Techstars Startup Week Guimarães
21th – 25th October 2024
Techstars Startup Week is a five-day community event led by entrepreneurs that will take place in Guimarães to boost the startup ecosystem through meetings, talks, discussions and lots of celebrating.
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About
What is Techstars Startup Week Guimarães?
Organized for the first time in Portugal, Techstars Startup Week Guimarães will be a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, students, businesspeople, investors and startup enthusiasts to get together and share knowledge, experiences and valuable tips for developing a business.
For a week, participants will have the chance to get to know the region’s startup ecosystem up close, attend inspiring talks and roundtables, discuss trends and innovations, as well as celebrate the achievements and progress made by the local entrepreneurial community, in a truly energizing and inspiring atmosphere.
Our mission is to develop and support the region’s entrepreneurial community and connect it to the National Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and the best way to do this is by bringing together founders, entrepreneurs, companies and investors in this celebration of learning, sharing and networking.
Main Topics

Innovation
Startups
Artificial intelligence
Industry

Funding
Investment
Venture capital
Legal aspects

Work life balance
Building Teams from “scratch”
Managing happy teams

Brand creation
Identifying markets
Segmenting customers
Sales strategies
Pitch
Agenda
Opening Ceremony
At Techstars Startup Week Guimarães we are committed to presenting you with a carefully designed program that promises to inspire, connect and empower the entrepreneurial community.
We’ll be releasing the agenda soon. Stay tuned!

Venue
21st to 25th October
Sítio Coworking Space
Part of the MITH – Minho Innovation & Technology Hub and strategically located next to the University of Minho, it is home to several companies in the field of innovation and technology. This building will be the home of Techstars Startup Week Guimarães and is the ideal atmosphere for this collaborative and dynamic event.
Rua Rómulo de Carvalho 388, Guimarães
Next to the University of Minho, 15 minutes from the train and bus station.
25th October
Teatro Jordão
Inaugurated on November 20, 1938, the Teatro Jordão – this is how the building is known, which also housed the “Jordão Restaurant” on the ground floor throughout its life – corresponds in programmatic terms to the typical Cineteatros.
Speakers

Fernando Alvim
Locutor, apresentador de TV e DJ

José Carlos Pereira
Co-Founder, AURAXADV

Hélio Jesus
Responsável Tecnologia e Inovação, Siemens

Marcos Castro
Co-Founder & COO, Full Venue

Anshul Punhani
Community Lead - F*ckup Nights, Portugal

Pedro Aguiar
CEO, Ah Business SGPS, Sa

Maria Cândida Lobo
Gestora de Fileira TICE & SSC, AICEP

Paulo Novais
Full Professor Department of Computer Science, Uminho

Paulo Freitas
Technology, Operations, Growth

André Jordão
CEO, Barkyn

Filipa Matos
VP Special Operations, Remote

Helena Taveira
Investment Manager, Portugal Ventures

João Fernandes
Innovation Specialist, Sonae MC

Rui Barroca
Product Design Lead, DesignFAO

Ana Pereira
Head of R&I and Co-head of PMO, Ubiwhere

Miguel Magalhães
Content Strategist, The Next Big Idea

Tomás Caeiro
Founder & Head of Programs, startUP23

João Marques
Founder & CEO, OSCAR

Rafael Conceição
Investment Team, Indico Capital

Ricardo Lima
Head of Startups & Investors, Web Summit

João Almeida
Board of Directors, JF Almeida

Rui Neves Ferreira
Co-Founder, Nova Legal

David Barroso
Founder, Maven

Pedro Maçana
Co-Founder, Wayz

Daniel Teixeira
Co-Founder, Vogal

André Azevedo
CEO, WingDriver

Ricardo Costa
Founder/CEO, LOQR

Pedro Cruz Morais
Co-Founder / CEO, MyCareforce

Álvaro Samagaio
Co-Host at Founder Tales & Shutdown Podcast

Diogo Malafaya
Co-Host @ Founder Tales Podcast

Marco Feraz
Head of Upstream and Industrial Innovation

Sandie Costa
Partner, PwC

Tomás Penaguião
Partner, Bynd

Dani Dieguez
Host

João Crespo
Vodafone Boost Lab

Paulo Salgado
Communication / Branding & Sports Consultant and University Lecturer

Luis Sarmento
CEO & Co-founder, Inductiva.ai

Angelica Falagán
Diretora, Espaço Guimarães

João Pedro Ribeiro
CEO, PeekMed

Paulo Silva
Coordenador de Desenvolvimento Humano e Organizacional , Tecminho

Diana Pires
CEO, IHCARE

António Lemos Salta
Equity Manager, Banco Português de Fomento

José Mário Fernandes
Administrador, Casais

Miguel Amador
Diretor de Inovação, Complear
Tickets available, buy now!
Mentors

Clara Silva
Coordenadora Empreendedorismo, Tecminho

Sofia Xavier
Founder, PrimeRise Consulting, Lda

Joel Alves
Co-founder & Business developer, Sentinel

Catarina Violante
Hardware Operations | Forbes 60 Women-led Startups | MBA Candidate

