How to build a company, according to the people who did.

Most founders regret not starting sooner. The skills you think you need only develop through doing. Ignorance about what comes next is actually what gives you courage to take the first step. Seek just enough knowledge to move forward with confidence, then learn the rest on the job.

• Leave your comfort zone early and expose yourself to new situations, because curiosity and asking for help unlock doors.

  “O mais importante é nós sairmos da nossa zona de conforto... temos que sair, temos que nos expor, temos que ser curiosos.”

  Bruno Azevedo · #007 · Jul 19, 2021 · 68:05 →

• Don't let fear or negative feedback block new opportunities — risk early before responsibilities pile up.

  “Não ter medo de arriscar. Ou seja, aquela coisa de sair da zona de conforto, tipo, o mais cedo possível.”

  Pedro Resende · #021 · Jun 6, 2022 · 46:00 →

• Believe it's possible to build in Portugal despite the negative noise around you.

  “Acreditem que é possível. Ignorem esse ruído e se for isso que vocês querem fazer e acreditarem que têm essa resiliência, vão em frente.”

  André Oliveira · #046 · Oct 16, 2023 · 18:49 →

• Risk more while you're young — money can be recovered but early experience is priceless.

  “Mais vale ter menos pessoas e pessoas muito boas que tenham a mesma visão que tu e que consigam mesmo dar o tudo ou nada.”

  Alvaro Meyer · #051 · Nov 20, 2023 · 61:02 →

• Ignorance about the full journey ahead is what gives you the courage to actually begin.

  “Ignorância é o que faz mover-te para frente. Que não saber o que vem para frente é o que faz você ter coragem de efetivamente começar.”

  Diego Sampaio · #103 · Jul 21, 2025 · 59:16 →

• Try even when it's hard — you don't need to quit everything at once, just start while balancing other responsibilities.

  “Façam. Mesmo que seja difícil e mesmo que haja algumas alturas que desceba de dizer "Paravelíssimo". Pelo menos no meu caso compensou.”

  Tomás Pessoa e Costa · #106 · May 26, 2026 · 42:11 →

People will offer conflicting advice because they're reflecting their own context, not yours. Listen widely but filter aggressively for what fits your situation. You know your problem and market better than anyone. The goal is to find what works for you, not follow a template.

• There's no recipe — discover your own path, don't fear asking those who've done it, and don't take negative opinions too literally.

  “Não há uma receita mágica, não existe uma maneira certa de fazer as coisas.”

  Frederico Carpinteiro · #001 · Apr 23, 2021 · 41:26 →

• Listen and digest advice, don't just follow it — nobody knows the problem you're solving better than you.

  “Ouvir e digerir. Não é ouvir e seguir, é ouvir e digerir.”

  Ivanoel Rodrigues · #060 · Mar 11, 2024 · 71:06 →

• Maintain your critical judgment constantly — you know more about your business than anyone else.

  “Ninguém conhece mais sobre o teu negócio do que tu enquanto empreendedor.”

  José Salgado · #081 · Dec 9, 2024 · 40:02 →

• Stay open to feedback but find what works for you personally, not what the internet says is best.

  “O que interessa é o que funciona para ti. Portanto, há uma forma ótima de fazer o caminho, mas se ela não for a forma ótima para ti, tu não a vais fazer.”

  Ana Neto · #108 · Jun 12, 2026 · 45:30 →

Building a company takes years, often a decade or more. If you don't care deeply about the problem or sector, you'll burn out long before you succeed. Genuine belief in what you're building also sells better than any pitch deck — people feel authenticity.

• Stay passionate about your sector — passion is the single most important factor for long-term success.

  “Quem está a procurar dinheiro, nunca é a tua ideia nem nada, são as pessoas, é a conexão que tens com as pessoas.”

  Anthony Douglas · #025 · Jul 4, 2022 · 29:15 →

• Believe genuinely in the product you're building, because if you don't believe, nobody else will.

  “Se não estás a acreditar mesmo, tu tens de ter a pessoa que mais acredita naquele produto ou naquele serviço.”

