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Adamastor Weekly

A more agile and digital state | Week #21

CR

Carlos Resende

Expert Evaluator at the European Commission and Co-founder of Founder Institute Portugal.

3 min read

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 groundbreaking. And then, a pleasant surprise: Bernardo Correia, until now Google’s Country Manager for Portugal, is the new Secretary of State for Digital Transition.

Bringing private sector leaders into public sector leadership roles is still a rare phenomenon in Portugal. When it does happen, it’s not without its challenges: different organizational cultures, bureaucratic inertia, and the political nature of government work demand far more than just technical skill. If we’re serious about attracting and retaining high-caliber talent into public service, we need to create environments that not only recognize their value but give them room to make things happen. This move is both inspiring and exceptional. It proves that it is possible to attract top tier professionals from global tech to public office, people who deeply understand the pace and pressure of innovation-driven markets. His appointment reinforces the urgent need for a real strategy to facilitate talent flow between sectors and foster meaningful knowledge exchange. In a country where public administration has a daily, and often limiting, impact on private initiative, it’s critical that leadership comes with not only vision but real world, high-stakes execution experience. Bernardo brings that. And, hopefully, he brings the willingness to apply it in the service of a more agile, digital, and entrepreneur friendly state.

If he’s given the space and autonomy to act, the impact on Portugal’s Startup Ecosystem could be significant. Streamlined processes, smarter public services, and a more collaborative relationship between Startups and the State are levers that could unlock real value and eliminate long standing friction points. More than a symbolic move, this could be a clear signal that the government is finally speaking the language of Startups and that changes everything. But as a community, we also have a role to play: staying engaged, proposing real solutions, and holding leadership accountable. If we want a truly entrepreneurial government, those who step into the system must know they have our support and our expectations. In his playbook, British policymaker Pat McFadden outlines how to apply Startup principles, including a “test-and-learn” approach, to building and running public policies and services. This new appointment could be the perfect chance to fuse that entrepreneurial spirit with the public sector’s framework.

That’s where real transformation begins.


  • 🚨 Techstars Startup Week Guimarães is back! From Oct 13 to 17, a celebration of doing, trying and failing, and trying again. No distant stages or inflated egos. ‍Talks, workshops, and connections that can last you a lifetime. Join the early list

  • 🚨 Fablab program was designed to give you the tools, support, and confidence you need to validate and grow your project with the power of Artificial Intelligence as your strategic ally. Last week to apply

  • 📝 Want to help us understand how founders give back? Share your views in the BIG GIVING BACK SURVEY

Week highlights go to:

Congrats:

  • 👏 DOJO AI raises 1M pre-seed

  • 👏 Litehaus has secured 1.5M in pre‑seed

✍ Quote of the Day

If we keep governing as usual, we are not going to achieve what we want to achieve

Pat McFadden

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A weekly read on Portugal’s startup scene. The raises, the launches, and the stories behind them. Every Tuesday by Carlos Resende, who’s curated it since 2017.

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