Telmo Santos
Gestor de transferência de tecnologia

Vasco Sampaio
Strategy & Operations, Revolut

André Matos
CEO, DTX Colab

Ana Clara Lima
Business Developer, Ubiwhere

João Crespo
Vodafone Boost Lab

Nuno Rocha Sousa
Co-Founder, Inflight IT
Paulo Novais is a Full Professor of Computer Science at the Department of Informatics, in the School of Engineering of the University of Minho (Portugal) and a researcher at the ALGORITMI Centre in which he is the coordinator of the research group Intelligent Systems Lab, and the coordinator of the research line in “Ambient intelligence for well-being and Health Applications”. From the same university he received a PhD in Computer Science in 2003 and his Habilitation in Computer Science in 2011.
He started his career developing scientific research in the field of Intelligent Systems/Artificial Intelligence (AI), namely in Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, Machine Learning and Multi-Agent Systems.
His interest, in the last years, was absorbed by the different, yet closely related, concepts of Ambient Intelligence, Ambient Assisted Living, Intelligent Environments, AI and Law, Conflict Resolution and the incorporation of AI methods and techniques in these fields.
His main research aim is to make systems a little more smart, intelligent and also reliable.
Research expertise: Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems a, namely Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, Machine Learning and Multi-Agent Systems
Application areas include information security and Law, Healthcare and Ambient Intelligence.
Father to three amazing daughters and a relentless innovator in the legal space. With the unwavering support and grounding influence of my forever girlfriend, who continually inspires me to be the best version of myself, I’ve grown both personally and professionally. As the Managing Partner of NOVA Legal, I’m not just a lawyer; I’m a strategic partner to businesses. I lead a team of forward-thinking professionals committed to turning legal services into a competitive advantage for our clients.
We’re not your typical law firm; we’re an award-winning alternative legal services provider that leverages technology, legal design, and a value-based pricing model to deliver exceptional results.
Miguel Amador is the Chief Innovation Officer at Complear, paving the way for regulatory compliance of medical device software globally with digital tools and AI. An expert in digital health and AI and an investor in tech startups (including companies such as Space X – spaceships, Exatropic – thermodynamic computing, Varda – space pharmaceuticals, IONA – delivery drones). He has a degree in biomedical engineering from Técnico Lisboa and a research focus on risk governance and public policies for innovation in health. Before Complear, he was a Senior Consultant at the Board of Innovation, Business Creation Leader at EIT Health Innostars, and launched the Health Tech/Nano Tech startup programs at Startup Braga.
António Lemos Salta is the current Equity Manager at Banco Português de Fomento, where he leads venture capital investments, primarily funded by public resources. Since November 2020, he has played a key role in managing venture capital, ensuring the financing of various startups and innovation projects across Portugal. Previously, António worked at PME Investimentos, where he served as an Investment Fund Manager for nearly 8 years, also focusing on venture capital.
With extensive experience in financial consulting, António has held positions at companies such as Ernst & Young, Mazars Portugal, and Deloitte Consulting. His academic background includes a Master’s in Finance from ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, as well as studies at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. His core skills include financial analysis, financial reporting, and venture capital management.
Diana is a Registered Nurse, graduated in 2013, from Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra.
She is the co-founder and CEO of ihcare, Lda., a a tech-based start-up focused on the development and commercialization of innovative healthcare solutions.
As Lead Promoter of showercare®, she was awarded three times with the Best Business Idea for Health Sector at Arrisca C 2012 Business Competition, 1st Prize at the Regionals and Honourable Mention at the Nationals of Concurso Poliempreende 9.
José Mário da Cunha Fernandes is Executive Director of the Casais Group, a business group with 6,000 employees operating in 17 countries and an aggregate turnover of 712 million euros in 2023.
He holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from the Lusíada University of Porto. He is currently a Director of the Executive Committee of the Casais Group, managing the Asset Development and Management business area, which brings together more than 20 companies in Portugal and Spain. In addition to his professional career, he is Vice-President of the Minho Business Association (AE-Minho).
José Mário Fernandes belongs to the third generation of the founding family of Casais. He is a driving force behind the industrialization of construction and guides the Casais Group with a focus on development, productivity and sustainability, always bearing in mind the motto: “Valuing spaces and people”.
Ana Pereira has a master’s degree in Physics Engineering and has acquired professional experience in the management and communication of research projects, where she designs strategies for the communication and dissemination of R&I results, helping to drive their broad and lasting impact, defining KPIs and analyzing the results of dissemination activities, as well as monitoring the daily management of projects and the macro management of the team. He currently works as Head of R&I and Co-Head of PMO at Ubiwhere.
Vasco Sampaio is part of the Strategy & Operations department at Revolut, a global fintech (based in London) that offers banking services.
He co-founded Pleez, a platform that aggregates and uses delivery data to improve restaurant management, and has also worked at the Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisbon), Nymble Labs and Contimetra.
João is an Innovation Specialist at MC Sonae’s IT Labs (BIT), the team that manages an experimentation funnel, through which it collaborates with startups from all over the world, looking for disruptive solutions in the retail industry. Previously, he was an Investment Associate at Bright Pixel (Sonae’s VC fund).