  Ricardo Marvão · #072 · Jul 18, 2024 · 68:10 →

• Do something meaningful that relates to you personally — it keeps motivation alive long-term.

  “Do something meaningful. That's my advice. Always.”

  Clara Gonçalves · #082 · Dec 16, 2024 · 29:39 →

• Passion sells — you can sell passion on a blank slide with black letters.

  “A paixão vende. Vocês conseguem vender a paixão num slide branco com letras pretas, é tão simples quanto isso.”

  Ricardo Costa · #085 · Feb 10, 2025 · 69:56 →

Many founders waste months perfecting features nobody asked for. Start with the simplest version that tests your core assumption. A landing page, a WhatsApp group, a manual service — anything that lets you talk to real people and see if they care. Iterate from there.

• Don't fear prototyping — build ten prototypes to actually see if the ideas have value, rather than keeping them in your head.

  “Devemos fazer dez ideias e ter os protótipos das dez ideias para realmente ver se aquilo vale alguma coisa.”

  João Moniz Gomes · #003 · May 21, 2021 · 39:34 →

• Don't waste time perfecting a product without validating if people actually want it — start with simple proof of concept like landing pages.

  “Não percam muito tempo a aperfeiçoar um produto que não sabem se as pessoas querem.”

  Hélder Silva · #005 · Jun 18, 2021 · 49:18 →

• Test concepts to the max using simple tools like WhatsApp or Instagram before building full interfaces.

  “Testem ao máximo os vossos conceitos e tentem obter a validação no mercado.”

  João Lopes · #008 · Aug 2, 2021 · 57:19 →

• Simplify from the start — begin with one single feature instead of trying to solve multiple problems simultaneously.

  “Começamos com uma coisa super complicada, imensamente complicada. E a verdade é que podemos começar com uma.”

  Jenny Romano · #078 · Nov 18, 2024 · 10:19 →

• You can validate the product with far less work than you think — use shared-risk contracts or pre-authorized cards to confirm people will actually pay.

  “O produto é validado com muito menos trabalho e esforço do que aquilo que pensas.”

  Paulo Cunha · #102 · Jun 16, 2025 · 83:14 →

Validation isn't a one-time checkpoint — it's continuous. Markets shift, customer needs evolve, competitors emerge. What was valid a month ago might be irrelevant today, especially in early stage. Talk to users constantly, run experiments, measure real behavior not just stated interest.

• Launch as fast as possible to get market feedback — no product will be perfect without real validation.

  “O teu tempo enquanto empreendedor é muito importante, por isso escolhe bem onde o dedicas e lança o mais de pressa possível.”

  Fabiana Clemente · #013 · Apr 11, 2022 · 53:23 →

• Do continuous research and user interviews to understand pain points, but don't try to gather all information before making decisions — someone has to risk and iterate with real feedback.

  “Alguém vai ter que tomar algumas decisões, alguém vai ter que arriscar, e é isso que nós também temos vindo a fazer.”

  Roberto Machado · #014 · Apr 18, 2022 · 35:51 →

• Start validating by talking to customers as soon as possible, because ideas only become real through conversation and execution.

  “An idea only becomes real when you start talking about it with other people, with customers.”

  Live from the SIM conference · #069 · Jun 4, 2024 · 56:15 →

• Keep validating regularly throughout the startup's life — a month in a startup's life is a lot, and what was valid recently might not be relevant anymore.

  “Continuar esse conceito de validação é importante porque um mês numa vida de uma startup é muito, se calhar seis meses na vida de uma pessoa normal.”

  Transformou uma doença rara numa startup · #113 · Aug 3, 2026 · 51:00 →

Every day you spend polishing is a day you're not learning from real users. Early-stage companies die from inaction more often than from shipping something imperfect. The cost of delay — lost market position, competitor moves, missed hiring windows — is almost always higher than the cost of a rough launch.

• Prioritize speed over perfection in early stage — doing things fast is sometimes more important than doing them well, given the opportunity cost.

  “Fazer as coisas rápido mais do que bem às vezes é muito importante.”

  João Marques · #035 · Apr 3, 2023 · 23:46 →

• Fail fast, correct even faster, iterate continuously — reject the pursuit of perfection and focus on incremental movement.

