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Adamastor Weekly

Week 38

it’s not enough to start

CR

Carlos Resende

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

4 min read

Hello everyone,

Some weeks feel like the ecosystem is a city in motion. This is one of them.

Events multiplying, programs opening applications, cities gaining momentum, founders showing up. And this week, IncubX brings together incubators, accelerators, and community leaders, the people who build the ecosystem from the inside, often without a spotlight. It’s a rare moment: the country’s operational backbone in the same room, discussing what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change. It’s the invisible side of the ecosystem stepping into the light.

But strength without direction is just movement.

And in one month, Lisbon enters its most intense season: Web Summit and Portugal Tech Week. Thousands of people, hundreds of events, a city fully switched on. It’s easy to look at all this and conclude that the ecosystem is strong, and it is. But the real question is different: are we building an ecosystem that responds to what founders actually asked for?

Founders didn’t only ask for more events. They asked for customers. They asked for market. They asked for conditions to grow here before growing anywhere else.

Because starting was never Portugal’s problem. Continuing always was. Continuing when the excitement fades. Continuing when the customer doesn’t reply. Continuing when the market takes its time to move.

And maybe this is the shift we should be paying attention to: the country is waking up to the right idea that it’s not enough to start; you need to be able to sell. IncubX might be the moment when the ecosystem looks inward and understands that the next decade won’t be decided on international stages, but on our ability to turn community into market.

If we get this right, the next ten years won’t be about creating startups, they’ll be about creating companies.

See you at IncubX or at the next event.

Quote of the week

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book because there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman

Highlights of the week

  • Applications open for the Founder Institute Portugal next cohort.

  • Applications are open for the European Prize for Women Innovators.

  • 6th edition of the 929 Challenge - a startup competition connecting China and the Portuguese‑speaking world, co‑organized with the Permanent Secretariat of the Macau Forum and supported by the Macau Economic Services. Selected teams will have access to: 10 days in the Greater Bay Area, with travel and accommodation covered for the 16 finalists; Preferential incubation access at HKSTP, Shenzhen and Guangzhou; 40,000 USD in prizes; Online bootcamp, mentorship, and direct contact with regional investors. The final and the 929 Summit will take place on December 3–4, at the Venetian Macau. Applications are free and open until Oct 10.

  • How do we connect knowledge to real‑world application and accelerate regional innovation? Innovation Market – From Knowledge to Application, an event that will transform the Guimarães Market into a true epicenter of innovation on Oct 12 & 13.

  • On Oct 15, the DNA Cascais auditorium will host the TechID Journey — a hands‑on immersion designed to equip women with practical skills in Artificial Intelligence, leadership development, and active employability. Secure your spot here.

  • Future Innovators Academia calling all University Students. From campus to the Web Summit stage. University students can submit your pitch deck to Future Innovators Academia by October 16 and your team could pitch live at Web Summit 2026, with tickets and acceleration sessions from Unicorn Factory Lisboa.

  • Apply for Startup World Cup 2026 Application Form: Road to START Summit, Lisbon next Oct 22 at Nova SBE

  • Web Summit 26 first speakers and agenda announced

Congrats

  • Andreia Trigo (Enhanced Fertility) listed one of 100 Women in Tech in Europe 2026

  • insurtech FRANK has raised 2.9M

  • Humanos raised 3.2M to build the Risk Network for AI

  • Draiven recognized by World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA)

  • Remote achieved 41 #1 placements in G2’s 2026 Fall Reports, securing the top spot in the Momentum Grid® Report for Global Payroll and sweeping all Global Employment Platform segments worldwide.

  • AUTHENTIC TEAMZ selected for Cuatrecasas Acelera.

  • The 3 finalists for Digital Entrepreneur of the Year for 16 years, the Navegantes XXI Awards are: Catarina Kemper, Marcelo Lebre and Nuno Sebastião.

Something to read, listen and watch

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.

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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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