He coordinated an accelerator for blockchain startups and mentored companies in other accelerators supported by the European Commission. He also managed the marketing of a Portuguese scaleup that sells touchscreens in more than 100 countries (DISPLAX/EDIGMA), promoted a European nanomedicine program at the University of Minho’s technology transfer office and implemented the open innovation strategy at Sonae. In the meantime, she traveled for 3 months in Asia and co-founded a brand and online store for pet accessories (My Golden Pet).
Ana Clara Lima, with a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Aveiro, began her professional experience at Ubiwhere in 2015, preparing applications for Portugal 2020 for various R&D projects of the company, in the areas of Smart Cities and Telecommunications. Alongside this responsibility, she also took on the role of Business Developer, writing commercial proposals and responses to public tenders and international tenders for Ubiwhere, as well as preparing documents such as business plans, marketing plans, internationalization plans, and market studies.
In 2018, she assumed the role of PMO for Ubiwhere’s non-technical teams, responsible for team planning and management. At the end of that year, she helped found Ubiwhere’s ECG Department – Strategy and Management Control, which gave her skills in resource management, data analysis, and decision-making.
In 2020, she spearheaded the creation of Ubiwhere’s new Compliance Department and in 2021 became an internal ISO9001 auditor, after her certification in ISO19011.
Alongside her work at Ubiwhere, she provides consulting services in the area of investment projects, including the preparation, management, and execution of applications and projects for various national and European funds, as well as tax consulting services. In 2021, she founded ÅRØ Consulting with Ubiwhere’s managers, taking on the role of Business Manager, responsible for team management and operational management.
Nuno Rocha de Sousa has worked on web and mobile applications, from small to large projects in various areas and with people from different backgrounds and levels of experience. However, the most important thing he values is that, as well as writing code, he loves maintaining a healthy environment and promoting growth.
In recent years, he has led Inflight IT, a company that offers customized software solutions in Portugal. An expert in Javascript frameworks such as AngularJS, Angular 2.x, ReactJS, React Native, Node/Express and, more recently, NestJS, he loves using engineering and design patterns to ensure a well-structured and enjoyable development environment for everyone.
More than 25 years of professional experience in the field of human and organizational development, as a consultant, trainer, coach and lecturer in higher education. He has coordinated and participated as a researcher in (national and international) research projects on competencies, professional profiles and training. He is the author and co-author of publications in the field of human development. As a teacher and trainer, he has implemented thousands of hours of training for thousands of people with different profiles (managers, team leaders, project managers, specialized technicians, …) in the area of Human and Organizational Development, namely in the fields of Leadership, Communication, Coaching and Neurolinguistic Programming and Emotional Intelligence.
He is the coordinator of the Human and Organizational Development area at TecMinho. He is the technical coordinator and main trainer at Programa Executivo Leadership for Happiness
André Matos is CEO of DTx – Digital Transformation CoLAB, has a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minho and an MBA from the University of Warwick, where he specialized in Entrepreneurship.
He has worked at Aston Martin in the UK as an Internal Management Consultant, Transformation Manager and Digital Transformation Lead, with responsibility for the transformation of the R&D/Engineering department and digital transformation projects, including the integration of ERP and PLM systems.
He has also worked as a Process Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover and as an Industrialization Engineer at Bosch in Portugal.
Maria Cândida Silva Lima Azeredo Lobo has been a member of AICEP’s staff since 1991. She worked in the Directorate for the Promotion of Foreign Investment in Portugal until 1998 and later joined the Trade and Internationalization Directorate, where she was responsible for the Innovation Sector until 2000. She currently works in the Commercial Department, where she is Manager of the Information, Communication and Electronic Technologies and Shared Services Centers – TICE & SSC.
She has a degree in Modern Languages and Literatures and a Postgraduate Diploma in European Studies from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and a degree in Internationalization Management from the Executive Program at Católica Lisbon Business & Economics (2016-2017).
In one line Anshul is professionally a seasoned marketing Exec, & Global Leader, passionately he is a storyteller and obsessively a people builder.
With 25+ years of experience in building & growing global brands including Monster.com, Microsoft, Samsung & J Walter Thompson. Today, he is a co-founder, coach, trainer, educator and mentor. He works as an entrepreneur with various clients across Europe, the US, India, the Middle East and South East Asia. Has conducted 300+ engagements helping teams in clients such as Google, Microsoft, TCS, Accenture, Dalberg Media. Based in Portugal, he is a strong collaborator with Startup Portugal, Startup Lisboa, 351 Startup Association, Scale Up Porto, and Lisboa Unicorn Capitol.
In Lisbon, he also teaches in Masters in Management students Advance Strategy, and Global Business Marketing – Cross Culture Studies.
In Portugal, as community lead for Fuckup Nights runs the community in Lisbon, Porto and Braga currently. He is a strong protagonist for the culture that harnesses the power of stories and failures.
In the most recent he has also been awarded the highest level of marketing award here in Portugal by APPM – Associação Portuguesa dos Profissionais de Marketing (Credentials Certificate)
Hélio Jesus is responsible for Technology and Innovation at the Siemens group in Portugal. With 20 years of experience in the Electrical Energy, Infrastructure and Industrial Automation sectors, he has been involved in several innovative projects linked to the energy transition and the digitalization and decarbonization of various industrial sectors.
