Last Sunday, the world celebrated World Gratitude Day, and whether by coincidence or perfect timing, it also marked the second day of the Community Leaders Academy, a two-day program devoted to empowering and connecting the changemakers fueling Portugal’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Because if there’s one thing the Portuguese startup ecosystem has proven, it’s that progress is never a solo act, it’s a collective movement powered by visionaries, builders, and believers. The work of 351 Portuguese Startup Association is a living testament to that truth. Over the years, they’ve not only nurtured a thriving community but also built the bridges that unites founders, investors, and institutions together.

The journey from “I know it will, I just don’t know how” (I’m quoting Dig-In Founder Nuno Fernandes) to “Together!” is exactly what 351 has helped make possible; by turning ambition into infrastructure, and optimism into action. The Community Leader Academy is just one more example of how they continue to elevate the conversation, challenge the status quo, and invest in the people who shape the future.

You could say I’m biased in my appreciation; I have friends there, people I deeply respect, and who always welcome me with open arms. And yes, I’ll own that bias. But the truth is, 351 is exactly what I described and so much more.

On a day meant to honor gratitude, it’s fitting to recognize the role 351 has played in transforming Portugal into a launchpad for global innovation. Their work isn’t just ecosystem-building, it’s legacy building.

For personal reasons, I couldn’t attend this year’s edition but I still want to say…

Thank you 351!

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See you at the next event

✍ Quote of the week

Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”
Helen Keller

Week highlights go to:

• 🔷 Founder Institute Portugal presents Meet Founder Institute’s Top Startup Mentors and Ask your Questions! this thursday

• 🔷 Portugal XR Report is waiting your participation until Sep 26

• 🔷 SIMConf is accepting pre-registrations for 2026

• 🔷 City of Guimarães hosts Techstars Startup Week in October 13 - 17. All information can be found here Tickets available here

• 🔷 Set.Up IN(dustry) runned by Set.Up Guimaraes & TecMinho is accepting applications until Sep 30

• 🔷 Big Hackathon comming up 'JunctionX Lisbon 2025 — Build the Future of AI, Finance, and Society' IST Oeiras. Apply until Oct 01

• 🔷 EUDIS Defence Hackathon and Mentoring - PORTUGAL

• 🔷 Algarve ROAD2Summit - Business & Entrepreneurship Meeting for Innovation. From Sep 22 to Oct 15, the Roadshow will travel across all 16 municipalities of the Algarve

• 🔷 Algarve Tech Summit: Pitch live to investors, mentors, and tech leaders who open real doors—land pilots, raise faster, and grow in one of Europe’s rising tech hubs. Apply until Sep 26

• 🔷 Lisbon AI week Applications are now open

• 🔷 Are you a startup driving digitization in Healthcare, Energy or Mobility? SYSTEMEU is offering free access to Web Summit 2025 in Lisbon to 10 outstanding Braga startups

Congrats

• 👏 Biovance Capital leads Series A investment in Mondego Bio

• 👏 a new community official born, ONZE, supported by IET Instituto Empresarial do Tâmega, ESTG - Politécnico do Porto, Portugal Social Innovation, CIM do Tâmega e Sousa, and Fundação Manuel António da Mota

• 👏 Jhamile Abuabara nominated for the @Women in Tech Global Awards 2025!

• 👏 winners of the Global Health Accelerator 2025: expressTEC & Metablue Solution (Otitest)

• 👏 351 Portuguese Startup Association has been recognized by Sifted as one of “Europe’s best first-time founder communities to join in Europe”

• 👏 Omniflow selected for the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator

• 👏 Portugal ranks 31st in the Global Innovation Index

• 👏 LISPOLIS celebrates 34 anniversary

Something to read, listen and watch

• 📚 Como Guimarães passou de berço de Portugal a berço das startups

• 📚 Inovação europeia na era de Trump by Gil Azevedo

• 📚 Startup Nolita focusing on fibre

• 📚 Portugal ranks 31st in the Global Innovation Index

• 📚 World’s Top HealthTech Companies of 2025

• 📚 The 90% Failure Rate No One Talks About: Why Most Accelerator Programs Are Flying Blind (And How Data Can Fix It) by local.foundation

• 📚 AI’s Impact on Investment Strategies: A New Playbook for Private Markets by Cem Otkun

• 🎧 Winning the AI Race”… America’s AI Action Plan w/ Nuno Gonçalves Pedro & Betrand Schmitt

• 🎥 Recall Me Maybe | FT Drama - Stephen Fry and Gemma Whelan star in a new drama written by David Baddiel, exploring AI, memory and truth.

• 🎥 Trash bin with AI

• 🎥 Leap of Faith | About Faith by Laika Ventures

• 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.