Weekly Digest
Week 33
Fundão had been on my radar for quite some time, quietly simmering in the background. But it was a presentation by Toni Barreiros that truly opened my eyes to the depth and impact of the work being carried out by the municipality. It struck a chord, something I felt compelled to explore. A recent interview with the mayor, Paulo Fernandes, gave me the final…
September 26, 2025
Weekly Digest
Week 32
Last Sunday, the world celebrated World Gratitude Day, and whether by coincidence or perfect timing, it also marked the second day of the Community Leaders Academy, a two-day program devoted to empowering and connecting the changemakers fueling Portugal’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. Because if there’s one thing the Portuguese startup ecosystem has…
September 20, 2025
Weekly Digest
Week 31
As we move from September into October, we’re 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, Guimarães, Viseu, Leiria, and other cities stepping into the spotlight. This decentralization is crucial: strong local…
September 15, 2025
Guest Article
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 Gusmão and his famous “passarola”, an experimental hot-air balloon presented in Lisbon in 1709. It was a remarkable vision…
September 10, 2025
Weekly Digest
Week 30
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 Europe’s attention. European founders are no longer…
September 5, 2025
Weekly Digest
Week 29
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, it’s a societal and economic battle that demands innovative…
September 2, 2025
Guest Article
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
Weekly Digest
Week 28
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 it’s time to get back to building, connecting, and making things happen. At Adamastor we’re excited to restart our weekly journey together, bringing you the most relevant events,…
August 26, 2025
Guest Article
Talking about public programs for entrepreneurs often leads to one of two extremes: either we pretend they’re 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 — quietly, without headlines. The Startup Voucher,…
August 4, 2025
Weekly Digest
With the upcoming Summer break, it’s that time of the year when we have more time to read, it’s 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