With a background in Electrical Engineering, Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, he has specialized over the years in areas related to intelligent infrastructure management, energy systems, industrial digitalization and innovation strategy and management in a business context.
Passionate about communication and a brand strategist, he is a university professor (UMinho and UMaia) in the area of communication and marketing, as well as a consultant in communication, branding and public speaking. He is a mentor in several business acceleration programs. He teaches on the postgraduate Communication course at the Football Club League, is a trainer at the FPF Football School, and collaborates as a communication specialist on the Custom programs at Porto Business School. He believes that to communicate is to be human.
Technology Transfer Manager at CCG/ZGDV, with experience since 2014 in the areas of innovation, industrial property and promoting entrepreneurship. With a Master’s degree in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship, he has worked at DSM Food Specialties (Netherlands) and as a technology transfer manager at the University of Aveiro and the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP). He was also a business manager in the Intellectual Property area at Clarke, Modet & Co. At UCP, he taught Entrepreneurship subjects and mentored young entrepreneurs.
Luis is CEO and co-founder of Inductiva.ai, a startup developing the computational platform to simulate, predict and optimize all things in Nature. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering (1999), a MSc in Artificial Intelligence (2004), and a PhD in Informatics, all from the University of Porto (2010). Luis has more than 20 years of experience leading R&D teams both in academic (University of Porto, National Foundation for Scientific Computing, Portugal) and industrial settings (Portugal Telecom, Amazon, Google). In his current role as CEO of Inductiva.ai, Luis is working with a talented team of engineers and scientists to create a computational platform capable of supporting the next breakthroughs in science and technology, by merging AI, physical simulation and high-performance computing under a single programmable interface, accessible both to companies and research groups.
Entrepreneurship in industry: how can it be stimulated in order to boost business innovation (and create competitive advantage)? will be the theme of this round table, which will feature guests from some of the most innovative companies at national and international level.
TV presenter Fernando Alvim will be the host and moderator of this round table.
He was the founder of the Termómetro Unplugged Festival, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019. He founded the company Cego Surdo e Mudo in 2002. He is also the creator of 365 Magazine, Monsters of the Year, the Rowing Boat Regatta, the Padel and Golf tournament for Turnips, the Idiot Festival, the New Awards, among many other events. He was also the founder of the television program 5 para a meia noite, in 2009, where together with Filomena Cautela, Luis Filipe Borges, Nilton and Pedro Fernandes he remained until 2011.
He currently presents Prova Oral daily on Antena 3.
Techstars Startup Week Guimarães will also feature an incredible closing after-party with Fernando Alvim as DJ.
João Crespo is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years’ experience in IT and business management and a strong track record of leading operations, mainly in EMEA.
His experience spans several geographic regions, where he has successfully overseen business growth and development. Currently, João Crespo is focused on identifying promising startups and small businesses for 𝗩𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗳𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹, where he provides guidance and support to improve their technology readiness and drive product evolution. Through innovative leadership, João is committed to helping these companies unlock new opportunities and reach their full potential.
Catarina Violante is a professional in the field of hardware product development and manufacturing, with over a decade of experience in various leadership roles within the tech industry. Catarina has a proven track record of taking concepts from proof-of-concept to market-ready products. Most recently, at Smartex.ai, she led operations from September 2019, where she built multiple teams from scratch, including hardware engineering, supply chain, and field engineering teams. Her role involved overseeing logistics, sourcing, procurement, manufacturing, hardware engineering, hardware quality, machine vision, and industrial design. Prior to Smartex, Catarina was the founder and VP of Product at Mellow Inc., where she successfully took her first consumer electronics product concept to market in the US and Canada and negotiated a contract with top contract manufacturer Flextronics in Southeast China. Catarina has received various awards and recognition for her work, including being listed on Forbes’ “60 Women-Led Startups That Are Shaking Up Tech Across The Globe” in 2018.
Daniel Teixeira is Co-founder and Brand Designer at Vogal, a branding studio helping startups and VCs find their purpose and differentiation to create impactful and memorable brands. With nearly a decade of experience working with brands, often says he helps make purposes and missions visible to the human eye, and heart. Also is the founder of the creative community “Criativos Anónimos,” focused on addressing taboo topics within the industry and promoting mutual growth, having organized various in-person and online events.
Tomás joined Bynd VC in 2016, shortly after completing his MSc in Management at Nova SBE. Since then, he has played a key role in the initial screening of 10,000+ projects and contributed to more than 30+ new investments spanning various sectors and geographies. Tomás is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
B.S. Electric Engineering degree. Founded 3 companies and has high expertise in company management and growth of mobility tech startups including his previous company, HealthyRoad, and other corporate tech management positions.
With over 20 years of international experience in deals and financial due diligence, across different sectors, she is used to providing invaluable insights to businesses. As a Tech Enablement and Deals Analytics leader, driving innovation and implementing cutting edge technologies are a relevant part of her daily work within PwC.