  “Falhar rápido. Corrigir ainda mais rápido e iterar continuamente nisso. E não tenho medo de falhar.”

  Márcio Martins · #079 · Nov 25, 2024 · 78:17 →

• Action generates data points that enable faster iteration — don't get stuck on output quality at the start.

  “O "fake it" e a ação gera data points, e permite iteração cada vez mais rápido.”

  João Pedro Almeida · #109 · Jun 29, 2026 · 67:17 →

• Work with such high volume that success becomes inevitable — try many things and fail quickly in the process.

  “Fazes com tanto volume que se torna não plausível não ter sucesso.”

  André Dionísio · #100 · Jun 2, 2025 · 66:48 →

Founders get attached to their original vision and ignore warning signs. The idea is less important than the problem space and the team solving it. If something isn't working after a few months of real effort, don't cling to it out of pride. Pivot quickly and test a new angle.

• Assume your initial spectacular idea is rubbish — stay flexible and be ready to throw it away.

  “A vossa ideia espetacular é uma merda. Mantenham a flexibilidade.”

  Daniela Seixas e Humberto Ayres Pereira · #044 · Jun 13, 2023 · 61:56 →

• Be ready to pivot quickly if something isn't working after a few months — in early stage, optimize for high-impact macro tasks, not micro improvements.

  “Em early stage tens que otimizar para tarefas macro, grandes, que serão altamente impactantes para tu encontrar os sinais que precisas.”

  faturação e clientes? com Guilherme Coelho · #052 · Dec 4, 2023 · 58:58 →

• The initial idea isn't the final idea — focus on the problem and market, not the original vision, because the path reveals opportunities you didn't anticipate.

  “Não valorizo a ideia, valorizo é o espaço onde estamos a trabalhar e a equipa que está a fazer, acho que isso é a coisa mais importante de todas.”

  André Santos · #094 · Apr 21, 2025 · 82:53 →

A great team can pivot a bad idea into a good one. A weak team will fail even with a strong idea. Early investors scrutinize founding teams more than the product because there's usually nothing tangible yet. Technology and plans change, but the people executing them are constant. Choose co-founders as carefully as you'd choose a spouse.

• The team is worth more than the product or sales — prioritize choosing the right people and building cohesion.

  “A equipa muitas vezes vale muito mais do que o produto, do que o serviço, do que as vendas que tu tivés.”

  Pedro Lourenço · #004 · Jun 4, 2021 · 41:35 →

• Invest huge time upfront choosing co-founders who buy the vision from day one, because they'll work the invisible 32 hours and face investor scrutiny when there's nothing tangible to show.

  “A equipa é aquilo que é primordial, porque vão ser aquelas pessoas que vão estar conosco desde o início, no limite até ao fim.”

  João Pedro Ribeiro · #006 · Jul 2, 2021 · 58:59 →

• Even with valuable technology, success depends mainly on managing people, building culture and motivating the team — choose the right miners for your gold mine.

  “Mesmo que tenhas descoberto uma mina de ouro, ainda não estás rico. Tens que escolher os mineiros corretos.”

  Luís Valente · #009 · Sep 17, 2021 · 51:45 →

• Choose your founders and team very carefully, because there's much you only learn by doing and you need the right people beside you.

  “Há muitas coisas que só se aprendem com a fazer, há muitas experiências que só aprendes depois de ter.”

  João Ramos · #062 · Mar 28, 2024 · 16:57 →

In small teams, every person shapes the culture and output disproportionately. A single poor hire can poison morale, introduce technical debt that takes months to fix, and consume founders' time in management. Spend triple the time you think you need on recruitment. A motivated person beats a smart one. Filter aggressively for people with natural positivity and alignment with your mission.

• A motivated person is always more useful than an intelligent one — filter aggressively for people who are naturally happy and positive.

  “Uma pessoa motivada é sempre mais útil do que uma pessoa inteligente.”

  Humberto Ayres Pereira · #018 · May 16, 2022 · 40:48 →

• Finding and hiring the right people is the most critical challenge early on — dedicate triple the time to recruitment, because each wrong hire has a massive cost in productivity and tech debt.

