With the upcoming Summer break, it’s that time of the year when we have more time to read, it’s the perfect time to dive into a new book and begin learning a new skill or maybe just find some extra inspiration.

Reading is a superpower for founders, and here at Adamastor, we know how important it is to keep growing. This is week#3 of our curated list of must-reads that can level you up: Let’s continue to inspire and learn from each other!

Now, part III of our Book suggestions:

• 📖 Thinking Bigger: A Pitch-Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World by Sarah Dusek takes us on an inner journey of reflection and advice through the construction of a business pitch deck. Upskilling can take many forms and this book is not to miss for all women.

• 📖 The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel is an uncommon adventure story that takes us from Africa in the 1600s, through Portugal at the turn of the 20th century, to the USA of the 1980s and reminds us that it is our ability to weave remarkable stories that makes us, and keeps us, human.

• 📖 ‘Winning in the US’ by Index Ventures, the founders guide to building a global company from Europe. It’s super interesting and packed with value. It’s free to read online or as a PDF. Full of practical advice and case study examples. It’s well worth a read.

• 📖 Female Innovators at Work by Danielle Newnham, describes the experiences and successes of female innovators and entrepreneurs in the still largely male-dominated tech-world in twenty candid interviews. It highlights the varied life and career stories that lead these women to the top positions in the technology industry that they are in now.

Don’t forget to check Adamastor calendar and catch a talk, make new connections, and still sneak away to one of our beautiful beaches or a cool spot with A/C and cold drinks.

• 📝 Business Plug is launching Web3 Business Acid Test (https://w3bat.businessplug.com), Ready to Face the Acid Test? It’s free, takes about 15 minutes, and could be the most valuable quarter-hour you spend on your startup this year

• 📝 Build Up Labs just launched a tool to help calculate co-founder equity, a step that’s often overlooked but crucial for healthy partnerships. As we know, many founders are looking for or teaming up with co-founders… so we wanted to share it here too! Co-Founder Equity Calculator Consider it as a simple conversation starter, so you don’t leave equity talks for “later” (when they’re usually harder). Try it out here

• 🚨 call for speakers for lisbonai.xyz

✍ Quote of the week

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Seuss (writer)

Week highlights go to:

• 🔷 The Technology Fast 50 program is back for its third edition! Promoted by Deloitte, this ranking recognizes the fastest-growing technology companies in Portugal that are redefining the boundaries of innovation. This year, Google Cloud debuts as a partner in the Market Catalyst category, Startup Portugal returns to support Rising Stars, and the Impact, Venture Champion, and Women in Leadership categories remain. Applications until Oct 17

• 🔷 The world’s largest pitch and conference event for startups, next Sep 10 & 11 at Unicorn Factory Lisbon. Join the world’s biggest startup competition and get a chance to win 1 million dollars at the grand final in San Francisco. 👉 www.startupworldcup.pt

Congrats

• 👏 BloodFlow completed a 1.2M seed round

• 👏 Rechon.ai raised 5M

Something to read, listen and watch

• 📚 Startups podem levar Portugal para outro estádio de desenvolvimento by António Dias Martins

• 📚 Onde estão os Business Angels em Portugal? by Tomas Penaguião

• 📚 The Art of Strategic Focus: How to Prioritise What Really Drives Growth by Carlos Mendes

• 📚 Hack Yourself for a Better Time in VR: techniques that may stave off cybersickness

• 📚 Value creation and value capture in NFT business models: Insights from blockchain-based ventures

• 🎧 Is Silicon Valley Losing Its Influence on DC?

• 🎥 Founders at the Center | The Story of the Startup Community Movement with Lesa Mitchell

• 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.