These last few days were a celebration of entrepreneurship in all its vibrant, inclusive glory.

We kicked things off at Techstars Week Guimarães, where I had the privilege of joining as a speaker. The energy was electric, the conversations bold, and the commitment to building a more diverse and resilient ecosystem was palpable. Guimarães reminded us once again: innovation thrives when community leads.

Meanwhile, Startup Weekend Viseu brought together dreamers, doers, and disruptors for 54 hours of pure startup magic. It were 3 days of a masterclass in collaboration and creativity and a powerful reminder that regional initiatives are shaping a more inclusive future for entrepreneurship in Portugal.

Both events are doing the hard, necessary work of diversifying our ecosystem, not just geographically, but in the voices, ideas, and ambitions they elevate. This matters. And it’s working.

We also had the Productized Conference, which once again brought together brilliant minds from the worlds of product, design, and innovation. It was a moment of deep learning, generous sharing, and global inspiration delivered with the signature quality and ambition that Productized is known for. A conference that continues to raise the bar and position Lisbon as a global hub for product excellence.

To top it all off, this Thursday we will celebrate one of the most anticipated moments of the year: the Entrepreneurship Awards, at Técnico Innovation Center. A true highlight for the community, the ceremony honored the people and projects pushing boundaries and building the future. Whether you were nominated, awarded, or simply cheering from the sidelines, thank you for being part of this movement.

And the next few weeks promise to be just as intense, with Lisboa AI, Portugal Tech Week, and Web Summit all on the horizon.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Portugal’s startup scene is alive and thriving and it’s because of you.

• 🎟️ Porto tech is back! the city is hosting a series of tech and entrepreneurial events, including workshops, conferences, meetups, and others, highlighting the global ecosystem that thrives in Porto. Just head over to portotech.scaleupporto.pt to find out more!

• 🔔 Founders, students, builders: this one’s for you The applications for SantanderX 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 are still open. Up to €30,000 in prizes. Last days to apply

Don’t miss it!

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

See you at the next event

✍ Quote of the week

“One of the greatest challenges for ecosystems to appreciate is that it takes a good five to seven years for startups to actually be impactful.”

Paul O’Brien

Week highlights go to:

• 🔷 Deep-tech startups this one’s for you! The EIC Pre-Accelerator is open. If your innovation is lab-validated (TRL 4+) and you’re ready to scale, don’t miss this chance to boost your journey. Apply by 18 Nov

• 🔷 Lisbon AI week Applications are now open

• 🔷 Santander X Portugal Awards - submissions for both categories; university & startups

• 🔷 Sheleads Ventures born to empower women. Apply until Oct 30

• 🔷 NDC Porto: 5-Day Workshop Event for Software Developers happening this week We still have exclusive discounts available for our community, send me an email

• 🔷 Tech Run (Nov 09) Get ready to run through Lisbon’s innovation district! From the iconic Unicorn Factory Lisboa to Parque das Nações. All the info here

• 🔷 Startup Guide Europe Launch @ Startup Guide Summit 2025 Nov 09 at Casa do Impacto .Send me a message to get the discount code

• 🔷 Protechting open innovation program is looking for Startups in Insurtech, Healthtech, Tech, and Sustainability. Apply until Dec 05

• 🔷 Discoveries, the acceleration program that helps tourism startups grow, connect and go global powered by Fabrica de Startups is now open

Congrats

• 👏 Axios Care (Disruptive Minds Award); Coalex (Emerging Talent Recognition Award); Complear winners (Inspiring Entrepreneurship Award) were the winners of Techstars Startup Week Guimarães pitch competition

• 👏 RepBoost won Startup Weekend Viseu

Something to read, listen and watch

• 📚 S9+ Lisbon Declaration

• 📚 Industry Voices: The Regulatory Maze of MedTech, Insights from Amanda Maxwell

• 📚 76 million websites are based on AWS infrastructure, including more than 20,000 websites that earn more than $1 million every month

• 📚 European Innovation Act - Response to Call for Evidence by Filipa Lança de Morais

Why partnerships are the real growth engine for startups in Asia

• 🎧 The Techstars Refresh, Why Bigger Isn’t Better w/ David Cohen

• 🎧 Da Rua Augusta à Augusta Labs

• 🎥 Finding A New Flavor of Customer Service w/ Darren Ross

💡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.