Adamastor Weekly
Week 33
Time to get back
Expert Evaluator at the European Commission and Co-founder of Founder Institute Portugal.
5 min read
Hello everyone,
Hope you all had a great summer, whether you unplugged completely, traveled, or just caught up on some long-overdue sleep. Now it’s time to get back to building, connecting, and making things happen.
We’re excited to restart our weekly journey together, bringing you the most relevant events, resources, and opportunities for entrepreneurs, startups, and the innovation ecosystem in Portugal.
The next few months promise to be vibrant for our community. From local meetups to global conferences, from early-stage support programs to investment opportunities, the Portuguese startup scene is buzzing with energy.
Expect to see:
Big events: several cities will host several startup gatherings that put founders, investors, and ecosystem builders in the same room. i.e. Techstars Startup Week Guimaraes; WebSummit; Lisbon AI Conference; Pitch nights; Founder Institute Portugal; Porto Impact Week 2026; Portugal Tech Week, Investor Talks, Incubex, Santander X, EUDIS Hackathon …
Community growth: More international founders are choosing Portugal as their base, enriching our ecosystem and creating new collaboration possibilities. ex: Techstars Community Leader Academy; Launch in Lisbon, Unicorn Factory Incubation Program, Santander X…
We will keep you in the loop with events, opportunities, and stories that matter, and we can’t wait to hear what you think, too.
Let’s turn this re-entry into a season of new ideas, meaningful collaborations, real impact, and moving the whole ecosystem forward. See you at the next event.
Quote of the week
“I have never belonged to any place, or to any person. I have always been a guest passing through, even in my own life.”
Fernando Pessoa
Highlights of the week
Applications open for the Founder Institute Portugal next cohort, starting in October
Applications for the Fall Batch ’26 of Unicorn Factory Incubation Program, for early-stage startups, are now open. Receive mentorship tailored to your project’s needs, participate in training sessions, access a network of over 190 mentors, and connect with 150 investors and corporate partners. Apply by September 6 here.
The 11th edition of Road 2 Web Summit by Startup Portugal is open. Up to 125 Portuguese startups get an intensive bootcamp in Porto and Lisbon, a discount on their Web Summit package, and a shot at the Galp prizes. Apply here.
The Santander X Awards, are looking for university projects and startups with the potential to grow. Participants gain access to prizes, mentoring, training, and visibility. Applications are open until Sep 11 for startups and university students here.
Investor Talks next September 12 & 13 in Portimão. Agenda and tickets available here.
BSC AI Factory Incubation Programme in Porto supports startups and SMEs in the development of AI products and projects. Running at UPTEC from 5 October 2026 to 30 March 2027, the programme combines free coworking with specialist support, workshops, networking opportunities and connections to the wider European BSC AI Factory ecosystem. Selected companies can also receive support in identifying the technical, software and computing resources most appropriate to their projects. Applications open until Sep 15.
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.
Portugal Fintech Report 2026 marks 10 years of Portugal Fintech. This special edition of the Report tells the story of the ecosystem we built together, and it sets the stage for the next one. By answering this form, you are applying your Fintech to be featured in the report as one of the top fintechs in Portugal. Fill the form until Sep 15.
Access to funding is a critical factor for startups looking to scale. OpportunityHub.eu brings together funding opportunities across European countries into a single platform.
For all AI builders, 20×20, RedBridge’s first PechaKucha-style night. The format is simple and a little unforgiving: 20 slides, 20 seconds each. The deck advances whether you’re ready or not. Apply to present, next Sep 17
The EU-Japan Centre invites European companies and clusters to apply to the Nanotech Business Mission in Japan in December 2026. The application deadline is 24 September with the mission including participation in nano tech 2026, a leading Japanese trade fair for advanced materials, processes and enabling technologies. Apply until Sept 24.
Are you set to make an impact in biotech for planetary health? Biotope Ventures want to hear from you. With our program, you’ll be able to turn your innovation into a viable business. 350k early-stage funding and a tailored growth journey for biotech startups in planetary health. Applications close on Sep 25
Is expanding to Portugal your next move? Discover how with Launch in Lisbon! That is exactly what Launch in Lisbon is designed to make easier. The Unicorn Factory Lisboa program supports international entrepreneurs and companies looking to launch, establish, or expand their operations in Portugal and across Europe. The program is available in both in-person and virtual formats, although virtual participation provides limited access to the full program. Early Bird and virtual tickets are already available here.
PORTUGAL - EUDIS Hackathon 2026 Autumn, registration for the EUDIS Hackathon 2026 Autumn is now live! We are thrilled that you are ready to innovate and build with us. Please complete the registration form to submit your application.
Start From Knowledge be the right program for your project? SFN supports the creation and development of knowledge-based startups, helping turn scientific and technological knowledge into solutions with market potential. The program is aimed at projects connected to higher education and research, supporting the journey from knowledge generated within R&D institutions to the creation of new businesses. More info here.
Congrats
'Hanno: A Magical Tale’ Videogame , created by the Madeira based One Way Eleven, won 2nd place at FYNG Indie Award 2026.
Something to read, listen and watch
📚Bridging the gap between public sector and innovators by Bruno Nunes
📚20 Future Portuguese HealthTech and MedTech Leaders by Nelson Advisors
📚I Was Rejected By Over 100 Investors Before I Finally Got a ‘Yes’ — These Are the 5 Fundraising Truths Every Entrepreneur Needs to Hear
🎧Dig-In Making Innovation. with Walter Duarte and Nuno Fernandes
🎧O que faz uma Startup merecer o investimento with Inês de Macedo Santos
🎬Inside Founder Institute: Alumni real stories
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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