Within the Portuguese startup ecosystem, Sandie collaborates regularly with the Scaling Up by Unicorn Factory Lisboa program and the Startup Braga Acceleration Program and she moderate a debate on the SIM conference in Porto, on funding structures, always seeking to empower startups with strategic financial guidance, driving their success in today’s competitive landscape.
Rafael is a member of Indico Capital’s Investment Team, where he specialises in identifying and evaluating investment opportunities in various technology sectors. With 8 years’ experience in venture capital, he is passionate about supporting founders to achieve success and turn their visions into reality. Rafael holds an M.Sc. in Finance and a B.Sc. in Economics, and in his spare time, he is dedicated to exploring and promoting ideas about philosophy.
Co-host of the only podcast that tells the stories of Portuguese founders and entrepreneurs in Portuguese. A Biomedical Engineer by training, he is currently a Data & Analytics Engineer at Rows and has a second podcast about technology and business – ‘Shutdown’.
Marco has been managing Galp’s Industrial and Upstream Innovation Centre since 2020, with more than 50 ongoing projects involving more than 800 researchers. Marco is also president of CoLab Net4CO2, a research institution focused on finding sustainable solutions for CO2 management, as well as a visiting professor at ISEG. Previously, he was a geologist at Galp E&P, focused on seismic interpretation and geological modelling in clastic and carbonate environments. He previously worked as a researcher in sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy and modelling for various institutions such as LNEG (Portugal) and USGS (USA) as a guest researcher on a project co-developed with NASA in San Francisco. He holds a PhD in Geosciences from the University of Sydney, where he was also an associate professor, and an MBA from the Catholic University.
Passionate about data and AI. I currently use data to improve the performance of an electric vehicle charging network at Powerdot. In my spare time, I can be seen collecting and sharing founders’ stories on the Founder Tales podcast.
A tax consultant specialising in tax benefits, she has been playing an active role in promoting tax literacy among Portuguese entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur and founding partner of PrimeRise Consulting, she has 15 years’ experience in the consultancy sector, particularly tax consultancy.
Born in Guimarães, he graduated from the University of Minho in Industrial and Computer Engineering and, after 10 years of professional experience, created a technology company – Sentinel.
Sentinel is a technology company that develops innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence and computer vision, focussing mainly on the industrial sector.
The company was born in the TecPark incubator at Ave Park in Guimarães in 2021 and currently exports technology to Europe and South America in addition to Portugal.
Clara Silva has a degree in International Economic and Political Relations from the University of Minho and is finalising her degree in Management. Since 2005, she has worked in TecMinho’s Entrepreneurship Department, where she is currently coordinator of the Entrepreneurship Unit. In recent years Clara has worked to promote an entrepreneurial culture at the University of Minho, supporting the development of new technological and knowledge-intensive businesses. She coordinates the University of Minho’s Spin-offs Programme, having supported the awarding of the status to more than 45 innovative business projects. She is also responsible for TecMinho’s Entrepreneurship Support Office, where she has organised more than 600 meetings to assess innovative and technological business ideas.
Over 15 years of experience in system engineering, administration, and networking, with a significant portion of that time spent in executive-level management roles, including CEO positions.
Proven leadership skills in designing and implementing complex client/server enterprise solutions and has been involved in the artificial intelligence domain for over a decade, pioneering advancements in AI. His focus has been on bridging machine-to-human simplification and interaction to enhance user experiences.
Extensive knowledge and experience implementing robust security solutions for practical enterprise applications. He has a pragmatic approach to leveraging security technologies and has worked in this space for over 15 years. Additionally, he has over a decade of successful management experience in Cloud Computing technologies, architecting and overseeing high-availability (HA) environments for optimal performance.
In his academic career, he has been teaching computer science, network security, and cloud computing at the university level for over 15 years.
Contributes to national and international projects, leading initiatives related to citizen electronic ID documentation, automated citizen identification, payment systems, and digital certification, showcasing global leadership and adaptability.
Holds a PhD in Computer Science with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence, complemented by a Master’s in Network and Communication Services.
Senior Researcher, bringing both practical industry experience and a commitment to academic excellence.
More than ten years of executive-level management experience, including roles such as CEO, bringing strategic vision and decisive leadership to organizations navigating dynamic landscapes.
Fluent in English and Spanish and a native Portuguese speaker.
I am a highly experienced retail leader with international exposure to multi-cultural and multinational environments.
Throughout the years I had the chance to develop my strategic thinking during challenging situations. Alongside strategy I have continued to display high quality planning with operational implementation. My constant passion has always concerned customer/user satisfaction and their engagement with the brand.
As a leader, I have developed my own practiced methods of getting the best out of people; strongly committed to challenges, generous with praise, quick to smile, I often bring enthusiasm to people and organizations. I use my intuition to appreciate the unique characteristics of each person, never hesitating to adapt myself to their specific approach and needs. Building bridges between people, giving sense and developing trust is a role I enjoy playing. I also have a great adaptability to change, passionate to keep moving forward when unexpected things happen.
