As August Approaches

And the ecosystem keeps reading.

There’s a moment, right before summer fully arrives, when the ecosystem enters a softer gear. This week follows that same cadence. Less noise, more clarity. And because reading is one of the few forms of rest that also expands us, we continue our summer ritual: asking people we admire to share the books they believe are worth carrying into the break; to the beach, the countryside, or that café where no one knows us.

The result remains what Adamastor loves most: diverse, thoughtful, and refreshingly unaligned. The ecosystem grows when it reads outside its own bubble.

Rui Quinta — I Am a Strange Loop, Douglas Hofstadter
A brilliant and strange exploration of consciousness, identity, and the construction of the self. Hofstadter blends logic, mathematics, and humanity with rare sensitivity. A book about empathy, about what we absorb from others and what we never fully become.

Gabriela Faria — Born a Crime, Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah’s improbable, painful, and hilarious story of growing up “illegal” under apartheid. For Gabriela, born in South Africa, the book resonates deeply but its humanity and humour are universal.

João Silva — Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV
A timely reflection on AI, human dignity, and what must remain specifically human. Regardless of faith, it offers scale and depth in a moment of technological acceleration.

João Silva — O Louco de Deus no Fim do Mundo, Javier Cercas
Still on his reading list, but Cercas is always a reliable companion for anyone who wants literature that thinks while it entertains.

Carlos Resende — O Riso de Deus, António Alçada Baptista
A book that doesn’t teach you how to build a company, it teaches you how to live. Doubt as a healthy force, serenity as strength, and laughter (even divine laughter) as intelligence.

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

See you at the next event.

Quote of the week

“Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than others think is practical.”

Howard Schultz

Highlights of the week

• WebSummit 26 announced the first speakers Among are names like Michele Catasta, President & Head of AI, Replit; Marcus Segal, Partner, Andreessen Horowitz; and Jen Wong, COO, Reddit.

• Scaling Up is Unicorn Factory Lisboa's flagship program for post-seed scaleups ready to grow, raise Series A/B, or expand internationally. Applications open until July 31.

• Proof-of-Concept Co-Financing Instrument. EIT Food’s Co-Financing Instrument aids agrifood startups by de-risking pilot projects and promoting innovation and collaboration with industry leaders. Apply until Jul 31

• Mobility & Tourism Innovations Tirol is a Europe-wide innovation initiative looking for ready-to-implement solutions that will shape the future of tourism mobility in Tirol and the Austrian Alps. Apply until Jul 31

• Applications for the 2026 Prémios PME Pitch are now open. If you have an innovative solution and the ambition to scale it, this is your moment to put it in front of the right people. 5.000eur + visibility are worth it, apply here.

• apply for the Lisboa’s Community Fund. The community fund is a shared basket of money and resources that local communities can draw on to carry out their activities or organize events. Administered by 351 Startups, the Community Fund will allow several smaller communities in Portugal to develop and become more active.

• Gathering Design Sprint is a 4-week virtual sprint teaching founders the craft of designing gatherings people remember, and want to come back to. The next Sprint launches September 14th Enroll here.

• Overcome the Impostor Phenomenon. Claim your space in Tech. Discover your Potential. Shape your identity in tech. The TechID.ai Journey is a 100% social and completely free practical laboratory, designed to accelerate employability for more women in technology. Secure your spot.

• Applications open for the Founder Institute next cohort, starting in October

Congrats

• Code for All listed at TIME World’s Top EdTech Companies of 2026

• Cascade raised +3M with Índico Capital Partners, Andreessen Horowitz Speedrun and Ada Ventures

• Lampsy and Manie among the Top 50 of the VDS Startup Competition 2026

Something to read, listen and watch

📚Ecossistema portugues by Carlos Resende

📚ESNA Compendium Volume V: IP & Tech Transfer

📚Top Ed Tech companies

📚Top 50 of the VDS Startup Competition 2026

🎧Nina’s notes podcast

🎧Are You VC-able? Hard Truths About Startup Funding

🎬Inovação por Pacientes: A fonte inexplorada de ideias revolucionárias (Patient Innovation: The untapped source of breakthrough ideas) with Giordano Koch and Pedro Oliveira

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.