José Maria Sacadura

🇵🇹 🛑 🧮 🦄 This is a story about why in Portugal we must stop counting unicorns. Suspension of disbelief is critical for #startup success. We need to be bold in imagining and creating the future 🚀 However, imagination only produces fairy tales, to create true value we need execution. Getting millions in funding 💰 is an amazing tool to achieve growth 📈 Getting millions in funding is no success metric. 🙅‍♂️ Getting millions in funding to get thousands in revenue is the definition of a bad investment and a bad business. I challenge the 🇵🇹 #startup ecosystem and all its stakeholders to stop counting unicorns and start counting millions (of revenue). Read my opinion piece in Jornal Economico (in Portuguese)

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Our 🥇 leading Alternative Investment firm, Bankinter Investment, is pleased to announce 📰 that we have completed 💯 the construction of the largest logistics ❗ project in Portugal for Leroy Merlin, with 147.00 sqm and a new strategic location in the Lisbon 🏨 Metropolitan Area. This is part of our Logistic REIT, Montepino, which is the leading Built-to-Suit platform in Spain, having Valfondo Investment Management as our specialised partner. The project has been built ⚒️ following the highest standards ✔️ of quality and sustainability in construction, this innovative building prioritises 🌅 natural lighting, energy efficiency ♻️ and green areas ☘️ , guaranteeing a balanced fusion between comfort and environmental responsibility 🔉 . https://lnkd.in/divr37BP

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Rui Falcão provides a sharp analysis of Portugal’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, highlighting the need for improvement in several areas. His three proposals — tax benefits for investors, increasing liquidity in the early-stage market and enhancing global visibility for Portuguese start-ups — are essential to unlocking the country’s potential. While Portugal may not be able to compete in later-stage funding, it remains a promising hub for early-stage entrepreneurs, offering a solid foundation for growth. I hope to contribute to this mission by helping build more resilient, successful start-up teams ready to tackle all the challenges ahead. #StartupEcosystem #Entrepreneurship #PortugalStartups

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How proud I am to be Alumni (Porto Business School Alumni) of the Executive MBA at Porto Business School! Very well done! The Executive MBA program at Porto Business School is once again ranked among the top 40 in Europe and the top 100 worldwide. The program of Porto Business School rose several positions globally and at the European level compared to last year, now occupying the 94th and 36th place, respectively. This is the eighth consecutive year that the Executive MBA of Porto Business School has been included in the British consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds rankings. #PBS #portobusinessschool #Emba #mba

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Banco de Portugal released some eye-opening figures: foreign investment in the first half of 2024 has more than doubled compared to the same period last year. And guess what's driving this surge? You guessed it: 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 European investors are leading, but we're seeing growing interest from the Americas, Asia, and Africa as well. This investment boom is good news for the real estate sector, and it's contributing to our overall economic growth and putting Portugal firmly on the map as a prime investment destination. What makes Portugal so appealing? From our quality of life to our strategic location, Portugal is a hotspot for global investors looking for their next opportunity. https://lnkd.in/dWh9A5Va

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🎓✨ I have completed a unique and specialized learning journey in the ESG field, applied to the financial sector. This course encourages taking the next step towards sustainability – “Taking the Leap.” 🌱💼 Let's apply this knowledge and contribute to a more sustainable future in the financial sector. 🌍🚀 #ESG #Sustainability #FinancialSector #TakingTheLeap #CareerDevelopment

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#kalrasays Key issues in the Portuguese startup ecosystem: 1. Inexperienced advisors: Most mentors lack hands-on experience in building astartup. 2. Ineffective investors: 70% of investors add little value and often don't deserve board seats. 3. Misplaced corporate influence: The trend of bringing multinational executives to advise startups is problematic. 4. Overvaluing credentials: An MBA doesn't guarantee startup expertise. 5. Lack of uncertainty management: Many advisors haven't faced true decision-making under ambiguity. 6. Mismatched experience: Corporate executives often lack skills in:   - Navigating unestablished markets   - Creating new products/categories   - Handling existential business risks 7. Incremental vs. exponential thinking: Big company experience focuses on small, steady incremental growth rather than rapid scaling. 8. Limited decision-making experience: Corporate advisors rarely face high-stakes decisions with major trade-offs. 9. Outdated knowledge: In fast-changing markets, experience can quickly become irrelevant. 10. Overvalued expertise: Many board members and panellists haven't earned their positions through relevant accomplishments. 11. Lack of adaptability: If fired, many of these "experts" might struggle to find equivalent roles, suggesting their skills may not be as valuable as perceived. To improve, the ecosystem needs advisors with proven entrepreneurial track records, a better vetting process for board appointments, and a shift towards valuing practical startup experience over corporate credentials./success

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A new venture event is coming! I'll be speaking at the #SIMConference at Porto! It's a great opportunity for European venture market players to network and learn.  We will share insights on innovation, growth, most interesting industries, and more. See you there! Link in the first comment. #StartupPortugal #Porto #Portugal #Investors #Startup #SimConf

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Yesterday, we officially kicked off The Boldness Way program with a session led by Diogo Rolo, focused on "You and Your Presence," at Porto Business School 🌟 This opening session set the stage for a transformative journey of personal and professional growth. Diogo guided us through powerful insights on how to build self-awareness, cultivate a strong presence, and harness our individual strengths to lead with confidence and authenticity. Looking forward to the next stages of this bold adventure! 🚀 #BoldnessWay #LeadershipDevelopment #PortoBusinessSchool #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipPresence #ContinuousLearning #BoldLeadership