Being curious and open-minded I have an interest in a variety of subjects. Combining my varied interests together with my ability to learn has enabled me to lead transversal teams in complex projects.
These personal assets and a great passion for shoes have also driven me to my latest project, Wayz, an environmental and socially responsible portuguese sneaker brand.
David Barroso was born in Guarda, Portugal, in 1989.
At the age of six he wasn’t even able to read but he would already rather insert random letters in MS-DOS than playing with toy cars or what he considered boring kids games.
Not only the passion for technology came at an early age, but also the entrepreneur side. David was only eight years old when he started selling small services to his family. Receipts included.
In fact, it was a pleasure to disassemble his mother’s mixer, but that didn’t mean he shouldn’t raise some money to add to what he thought it was a very little allowance to the needs of an aspiring engineer.
David also appreciated law and didn’t dislike the idea of passing his entire life arguing about stuff. But the real thrill was making ideas get out of the paper and court rooms. So, years later, he got into the University of Aveiro where he became a master of Electronics Engineering and Telecommunications.
In 2013, he took the first concept out of the notebook and applied it to a research grant, with the idea of a GPS tracker for kids and pets without monthly fees. With 12 months of financial support to develop Findster, David and his team accomplished a functional prototype.
In May 2014, they submitted the project to Indiegogo’s crowdfunding platform with a pre-order option of the system. The project was funded with more than $110k by more than 900 backers in 45 countries.
The young handyman David is now Founder and Head of Operations of Maven, but he’s still enthusiastic about fixing his parents’ appliances. The only difference is that now he is trading worldwide. Receipts included.
Ricardo Lima is the Head of Startups & Investors at Web Summit, based in Lisbon, Portugal. He leads a team of over 20 people that annually connect with thousands of promising high-growth tech startups and investors to foster engagement and collaboration. With a strong passion for the entrepreneurial scene, Ricardo is well-versed in local and global industry trends. Born in Portugal and raised in Spain until the age of 12, Ricardo is fluent in four languages—Portuguese, Spanish, English, and Creole—which helps him connect and build bridges between diverse communities worldwide.
Although Ricardo has never founded a startup, he
understands the challenges involved and recognises that
failure is part of the journey and values the importance of
experimentation and perseverance. Ricardo began his journey in Computer Science at ISCTE-IUL and briefly explored Aeronautical Sciences at Universidade Lusófona but did not finish either program, ultimately deciding to pursue a different path. Before joining Web Summit, he worked as a Sales Executive at GuestU, quickly rising to Head of Marketing before the company was sold to Nonius. He also gained valuable experience with AIESEC, moving from Head of the Office at ISCTE to National Coordinator of Internships. In 2021 he participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) run by the US Department of State in 2021 and in 2023 he was recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent by MIPAD.
João António Pinto de Almeida is a director of Têxteis JF Almeida, SA.
His career at the company began in July 2010 with the management of the finishing centre, where he directed teams and managed purchases in this sector. Now in the company’s and commercial management.
Since September 2015, he has been CEO of RMJJ Imobiliaria, SA, a family-run a family-run industrial and residential property management company.
In October 2022 he set up Forsolo Imobiliaria, SA, with the aim of building and brokering property.
He has a degree in Business Management, in the field of Finance, from the Polytechnic Institute of Accounting and Administration of Coimbra and a Postgraduate Diploma in Finance from the School of Economics of the University of Minho. Professional training in Lean Management from Tecminho and 5’s and Six Sigma methodologies from Citeve.
In the area of associations, he has always been linked to Vizelense sport, where he played handball for the Callidas Club, where he is now Vice-President. He was also a member of the board of Futebol Club Vizela, where he was Vice-President, responsible for creating new sports at the club.
He is also Vice-President of AE MINHO, where he is responsible for the Textile and Footwear pillar. Footwear pillar. At the same time, he is a member of AJEG (Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Guimarães).
Founder & CEO @ OSCAR 🏡
An entrepreneur with a software engineering background.
Experienced in the early-stage startup ecosystem and early development team management.
Over 15 years of experience across several marketing positions, project management, destination events development and management in China adn South East Asia. Highly passionate, and persuasive with a hands-on approach and entrepreneurial positive attitude at all times.
Experience includes the development of the international resort and hotel brands in Macau, including the development of new markets throughout Asia with a focus on Mainland China and previously logistics business development for EMEA.
Recently, Joao started in Venture Capital, leading the partnership between Indico and Google for Startups by managing Indico Founders Program and early stage investments in Portugal.
Lorena Diéguez is the leader of the Medical Devices research group at INL. Her research is dedicated to Translational Medical Research in close collaboration with hospitals and focuses on the development of solutions based on microfluidics, biosensors and nanotechnology towards early diagnosis and better understanding of diseases. She is also very interested in translating technologies from the lab to the clinic and is co-founder and CEO of the spin-off company RUBYnanomed in the field of liquid biopsy. Also, since 2019, she is the Chair of the Working Group in Medical Devices at the ETPN (European Technology Platform in Nanomedicine).