  “A parte mais difícil é tu encontrar as pessoas certas para fazer a tua empresa, porque cada wrong hire, o custo é altíssimo.”

  João Alves · #092 · Apr 7, 2025 · 64:03 →

Solo founders or homogenous teams have blind spots that kill companies. You need complementary skills — technical, commercial, design, operations. Different perspectives create richer internal debate and better decisions. Grow the team as soon as possible to avoid getting stuck learning everything yourself, which slows growth and burns you out.

• Form a multidisciplinary team where each member is an expert in their area and knowledge of one starts where the other's ends — different visions bring richer discussions.

  “Liguem aos conselhos que vos dão. A parte mais importante é criarem uma equipa multidisciplinar.”

  Miguel Morgado · #002 · May 7, 2021 · 51:48 →

• Dedicate time to growing the team as soon as possible, whether through a co-founder or building a robust team, to maintain motivation and sustainable growth.

  “Dedicar realmente tempo a crescer a equipa assim que possível, porque acho que é fácil tu entras num globo de ir aprendendo tudo.”

  Inês Góis · #024 · Jun 27, 2022 · 43:03 →

• Choose people who challenge you and add value — working with the right people makes dealing with entrepreneurial risks much more motivating.

  “Tive muita sorte com a equipa que escolhi e que acabei por ter. Acho que o que mais gosto é trabalhar com as pessoas com quem eu trabalho.”

  Luís Santiago Pinto · #091 · Mar 31, 2025 · 55:19 →

Don't take the first money available. Spend time refining your pitch with many investors before committing. Choose a lead investor with maturity who can act as a co-founder and strategic partner. Look for alignment on vision, not just the biggest check. Balance power by having multiple investors in a round. The best investors bring network, data, expertise — not just cash.

• Don't rush to close funding — invest time refining the pitch with many investors and choose a mature lead investor who can be a strategic partner, not just capital.

  “Não tomamos nenhuma decisão que seja crítica para a empresa ou seja importante, sem o ouvir a ele, e isso demora tempo.”

  Nuno Pinto · #022 · Jun 13, 2022 · 29:57 →

• Connect personally with investors instead of just presenting decks and numbers — choose partners who truly align with your vision.

  “Quem está a procurar dinheiro, nunca é a tua ideia nem nada, são as pessoas, é a conexão que tens com as pessoas.”

  Anthony Douglas · #025 · Jul 4, 2022 · 29:15 →

• Balance power among multiple investors to avoid one having too much negotiation leverage, and consider the value each brings beyond capital — data, network, expertise.

  “É muito diferente teres que negociar termos só com um versus ter algum equilíbrio de opiniões com o outro.”

  Alexandre Santos · #038 · Apr 24, 2023 · 32:53 →

• Choose investors and partners very carefully, paying attention to warning signs, because most things that go wrong could have been spotted earlier.

  “Escolher muito bem os investidores e mesmo os sócios, estar atentos aos sinais, porque a maior parte das coisas que dão errado, nós às vezes tendemos a só overlook.”

  Nuno Brito Jorge · #089 · Mar 12, 2025 · 60:10 →

Founders often underestimate how long closing a round takes, sometimes by months. You need an MVP built and interesting metrics to show investors. The process involves many meetings, due diligence, legal work. Budget for this timeline or you'll run out of runway before the money arrives.

• Don't underestimate how long closing a funding round takes — it's common to think raising money is easy and fast when it actually takes much longer.

  “Levantar dinheiro é muito fácil é uma ilusão que se cria muito neste mercado.”

  Mário Ribeiro Alves · #012 · Apr 4, 2022 · 31:45 →

• Don't underestimate the effort, resources and financing needed to make things happen — assume all expectations will have to change and adapt along the way.

  “Não subestimar o esforço, os recursos e o financiamento que é necessário para que conseguisse fazer as coisas acontecer.”

  Jorge Oliveira · #016 · May 2, 2022 · 49:14 →

If you can't raise capital or generate revenue, the issue isn't lack of money, it's the quality or viability of the project. Focus on getting paying customers as fast as possible. Revenue proves market fit, gives you control, and makes every other challenge easier. Numbers don't lie.

