SIM Conference

⚡ The SIM Conference brought just the right energy to Porto. 👀 Don't believe us? See for yourself. 👏 Thank you to everyone who participated and brought the right spirit.

🚀 SIM Conference closed with its eyes on what comes next. The final afternoon looked at the decisions shaping the future of innovation, from how legacy industries place their bets to Europe’s role in the AI race and the challenge of staying human in a hyper-tech world. It was also a moment to launch Road 2 Web Summit 2026, celebrate the Pitch Battle Winner @granter.ai , and close the SIM Stage with Hugo Beirão, from @cmporto , joining @startupportugal_ for the final remarks. 🎙️ A few moments that shaped the afternoon: SCALE’HER: Powering Europe’s Women-Led Startups in Deep Tech and Digital ➡️ Anne-Charlotte Joubert #Wonderfund How Legacy Industries Place Bets on the Future ➡️ Ricardo Pires @Semapa and Tocha #OlisipoWay REVERSE PITCH SESSION ➡️ Diogo Reis #IberisCapital, Leone Carpi #StartVentures, João Moreira Pires, @startupportugal_ , and Vasco Vieira @startupportugal_ Leading in the Age of AI - Is Europe Still in the Race? ➡️ Markus Reinisch @meta and Mário Campolargo @universidadeaveiro How to be Human in an Hyper Tech World ➡️ Vítor Magalhães @El étrico and Rute Sousa Vasco #MadreMedia From Code to Cash: Building Companies That Create Generational Impact ➡️ André Eiras @sword.health and Elena Davidson LibertyComms Falling in love with the problem: The Waze Journey ➡️ Uri Levine @waze founder 🤝 Two days of meetings, insights, and opportunities in Porto. ✅ That’s a wrap on SIM Conference. 📷 Hugo Barreleiro, Ricardo Castelo, Ricardo Meireles, Pedro Granadeiro e Miguel Ribeiro Fernandes /@startupportugal_

💪 One more morning done. #SIMCONF2026 Day 2 opened with a clear focus on what it takes to build better companies for the years ahead. The morning sessions brought together perspectives on the agentic era, startup acceleration, accessible digital products, and the discipline behind long-term growth. 🎤 Across the SIM Stage, speakers explored how businesses can adapt to new technologies, how incubators help startups move faster, and why accessibility should be part of innovation from the start. Building and Scaling a Business in the Agentic Era ➡️ Rana Raouf Farag @google Signal vs. Noise: How Investors Spot Founders Who Can Build Enduring Models ➡️ Brian Caulfield @scaleire and Stephan de Moraes @indicocapital Incubating and accelerating the next European and global winners ➡️ Gil Azevedo @unicornflisboa , Anne-Liisa Elbrecht @tehnopol and Ivanoel Rodrigues @startupportugal_ Designing a Web That Works for Everyone ➡️ Jwana Godinho @accesslabpt Lab and Behdad Esfahbod Securing the Future: Redefining Enterprise Trust in a Post-Quantum World ➡️ Gonçalo Silva @vodafonept and André Grilo @quantumnova.cybersecurity Billion Dollar Lessons: Don’t Fall for the Vertigo ➡️ Cristina Fonseca @indicocapital and Leo Peikoff @kpmg Gaming as a driving force for building state-of-the-art technology ➡️ Paulo Trezentos @aptoidestore , Jeferson Valadares #APVP, Malte Barth #BITKRAFTVentures, and André Luís #THU 🗣️ And of course, plenty of time to network in the Connecting Room. 🚀 Let’s make this last part of the day the best it can be for the ecosystem. 📷 Hugo Barreleiro, Ricardo Castelo, Ricardo Meireles, Pedro Granadeiro e Miguel Ribeiro Fernandes / Startup Portugal