She obtained her Bachelors in Physics with Major in Optoelectronics at the University of Santiago de Compostela in 2005, then completed her Masters in Nanotechnology at the University of Barcelona (UB) in 2007 and her PhD in biosensors at the UB, the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia and the ETH Zürich. Her postdoc at the University of South Australia (2010-2013) was devoted to the study of rare cells from biological samples using microfluidics.
Dani Diéguez is a social entrepreneur who accompanies the transformation processes of professional and business initiatives that are committed to focusing on people. He is a loyal supporter of cross-border cooperation and educational innovation. He participates as a mentor and trainer in numerous programs to support entrepreneurship, job search and digital transformation in Spain and Portugal, facilitating learning sessions with a markedly dynamic style, mixing outdoor activities with Lego Serious Play sessions, gamification actions and online sessions. He is a founding partner of the cooperative Apoio and is passionate about organizing innovative events.
Founder and Programme Director of startUP23 (startup23.com).
Keynote Speaker and Mentor in various accelerator programmes, workshops and lectures in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, business, sales and marketing.
He helps companies find the right technology partner for their digital products (citycheck.pt).
Fun facts: he played football, tennis, was a kart racer and, more recently, kickboxing and muay thai.
Head of Content & Partnerships at The Next Big Idea, she is responsible for producing the TV series on innovation for SIC Notícias and for the editorial coordination of the website that follows the world of innovation and companies in Portugal and abroad on a weekly basis. She also has experience in developing content strategies for B2B and B2C brands in sectors such as technology, consumption, fintech, AI and real estate. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Management from the Catolica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics.
Master in Biomedical Engineering, specialised in Medical Informatics and Artificial Intelligence, with experience in Management.
CEO & Co-Founder @ PeekMed, an AI-based planning and simulation system for orthopedic surgery, which aims to decrease the cost of healthcare, while helping surgeons improving outcomes.
José Carlos Pereira has been working in business development for over 25 years and has consolidated experience in sales and international project management, mainly in Europe, Africa and Latin America.
With an MBA from ESADE Barcelona and all the know-how acquired throughout his professional career, he supports dozens of Portuguese companies and entrepreneurs in developing their businesses and teams through his boutique consultancy.
He is a board member of a number of national organizations and is currently vice-president of the Portuguese Association for Quality (APQ). His latest challenges focus on international investments in segmentation and data enrichment companies (software development) for conversion in the customer’s path to purchase, and he is CEO and founder of the company AURAXADV.
He is a speaker on international trade, negotiation and sales management. He is also the author of the best-selling book “CHEGAR E VENDER”.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of AH Business, SGPS, SA, Executive Director of Fisio Share, SA. He is CEO of Esferasaúde, People and Ahptus. Director of Plug 4 The World (electric mobility); investor in the Artificial Intelligence company Full Venue.
As a partner, he also owns online stores in the cosmetics, beauty and health sectors.
He was also a member and then chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fraunhofer Portugal.
He is or has been an investor and manager in technology companies: Renewable Energies, Marketplaces, e-learning and research.
In 2022, together with two fellow professors, he is founding Myndset3. This project aims to provide quantitative and qualitative decision support to the top management of organizations.
He has co-founded around 12 startups.
In academic terms, it is worth highlighting the fact that he is a Specialist Professor in Marketing (Thesis: “The brand as an integrating instrument in the management of organizations”); at IPAM he is a professor on the Marketing master’s degree, the Health Care Management master’s degree (chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation) and the Marketing Management degree. He also teaches on the PG’s in Marketing Management, Health Care Marketing and Innovation, the PG in Sales Management and the PG in Artificial Intelligence in Marketing, the latter two of which he also coordinates. He is a lecturer and co-coordinator of the Verakis Foundation’s Specialization Course in Food Marketing. Professor on the IET’s Mini MBA. He taught for 12 years on the International MBA in Marketing at CEDEPE (Brazil). He was also a lecturer on the PG in Management at ANJE.
Further training in:
Biohacking Your Brain’s Health – Emory University
Digital Business Transformation, PBS;
MBA in Marketing – PBS;
Postgraduate in Marketing Management – IPAM;
Biology degree – University of Minho.
Books:
He was co-author of the book: “Health Care Marketing” – launched in 2016, by Texto Editora – Grupo Leya.
Co-author and coordinator of the book: “Food Marketing, for beginners”, launched on the Brazilian market – November 2018, by Alexa Cultural – S. Paulo.
region of Portugal.
Angélica has extensive experience in the shopping center industry and a deep knowledge of the Iberian market and its key
players. She holds a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Vigo.
In her 18-year career, her work as director of the Travesía de Vigo shopping center for over 3 years stands out. Previously, she
led the Marketing department at the Gran Vía Shopping Center, also in Vigo, and was responsible for corporate marketing at
Grupo Terras Gauda for over 3 years, among other roles.
Additionally, Angélica is the leader of the Shopping Centers Committee of Women in Retail (WiR), a platform that promotes
female leadership in the retail sector.
Co-Founder and COO at Full Venue, a company that uses Artificial Intelligence to create high-performance audiences, and also Co-Coordinator of the Post-Graduation in Artificial Intelligence in Marketing at IPAM.
Previously, he was CEO of Willba Agency, Marketing Director of event producer and promoter MOT, as well as leading the development of the Football category at Prozis for 4 years.
Since 2004 Pedro has been part of AICEP´s commercial team.