• Revenue solves all problems — it's old school but true. Focus on generating revenue and maintain a clear path to profitability.

  “Revenue Solves All Problems, é muito básico, old school, mas é a verdade.”

  Anthony Douglas · #026 · Jul 11, 2022 · 35:45 →

• Money is never the problem, it's always a consequence of another problem — if you can't raise capital or generate revenue, the problem is the quality or viability of the project.

  “O dinheiro nunca é o problema, o dinheiro é sempre uma consequência de um outro problema qualquer.”

  João Aroso · #036 · Apr 10, 2023 · 50:34 →

• Save at least six months of personal expenses (5,000-10,000 euros) before starting, giving you the financial security to take risks without desperation.

  “Tentem mostrar o positivismo, porque é muito importante para as pessoas que estão do outro lado darem confiança.”

  Humberto Ayres Pereira · #101 · Jun 9, 2025 · 72:29 →

Every euro you raise costs you equity and control. The more you can prove with your own resources or early revenue, the better terms you'll get later. Different companies need different approaches — some should never raise equity, others benefit from it early. Choose the instrument that fits your phase and needs, not dogma.

• Choose the appropriate financial instrument based on your phase and specific needs — different startups benefit from different approaches, not one dogmatic model.

  “Acho que também, a questão do financiamento tem muito a ver com a fase da empresa, o que é que se está a fazer e para quê.”

  Rodrigo Pessoa Jorge · #027 · Jul 18, 2022 · 39:48 →

• Bootstrap as long as possible, delaying funding rounds to maintain more control and prove more.

  “Escolher muito bem os investidores e mesmo os sócios, estar atentos aos sinais, porque a maior parte das coisas que dão errado, nós às vezes tendemos a só overlook.”

  Nuno Brito Jorge · #089 · Mar 12, 2025 · 60:10 →

Cultivate your network constantly. Ask for intros even when facing rejection. Most professional opportunities come from recommendations, not cold outreach. Network solves 99% of business problems — hiring, partnerships, customer intros, investor access. Build relationships authentically without transactional intent, giving first before asking.

• Embrace a 'Give First' mentality — help people without expecting anything back, and eventually value returns through smart networking.

  “Give First, ou seja, a ideia está sempre a ajudar pessoas e não esperar nada de volta, mas eventualmente vais ter alguma coisa de volta.”

  Carolina Amorim · #019 · May 23, 2022 · 32:26 →

• Invest in networking and personal relationships, because most professional opportunities emerge through connections and recommendations.

  “Não ter medo de arriscar. Ou seja, aquela coisa de sair da zona de conforto, tipo, o mais cedo possível.”

  Pedro Resende · #021 · Jun 6, 2022 · 46:00 →

• Your network is your greatest asset and value — cultivate it constantly and ask for intros even when facing rejections, because network solves 99% of business problems.

  “A tua rede é realmente muito importante, diria que a tua rede quase se resolve 99% dos teus problemas.”

  Nuno Pinto · #023 · Jun 20, 2022 · 33:34 →

Founders share war stories that textbooks don't cover. They've faced similar problems and can offer practical, lived advice. The community mentality is different — ambitious, action-oriented, mutually supportive. Share doubts and problems openly. Participate in events. Find informal mentors early and feed those relationships regularly.

• Talk regularly with other founders from different startups, sharing doubts and problems, because the founder mentality and community makes a significant difference.

  “A mentalidade dos founders é completamente diferente e é muito positiva, é muito ambiciosa e é muito de fazer acontecer.”

  Rodrigo Pessoa Jorge · #028 · Jul 25, 2022 · 39:43 →

• Find mentors as early as possible, even informally, cultivating relationships with people who see potential in you and feeding those connections regularly.

  “Arranja mentores assim que possível. Mesmo que informais. E cria relações com ela.”

  Behind the Tales #2: Quem são os ouvintes de Founder Tales? · #053 · Dec 13, 2023 · 64:22 →

• Before anything else, choose good mentors who teach you and open doors — bring value to conversations, never transactionally, and be genuinely interested before asking.

