Entrepreneurial DNA" not as a buzzword, but as a serious question every founder should ask themselves. One tool I really appreciate is the Entrepreneur DNA Assessment from the...
June 23, 2025
Itâs June the month of the Popular Saints, when Portugal bursts into celebration for Santo AntĂłnio, SĂŁo Pedro, and, above all, SĂŁo JoĂŁo. These are not just festivals; they are full-sensory experiences. If youâre in Porto, no description can truly capture the magic, you simply have to be there. In Porto, SĂŁo JoĂŁo is more than a festival, itâs the night of...
June 16, 2025
With the elections behind us and a new government in place, came the inevitable reveal of its composition. Like many in the ecosystem, I paid close attention to the ministries that influence entrepreneurship, business development, and digital transformation. I wasnât expecting bold moves, perhaps a few signals of reformist intent, but nothing...
June 9, 2025
As Lisbon gears up for its beloved Santos festivities, a quieter but equally transformative celebration unfolds in the days before: Unicorn Week, a gathering point for visionaries, innovators, and changemakers where innovation meets social impact. This isnât just about flashy and hype startups or next-gen tech. Itâs about building better cities, places...
June 3, 2025
Itâs not every day that Portugal grabs global tech attention, but thatâs exactly what happened yesterday when Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince posted about our country on X. With +3M views and counting, with strong criticism of our bureaucracy, nonetheless, the country's talent, quality of life, and potential as a tech hub have brought global attention to...
May 27, 2025
Portugal's startup ecosystem is full of opportunities â but too often, early-stage founders stay heads down, building in silence. While focus is essential, the smartest entrepreneurs know when to step out, pitch, get feedback, and plug into the right support systems. From technical mentorship to strategic insight, Portugal offers an increasing number of...
May 20, 2025
Building on the vibrant energy I experienced last year at the inaugural SIM Conference (Startups & Investment Matching) in Porto, hosted by Startup Portugal at the iconic Alfândega do Porto, I'm thrilled to report that the second edition has not only lived up to the promise but has surpassed it in every way. This year's event further solidified its position...
May 13, 2025
Journalist and Founder Elham Mohammadi recently shared an insightful reflection on a question that many in our ecosystem have asked at some point: Why doesnât Portugal have a flagship startup media publication? As someone curating the Startup Digest Portugal, Iâve witnessed firsthand both the hunger for this type of content and the limitations of our...
May 6, 2025
OlĂĄ and Welcome back When Ronaldo leaps into the air and lands with his iconic "Sim!" celebration, the crowd roars with him â a sound that echoes throughout the stadium. "Sim!" has become a symbol of energy, victory, and passion. Next week, that same spirit will fill Porto at SIMConference (Startups & Investment Matching), powered by Startup Portugal â a...
April 29, 2025
OlĂĄ and Welcome back This Friday marks the anniversary of the âcarnationâ revolution. For those of you less familiar with Portuguese history, 25 April 1974 took place as the revolution that ended Portugalâs dictatorship. Named the âCarnation Revolutionâ from the fact that almost no shots were fired, and carnations were offered to the soldiers when the...
April 22, 2025
OlĂĄ and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!! Last week the Founder Institute Portugal brought the community together in the heart of Lisbon for an evening of networking, learning, and meaningful exchange. The energy inside Fintech House was vibrant and full of momentum â with over 120 attendees, including founders, investors, mentors, and...
April 15, 2025
Recently, I read an article in The Guardian titled "European universities offer âscientific asylumâ to US researchers fleeing Trumpâs cuts." This headline speaks volumesânot just about the growing instability in the United States but also about the attractiveness of European ecosystems for innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. Almost immediately, an...
April 11, 2025
The last Above & Beyond focused on the role of media in a startup's success. It was widely agreed that media can play a crucial role in the growth of startups and other ecosystem players by increasing visibility, building credibility, and attracting investors. Media exposure helps startups reach a broader audience, strengthening their market presence. Being...
April 3, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal The quote I've selected for this week's edition perfectly captures the spirit of the startup world. In a landscape where uncertainty is the only constant, failure is not just a possibility; itâs an inevitable part of the journey. Yet, Samuel Beckett's quote reframes failure not as an endpoint but as a...
April 3, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal When I think of innovation hubs in Europe, the spotlight often lands on flashy startups and tech giants. Yet, according to the study, "Spin-offs: The Hidden Drivers of Innovation in EU-27", academic and corporate spin-offs are quietly reshaping industries across the continent. Spin-offs leverage deep...
April 3, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal Last Saturday, the world celebrated International Womenâs Day, honoring women who have shaped history and continue to drive change for a greener, more just future. While March 8 has passed, the mission of uplifting and empowering women never stops. IWD is a reminder to celebrate progress, acknowledge...
March 11, 2025
OlĂĄ and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!! When it comes to Carnaval, Brazil is king but we also have a fun Carnaval - is not completely unique - with music and plenty of food. It is a time when you really can get to know the locals, take in the culture, and have a blast. Carnaval is a burst of creativity, energy, and bold expression. Behind...
February 25, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal OlĂĄ and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!! (Due to technical issues with Letterhead, several parts of the edition were missing. This is the revised edition for Week #6) The world is in turmoil, but people have always found solutions to its biggest challengesâoften led by entrepreneurs....
February 19, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal OlĂĄ and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!! Next Friday, on Valentine's Day, we celebrate a unique love storyâthe profound bond between a founder and their startup. Itâs a tale of passion, courage, and an unyielding commitment that goes far beyond mere business. From the very first spark of...
February 11, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal OlĂĄ and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!! Lisbon ranks as Portugal's top startup ecosystem, holding the 19th spot in Western Europe and 86th globally, according to the latest StartupBlink report. The report also highlights seven other Portuguese cities on the global list: Porto (167th),...
February 4, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal OlĂĄ and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!! When we speak of âecosystems,â we adopt a forward-thinking approach to analyzing startup success. An ecosystem encompasses the convergence of resources, networks, opportunities, and institutional frameworks that enable companies to thrive. Local...
January 28, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal OlĂĄ and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!! I always associate Blue Monday with one of my favorite bands, New Order, and their iconic song. But today I want to write about the infamous "most depressing day of the year". Officially designated on the third Monday of January, itâs a mix of...
January 21, 2025
A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal OlĂĄ and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!! As we step into 2025, Portugal's startup ecosystem is ready for significant milestones, fueled by innovation, investment, and collaboration. Here's a glimpse of what readers of Startup Digest Portugal can anticipate this year. Portugal's startup...
January 14, 2025