⚡ Our #SIMConf2026 Day 1 was a blast! 🌍 In the afternoon, the scenario turned to Europe’s place in the global startup landscape from policy and investment to international competitiveness, exploring how startups can transform strategic support, capital, and market access into real growth opportunities. From the EU agenda to Europe’s role in a US-driven world, the sessions captured both the challenges and the ambition shaping the next generation of startups. The afternoon also featured the Golden Aurora Winner Announcement, with Vicky Brock named as this year’s winner, followed by a conversation with Mary McKenna from #AwakenAngels 🎙️ Here are some of the highlights of this afternoon: Building at the Edge: When Growth Strats Testing Your Values ➡️ Sacha Michaud @lifeatglovo , Marcelo Lebre @remote and Ana Pimentel From EU Agenda to Startup Impact ➡️ Jussi Hätönen @europeaninvestmentbank , Lurdes Gramaxo @#nvestorsPortugal and José Vale @_iapmei_ Beyond Competition: Europe’s Role in a US World ➡️ Merel Kraaijenbrink #Dealfloweu, Nenad Marovac DN Capital, Francisco Azevedo #Anchorage and Filipa Pinto de Carvalho @redbridge.lisbon Europe has the plan. Who builds the last mile?➡️ Miguel Aguiar @startupportugal_ and Bernardo Correia. 🌅 And, as always, the day closed with SIMset by @eletricofestival , a moment to relax and keep the conversations going beyond the stage. 📷 Hugo Barreleiro, Ricardo Castelo, Ricardo Meireles, Pedro Granadeiro e Miguel Ribeiro Fernandes / Startup Portugal

🚀 SIM Conf Day 1 started with the ecosystem in motion. From the Opening Session at the SIM Stage to Connecting Circles and conversations on how Portuguese startups can scale from the edge of Europe to the global stage, the morning set the tone for two days focused on moments of connections, investment opportunities, and international growth. Founders, investors, public leaders, and ecosystem players came together in Porto to discuss what it takes to build globally competitive companies. 🎤 Kicking things off with a shoutout to our morning speakers: Opening Session ➡️ João Rui Ferreira @economia_coesao_pt , Pedro Duarte @cmporto , Gonçalo Regalado #BancoPortuguêsdeFomento e Alexandre Teixeira dos Santos @startupportugal Billion Dollar Lessons ➡️ mikebutcher @pathfounders and Humberto Ayres Pereira #Superhuman; Paulo Rosado @lifeatoutsystems and Alexandre Santos @startupportugal Reverse Pitch Session ➡️ Bárbara Leão de Carvalho #3XP and Pedro Coutinho #THV #BSCAIFactory 💪 This is just the beginning. 📷 Hugo Barreleiro, Ricardo Castelo, Ricardo Meireles, Pedro Granadeiro e Miguel Ribeiro Fernandes / Startup Portugal

🔜 It’s getting real. 👀 Take a sneak peek at what’s about to unfold over the next two days in Porto. 💡 Tomorrow, bright ideas start taking shape at SIM Conference. 🎟️ Last opportunity to get your ticket.

⌛ Ready for what’s next? The wait is almost over. SIM Conference starts tomorrow. Two exciting days of ideas, conversations, and the future of the ecosystem. 🎟️ Last chance to grab your ticket.

👀 A first look at some of the conversations shaping SIM Conference. From billion-dollar lessons to the future of AI, scaling, and product thinking, you’ll hear from voices like Mike Butcher, Ricardo Mendes, Rana Raouf Farag, Leo Peikoff, Cristina Fonseca, and Uri Levine. These are some of the sessions you won’t want to miss on the SIM Stage. 👉 Swipe through the agenda highlights and start planning your SIM. 📍 Porto 📅 May 14-15 🎟️ Last days to get your ticket.

🤝 Behind every SIM Conference, there is a broader network that helps make it happen. We’re glad to count on the support of: - #CNCA - @glovo_prt - @madan_parque - @nova.legal - @pci_creativesciencepark - @scaleher_project - @indicocapital - #Pointer 5 Their support is part of what helps SIM bring people, ideas, and opportunities together in Porto. 📍 Porto 📅 May 14–15 🎟️ Get your ticket in the link in bio.

💡 Innovation grows through the organisations that help support ideas, talent, and new opportunities across the ecosystem. 😁 We’re proud to present our Bronze Sponsors: - @inova.business_ - @leadzai.official - @unicornflisboa - @huawei 📍 Porto 📅 May 14–15 🎟️ Don’t miss your opportunity to be part SIM Conference in the link in bio.

🇵🇹 We are honoured to announce that SIM Conference 2026 has been granted the High Patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic, @ajseguro . 🤝 This distinction recognises the relevance of SIM as a meeting point for entrepreneurship, innovation, and the connections helping shape the future of Portugal ecosystem.

👌 SIM Conference comes to life through the partners who help shape the experience around it. This year, we’re proud to count on the support of: - #BusinessAngelsEurope - @_ceiia_ - @anje.pt - @dehouse.workspaces - @delta_cafes , our Energy Partner - @3cket , our Ticketing Partner - @eletricofestival , our Music Partner 🌐 Together, they help make SIM Conference a stronger and more connected experience. 📍 Porto 📅 May 14–15 🎟️ Tickets in the link in bio.