  “Preocupem-se em escolher os melhores mentores, porque são esses que vos vão ensinar e vos vão abrir portas.”

  André Flórido · #055 · Feb 5, 2024 · 51:17 →

• Talk with other founders who've already faced similar problems — they have much more relevant knowledge, especially in early phases. Participate in events and surround yourself with experienced people.

  “Falem com outros founders, principalmente. São pessoas que já passaram, que vocês já tiveram muitos dos mesmos problemas.”

  Vicente Mayer Garção · #107 · Jun 1, 2026 · 58:00 →

This is a marathon with barriers, not a sprint. Things always take longer than anticipated and deliver less impact than hoped. Founders consistently underestimate difficulty and overestimate speed. Manage frustration, accept continuous iteration, build resilience for the long haul. The days are long but the years are short.

• Everything takes more time, costs more, and has less impact than you imagine — building a product is a marathon with barriers, requiring resilience and frustration management.

  “Construir um produto não só é uma maratona, mas é uma maratona com barreiras.”

  André Albuquerque · #010 · Mar 21, 2022 · 60:47 →

• The hard part is continuing when adversity hits — community and the perspective that days are long but years are short helps maintain necessary resilience.

  “O difícil é continuar. Porque eu vejo imensos empreendedores que estão a fazer coisas boas e depois surgem adversidades, porque é o mais natural, e por algum motivo não conseguem ultrapassar essas adversidades.”

  António Miguel · #043 · Jun 5, 2023 · 40:57 →

• Don't feel pressured to have success just because you studied or prepared well — focus on enjoying the journey, since big success cases take around 10 years.

  “Não te sinta pressionado a ter sucesso. Não és obrigado a ter sucesso mesmo com o estudo.”

  Felipe Ávila da Costa · #063 · Apr 1, 2024 · 10:43 →

• Understand that the path demands a lot of work and dedication, but learn to let it flow, accepting both successes and failures as learning opportunities for the next idea.

  “Ser empreendedor dá mesmo muito trabalho. Dá muito trabalho e muitas horas.”

  Miguel Vieira · #110 · Jul 7, 2026 · 55:32 →

Founders try to do everything themselves. This doesn't scale. Identify what only you can do and delegate the rest. Choose well where you dedicate time. Focus on 1-3 projects maximum simultaneously so you can maintain effectiveness. Say no to important things that distract from what's essential.

• Measure carefully how you invest your time as an entrepreneur, delegating tasks you can pass to others, because your time is very important.

  “O teu tempo enquanto empreendedor é muito importante, por isso escolhe bem onde o dedicas e lança o mais de pressa possível.”

  Fabiana Clemente · #013 · Apr 11, 2022 · 53:23 →

• Learn to say no to important things you'd like to do, because time is limited and you must be selective to maintain focus on the company's trajectory.

  “É aprender a dizer que não às coisas que são importantes. Porque é tudo giro. E depois é o tempo que não dá.”

  Rita Vilas-Boas · #047 · Oct 23, 2023 · 67:48 →

• Focus on 1-3 projects simultaneously maximum, ensuring you can manage time effectively and maintain focus on priorities that naturally interconnect.

  “Eu pessoalmente não posso estar em 20 projetos, mas 1 a 3 no máximo em simultâneo.”

  Female founders recebem só 2% de todo o investimento · #111 · Jul 15, 2026 · 28:35 →

You can be the best engineer or product person and still fail because you can't manage people. Culture, motivation, conflict resolution, feedback, hiring, firing — these are skills that don't come naturally to most technical profiles. Invest in learning them early or find a co-founder who excels at this. Invest in long-term relationships with your best people. Get external coaches for perspective.

• Be prepared to deal with people management, recognizing it's the hardest job in the world, especially for technical profiles and engineers.

  “O trabalho mais difícil do mundo. Mais difícil. Pelo menos para pessoas mais técnicas.”

  Luís de Matos · #059 · Mar 4, 2024 · 79:15 →

• Invest in medium and long-term relationships with the best elements of your team, create dynamics beyond work, and get external coaches for independent perspective — like a football team needs coaches beyond players.

