Two weeks ago, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to the groundbreaking research on innovation-driven economic growth. The work confirms what many founders already know: entrepreneurship isn’t a buzzword, it’s the engine of prosperity. Through the lens of creative destruction, they’ve shown how new ideas, startups, and technologies fuel long-term progress.

Few months before, a new study made waves: “Nationwide Entrepreneurship Content in Secondary Schools: Impact on Entrepreneurial Careers.” The findings? When students are exposed to entrepreneurship early; not just as a concept, but as a mindset, they’re significantly more likely to launch ventures later in life.

These two findings; the Nobel Prize and the study on entrepreneurship education, are powerful reminders of how deeply entrepreneurship shapes economies. And they couldn’t have landed at a better time.

Last week, Lisbon lit up with one of the most meaningful moments of the year for Portugal’s startup ecosystem: the Entrepreneurship Awards 2025, hosted by Unicorn Factory Lisboa at the Técnico Innovation Center. Seven categories honored the builders, dreamers, and doers shaping our future, with the most wanted João Vasconcelos Award spotlighting the Entrepreneur of the Year. More than just a ceremony, it was a statement: Portugal is no longer emerging, it’s leading.

I had the pleasure of serving as a jury member, and I can tell you firsthand: the level of ambition, creativity, and execution on display was nothing short of world-class. As Gil Azevedo put it: “The Entrepreneurship Awards celebrate the remarkable and inspiring work carried out by entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders in driving innovation in Portugal — a key force for economic growth. Lisbon and Portugal continue to establish themselves as one of Europe’s most important innovation hubs. The startup ecosystem has attracted talent, investment, and created qualified jobs, proving that innovation is now a transformative force for the country.”.

But the energy doesn’t stop there. November is stacked with events that will keep the ecosystem buzzing:

- Lisbon AI Week (Nov 1-9): Lisbon has a strong and active community of developers, startups, companies and VCs working on new and exciting AI initiatives. The team of volunteers behind the Lisbon AI Week felt the need to assemble them in a week where we all ideas are welcome, access is democratized, and bridges are built with talent and companies from abroad.

- Algarve Tech Hub Summit (Nov 6–7, Lagos): A two-day celebration of innovation across tourism, agrofood, health, energy, and digital culture. The Algarve positions itself as a global tech hub, and it’s not just talk.

- Portugal Tech Week (Nov 7–16): 300+ free events across 20 cities, including Lisbon’s Tech Run, the one and only Electrico Pitch, and workshops on AI, Web3, and sustainability. It’s not a conference, it’s a movement.

- Web Summit Lisbon (Nov 10–13): The heavyweight. 70,000+ attendees, 800+ speakers, and the world’s tech elite descending on Altice Arena. If you’re building, investing, or dreaming, this is your arena.

This is the season where Portugal shows up and shows off. Let’s make sure we’re not just attending, we’re participating!

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

See you at the next event

• 🔔 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 day to apply

✍ Quote of the week

Entrepreneurship Awards are about recognizing the courage to build, the resilience to grow, and the vision to transform Portugal into a global innovation hub.”

Unicorn Factory Lisboa

• 🔷 Portugal Fintech Report 2025 Official Launch Event next Nov 04

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

• 🔷 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

• 🔷 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

• 🔷 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

• 👏 Felipe Ávila da Costa (Infraspeak) won João Vasconcelos – Empreendedor do Ano

• 👏 Isabel Carapeta (Simplifyer) won Rising Female Award

• 👏 Veronica Orvalho (Didimo) won International Personality Award

• 👏 Ana Casaca (Galp) won Ecosystem Award

• 👏 Startups: Lampsy won the Most Promising Startup; Ubbu won Impact Startup; and ROOTkey awarded with Rising Startup

• 👏 Cíntia Mano Among Finalists for the Golden Aurora Award 2025

Something to read, listen and watch

📚a Startup in 54 hours: RepBoost Wins Techstars Startup Weekend Viseu a talk with the winning team

📚Eles querem fazer de Lisboa a capital da inteligência artificial durante uma semana

📚Portugal tem mais pedidos de patentes desde 2000, mas continua aquém dos parceiros europeus

• 📚 Portugal’s Innovation Spirit to Invest in the Future of Technology by Paulo Lopes

• 📚 The AI opportunity for the eGov in Portugal

📚Best of the Best AR/VR/3D Educational Experiences 2026

📚The AI Becker problem: Who will train the next generation?

📚For Some Recent Graduates, the A.I. Job Apocalypse

📚Marketing In The AI Era Has A Marketing Problem

📚VCs in European defense sharpen focus on weapons and hardware

• 🎧 Elad Gil on the power of peer groups

• 🎧 Marc Andreessen, cofounder of Netscape and Andreessen Horowitz, sits down for a Cheeky Pint with John Collison and Charlie Songhurst to discuss the history of Silicon Valley

• 🎥 Bitalk - SEGREDOS JURÍDICOS QUE SÓ OS ADVOGADOS SABEM c/ Luís Roquette Geraldes

• 🎥 Techstars: Co-Founder & CEO David Cohen on Secrets of Startup Success

• 🎥 Sociedade Civil (RTP2): Startups com Impacto c/ intervenção de Startup Portugal, UPTEC, ILof, Intuitivo, Rubynanomed, Unicorn Factory Lisboa, Gotech Antimicrobial, Junicoders, and Startup Braga

💡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.