AI: from buzzword to competitive advantage

And what the Portuguese ecosystem really needs to do

A few days ago, Building The Future delivered a clear message: the experimentation phase in AI is over. We’ve entered the moment where technology must translate into real competitive advantage and anyone who doesn’t make that transition will simply be left behind.

But what does this actually mean for the Portuguese entrepreneurial ecosystem?

It means that having “an AI startup” is no longer enough. You need to prove impact, scale business models, integrate AI into core processes and, above all, build products that solve real problems, not just polished demos for the stage. Competitive advantage doesn’t come from the technology itself, but from the ability to turn it into efficiency, speed, personalization and new business models.

This point was reinforced by both Bernardo Correia, Secretary of State, and Andrés Ortola, from Microsoft Portugal. Bernardo stressed the urgency for Portugal to accelerate AI adoption strategically, not just tactically; build stronger AI infrastructure, and seize European opportunities or risk being left behind. Ortola, in turn, insisted that digital copilots and generative AI will redefine productivity and competitiveness and that Portuguese companies need to position themselves now, not two years from now.

One of the most striking moments in Ortola’s talk was a slide dedicated to “Intelligence x Trust.” The equation is simple but decisive: having more powerful models isn’t enough, they must be used responsibly, safely and transparently. For Portuguese startups, this isn’t just an ethical principle; it’s a competitive edge. In a market where trust is scarce, those who manage to combine intelligence with trust from day one will be better positioned to scale, attract international clients and plug into global value chains. Ortola made implicit what many still avoid saying: the AI race won’t be won by technology alone, but by the ability to make it trustworthy, auditable and useful in the real world.

The Portuguese ecosystem has talent, creativity and a community that knows how to collaborate. What’s sometimes missing is ambition aligned with execution. We need to turn pilots into products, prototypes into businesses and enthusiasm into metrics.

If there’s one message that came out of this Building The Future, it’s that AI is no longer “the future” it’s the factor that will separate those who lead from those who merely watch. And, of course, Portugal and Europe need to decide quickly what role they want to play in this global race.

Portuguese startups now have a rare opportunity: to use their agility to do what large companies take years to achieve.

Adamastor will, as always, be watching closely those who choose to seize this opportunity and turn technology into impact. Because the future is built, but only by those willing to build it.

• 💡 Founder Institute Portugal - Portugal Spring 2026 Program is accepting applications

• 💡 Money Talks the biggest financial literacy event in the country, takes place on April 11 & 12. Tickets are now on sale use promocode: ADAMASTOR

• 💡 Lisbon AI Week will be back in 2026 and has an open call for events

Keep following Adamastor to stay up to date with our ecosystem.

See you at the next event.

✍ Quote of the week

“You can’t have innovation without trust”

Satya Nadella

Highlights of the week

• 🔷 Founder Institute Startup Founder Forum, with the founders from CourtMaster and By The Law this Thursday

• 🔷 Portugal XR Meetup at Porto Innovation Center this Thursday

• 🔷 FabStartLab 2nd edition - applications are open

• 🔷 Applications are now open for Rocket Booster, a program that supports innovative startups in the Tourism sector.

• 🔷 applications open for 2026 Shilling VC Summer Fellowship

• 🔷 FabStartLab - 2.ª Edição is accepting applications until Apr 06

Congrats

• 👏 iLof selected for the EPIC-X Acceleration+ Programme among strong European deep-tech startups

• 👏 Leonor Pereira (Lampsy) won 1st place at Woman Summit 2026

• 👏 VaultHaus among the winners of Winter Demo Day | Lisbon × Valencia

• 👏 Adeci Group, BM2Solar, BloodFlow, Bloop, Chain Reactor, DOJO AI, Jsonify, Litehaus, Manie, and NextBorder listed 10 of the most promising startups to keep an eye on by EU-Startups

Something to read, listen and watch

• 📚 «Braga pode afirmar-se como destino europeu de empreendedorismo» com João Fernandes

• 📚 “Portugal tem todas as condições para ser um farol da inovação na Europa” com Gil Azevedo

• 📚 Exploring the technology behind the world’s largest autonomous supermarket, Vasco Portugal (Sensei) interview with Toby Pickard

• 📚 A Second Life, in Lisbon

• 📚 EU–INC campaign warns: Without a pan-European standard, founders will keep choosing Delaware

• 🎧 AI and Mobility com Bruno Jardim

• 🎥 Inovadores - Productized: Bastidores do maior evento de gestão de produto em Portugal com André Marquet

• 🎥 OpenClaw Creator: Why 80% Of Apps Will Disappear

Looking for your next spark of inspiration or connection? Discover what’s happening in the ecosystem—check out the Adamastor Events Calendar and find the perfect event that fits your goals, your vibe, and your stage. From founder meetups to investor talks, there’s something for everyone.