First in the area of attracting foreign investment to Portugal and then in the team that follows Portuguese companies in their internationalization strategies.
Currently he is a Key Account Manager for companies in the ICT area and responsible for the startup ecosystem at AICEP.
Father of two twin boys and I practice many sports – running, football, biking, etc. As an amateur photographer, loves landscape photography.
Currently lives in Porto and studied at the University of Minho in Braga.
Filipa Matos is the Vice President of Special Operations at Remote, where she steers the execution of pivotal projects and the strategic positioning of the company in the global market.
With a background in leading strategic initiatives, Filipa excels in deploying complex operational solutions that drive global growth and technological innovation. Her expertise encompasses a comprehensive understanding of organizational dynamics and market challenges, enabling her to orchestrate efforts that enhance operational efficiencies and product innovations.
With over 20 years’ experience in business development, marketing and communications, Helena is passionate about solving real problems.
What drives her are people, relationships that result in partnerships and strategies that create synergies.
She began her professional career in Communication and Advertising, worked for over 10 years in fundraising and business development at one of the country’s most prestigious cultural institutions and, in 2017, had her first contact with venture capital, entrepreneurship and innovation when she took on the role of Marketing & Communication Director at Portugal Ventures.
Today she oversees a portfolio of 17 early-stage technology startups, supporting their teams in business growth and the funding process.
Her support for entrepreneurs extends to the national entrepreneurship ecosystem, as a Non-Executive Board Member at Startup Portugal.
Rui Barroca is a skilled Product Design Lead and Full Stack Design Consultant with extensive experience across major corporations and innovative startups. His diverse client portfolio includes:
- Aviation: British Airways, Allegiant Air
- Finance: American Express, Capital One
- Sports: Betfair, William Hill, FIFA Qatar 2022
- Fashion: Net-A-Porter, Givenchy, New Look
- Advertising: Ogilvy
Rui specialises in User Experience, Product Design, Creative Direction, Rapid Prototyping, Mobile App Design, and Lean Methodology.
As the founder of designFAO, he is dedicated to uniting designers and cultivating a vibrant design community. Rui is the curator of the designFAO conference, held annually every October in Faro, Algarve – Portugal.
Passionate about mentorship, Rui has significantly contributed to startup ecosystems, including Techstars Accelerator London, Startup Weekend, Startup Braga, Loqr, and Attentive. His guidance has helped numerous teams navigate product development, from roadmap planning to content strategy.
Rui’s commitment to nurturing new talent and fostering innovation is evident in his mentoring approach. He thrives on sharing his extensive knowledge and experience to support emerging founders and creative minds.
A devoted advocate of knowledge-sharing and personal growth, Rui’s approachable nature and commitment to excellence make him a valued mentor and leader in the design community. He always strives to inspire and connect with others.
Sofia Manso began her entrepreneurial career at an early age, having been President of the Students’ Association. She has a degree in Political Science and several years’ experience in the field as a campaign director and political communications director, and was also President of a Youth Party.
She spent several years with the airline TAP and was also an entrepreneur in the field of investment and wealth management.
She has a degree in Marketing and Content Management, as well as professional coaching and international ICF training. Her educational background also includes training in financial literacy, positive psychology, cognitive-behavioural psychology, behaviourism, employer branding, executive management and SME management.
She was involved in the Ukraine Mission where, among other duties, she transported Ukrainians to host homes in Portugal and founded the P Estrelinha Academy, a children’s support organisation.
Co-founder of A33, COO of A33, Sofia Manso is Chief Executive Officer of Academia da Felicidade and Director of Pessoas e Felicidade Grupo Bernardo da Costa.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Don't miss the chance to take part in Startup Week Guimarães!
Join us for an unforgettable experience at Techstars Startup Week Guimarães! Meet and interact with leading innovators, take part in workshops, attend extraordinary rountables and talks and connect with other entrepreneurs. Secure your place and be part of the community that drives the future.
FAQ
When and where will Techstars Startup Week Guimarães be held?
The initiative will be held from October 21 to 25, 2024 at Sítio Coworking (located in the MITH – Minho Innovation & Technology Hub), next to the University of Minho, offering the ideal atmosphere for this collaborative and dynamic event.
Who can take part in the initiative?
Techstars Startup Week Guimarães is open to all types of participants, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, university students, R&D centers and industry, interested in areas such as entrepreneurship, startups, business, creativity and innovation.
What are the benefits of taking part in Startup Week?
Techstars Startup Week Guimarães will be a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, students, businesspeople, investors and startup enthusiasts to get together and share knowledge, experiences and valuable tips for developing a business.
During a week, participants will have the chance to get to know the region’s startup ecosystem up close, attend inspiring talks and roundtables, discuss trends and innovations, as well as celebrate the achievements and progress made by the local entrepreneurial community, in a truly energizing and inspiring atmosphere.
Who will be the speakers, mentors and special guests?
Startup Week will feature a list of incredible speakers made up of experienced managers, founders and experts, able to share valuable knowledge and experience.
How can I get in touch with the organization of this initiative?
You can contact the Startup Week organizing team using the form below or by email: geral@startupweekguimaraes.co. We’re here to help!