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🌟 This weekend was a game-changer. 🌟 Participating in the Talent-Up 🚀 Program by Startup Leiria was not just about innovation; it was about rediscovering myself. In just 8 hours of combined group effort, my team and I went from brainstorming to delivering a full-fledged, innovative, tech-based, and disruptive idea for a new startup company, completed with a business plan and a VC-ready pitch deck, addressing the challenging topic of "Water Resources Management". 💡 What I accomplished this weekend: Unlocked my entrepreneurial mindset—thinking not just as a consultant, but as a creator of something entirely new. Collaborated with brilliant, creative minds to craft a business model that is ready to contribute to smart water management, and make an impact on a more sustainable future for the planet. Delivered a pitch presentation that challenged and inspired, reflecting the best of our team's combined effort. Connected with skilled, fascinating, and innovative individuals who embody the energy and complexity of Leiria's thriving innovation ecosystem. 🙌 A huge thanks to Startup Leiria for organizing such a dynamic, high-impact event that fosters creativity, collaboration, and a true sense of purpose. Your platform is inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and change-makers in our region. To Porto Business School, thank you for expanding my horizons, not just as a professional but as a dreamer and builder. The thoughtful gift of the Entrepreneur’s Notebook was particularly timely—it became a guiding tool throughout this event, helping me navigate ideas and focus on impact. You’ve taught me to think beyond consultancy—to embrace innovation, adaptability, and leadership in every sense. This weekend wasn't just about co-creating ideas—it was about self-discovery. Who knows? Maybe the next 🦄 is already here, growing from these connections, insights, and ambitions. It was a real pleasure collaborating with Ana T. and João Baptista. Congrats, you showed your potential! 🚀 Here’s to innovation, teamwork, and the courage to disrupt. #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #LeiriaInnovationEcosystem #StartupMindset #SelfDiscovery #TalentUp #PortoBusinessSchool

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I’ll be speaking at Bitalk - Negócios à Portuguesa tonight to dive into some hot topics in the world of startups and venture capital! 🇵🇹 📌 How can your idea be worth 1 Million Euros? 📌 What’s the difference between a startup and a business? 📌 What is the state of venture and entrepreneurship in Portugal? 📌 What are the biggest innovations shaking up the world of VCs right now! 📺 Catch me tonight at 11 PM on Canal Q for a deep dive into all these questions and more! #venturecapital #startupfunding #fundraising #Portugal #Europe

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A great conversation about AI in legal marketing and business development!

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Today, as I enjoy dinner with fellow startup founders and investors, I'm thrilled to see Porto gaining more recognition in the startup ecosystem. 🚀 The city is hosting its inaugural SIM Conference (Startups & Investment Matching) from May 2-4 at the Centro de Congressos da Alfândega. Orchestrated by Startup Portugal, this event is set to energize our thriving ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs, startups, and investors. 📅 If you're around, ping me and let's connect! #SIMConference #StartupPortugal #InvestInPorto #Entrepreneurship

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CTT - Correios de Portugal's acquisition of CACESA tech&logistics and its partnership with DHL are powerful signals of how e-commerce is driving digital transformation across the Iberian Peninsula. These moves aren't just about logistics—they're about building the digital infrastructure necessary to support seamless, cross-border e-commerce experiences. This strategy underscores the importance of digital-first solutions in meeting the expectations of increasingly tech-savvy consumers. The question now is: how can businesses across the peninsula leverage this momentum to further integrate digital tools and redefine the e-commerce experience? #DigitalTransformation #EcommerceInnovation #EcommerceTrends #TechInEcommerce

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🇵🇹 In 2024, Portugal's startup landscape grew by 16%, with 4,719 companies generating a combined €2.6 billion in revenue. This growth, highlighted in a report by IDC, Informa D&B, and Startup Portugal, underscores the sector's role in the national economy. Startups account for 1.4% of Portugal's exports, with average monthly wages rising 17% to around €2,000 - significantly above the national average. 🔗 Know more 👉 https://lnkd.in/du4SjrJB #startupportugal #startup #startups #Portugal #PortugalMakesSense

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What a remarkable day yesterday! We kicked off the day with the Clean Future Demo Day, where outstanding founders presented groundbreaking solutions aimed at driving sustainability forward in cities, across mobility, construction and retail categories. 🌱 Congratulations to all and, in particular to our overall winner: Tether (Techstars '23)! Following that, we celebrated excellence at the Entrepreneurship Awards 🎉, recognizing those pushing the boundaries of the startup ecosystem. The energy and talent in the room were incredible! 💡✨ The evening closed crowning Powerdot's founding team as the Entrepreneurs of the Year! The other startup winners of the evening were: - Framedrop.ai as the Most Promising Startup - Lampsy Health as the best University Startup - Goparity | Impact finance as the Most Impactful Startup Virgílio (“V”) Bento, founder and CEO of Sword Health, was distinguished with the Ecosystem Award for his leading and inspiring role in the growth of innovation in Portugal! Last but not least, the 9 finalists of the Innovation For All Awards were also announced during the event, out of over 325 applications! These projects will now have the chance to implement their solutions in Lisbon, in collaboration with Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, in what is one of the largest Impact Awards in Europe focusing on improving citizens' lives. A special thanks to the fantastic Unicorn Factory Lisboa's team and partners! 🚀 #CleanFuture #EntrepreneurshipAwards #Innovation #Sustainability #UnicornFactoryLisboa #innovationforall #Lisboa #Portugal

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