Weekly Digest
As I write this, two friends — Malik Piara and Nuno Vilaça — 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
Weekly Digest
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
Weekly Digest
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 30 °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
Weekly Digest
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
Weekly Digest
It’s June the month of the Popular Saints, when Portugal bursts into celebration for Santo António, São Pedro, and, above all, São João. These are not just festivals; they are full-sensory experiences. If you’re in Porto, no description can truly capture the magic, you simply have to be there. In Porto, São João is more than a festival, it’s the night of…
June 16, 2025
Weekly Digest
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 wasn’t expecting bold moves, perhaps a few signals of reformist intent, but nothing…
June 9, 2025
Weekly Digest
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 isn’t just about flashy and hype startups or next-gen tech. It’s about building better cities, places…
June 3, 2025
Weekly Digest
It’s not every day that Portugal grabs global tech attention, but that’s 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
Weekly Digest
Portugal's startup ecosystem is full of opportunities — 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
Weekly Digest
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