  “O treinador, raramente tens coaches, raramente tens o gajo que está ali a apoiar e a olhar para várias partes.”

  Miguel Santo Amaro · #080 · Dec 2, 2024 · 56:03 →

Entrepreneurship is intense and all-consuming if you let it be. Leave hours free at the end of the day. Don't work weekends — it actually increases weekday productivity. Prioritize family and friends, because the company might fail but those relationships shouldn't. Don't take everything so seriously. Things rarely have the weight you assign them in your head.

• Prioritize family and friends, including holidays and work-life balance, because they're your real support in difficult moments — the company can fail but those relationships shouldn't.

  “A empresa provavelmente vai falhar, pode falhar, mas os amigos não podem falhar nesse momento.”

  Mário Tarouca · #031 · Mar 6, 2023 · 41:33 →

• Manage anxiety and stay calm, thinking deeply about problems before acting, instead of wanting everything resolved immediately.

  “Chill, calma, porque acho que eu era muito ansioso e queria tudo antes de já.”

  Miguel Alves Ribeiro · #041 · May 22, 2023 · 36:56 →

• Take great care of your mental health during the entrepreneurial process, leaving free hours at day's end and avoiding weekend work, as it increases weekday productivity.

  “Se tu não achares que estás a falar com mais pessoas, não estás a falar com o número certo.”

  Adriano Martins · #065 · Apr 22, 2024 · 27:21 →

• Don't take everything too seriously or give things more weight than they actually have — keep pride in work but maintain a lighter, more empathetic attitude with yourself.

  “As coisas não têm o peso que damos ou que existe na nossa cabeça.”

  Tatiana Sá Marques · #075 · Oct 28, 2024 · 69:09 →

Things change rapidly in startups and markets. What worked last quarter might not work next quarter. Build an antifragile system where volatility brings learning, not panic. Read widely — not just business books but philosophy, classics, anything that gives perspective on human nature. Understand how humans function, because every business depends on people.

• Be constantly learning and adapting because things change rapidly — create an antifragile system where volatility brings learning, not fear.

  “As coisas vão mudar, as coisas mudam, mudam rapidamente, ou seja, tens que estar constantemente a aprender, constantemente a adaptar-te.”

  João Magalhães · #037 · Apr 17, 2023 · 50:13 →

• Read more, not just utilitarian business books but also classic literature and art that give perspective on human nature and societal evolution.

  “Muitas vezes nós temos tendência a ser muito utilitarista. Mas eu acho que às vezes nós irmos ver o King Lear ou ler um Camus vai-te dar uma perspetiva sobre a natureza humana.”

  Pedro Amorim · #066 · Apr 29, 2024 · 18:18 →

• Focus on understanding how humans function through philosophy and social sciences, not just startup and funding books, because understanding human behavior is fundamental.

  “Se tu percebes como os humanos funcionam tu consegues potenciar o teu negócio muito mais, porque não há negócio que funcione sem pessoas.”

  Miguel Fidalgo · #086 · Feb 17, 2025 · 55:42 →

The Portuguese ecosystem is small and fear of judgment paralyzes many. Failure is part of the path to success. Each rejection brings you closer. Mistakes are learning. Close doors faster on things that don't enrich you, especially in your twenties and early thirties when you can afford to risk and restart. Don't cling to projects out of pride.

• Don't take negative opinions too literally, process criticism through your own head and make autonomous decisions, because mistakes are part of growth.

  “Não há uma receita mágica, não existe uma maneira certa de fazer as coisas.”

  Frederico Carpinteiro · #001 · Apr 23, 2021 · 41:26 →

• Close doors faster on projects that don't enrich you, especially in your twenties to mid-thirties when you can risk, fail and restart.

  “A vida é demasiado curta para perdermos tempo com coisas que não nos estão a enriquecer.”

  Roberto Machado · #015 · Apr 25, 2022 · 30:02 →

• Don't fear failure — it's better to fail and gain experience than never start, especially in a small ecosystem where fear of judgment often paralyzes.

  “É preferível falhar e ter conseguido ter tido alguma experiência do que não começar de tudo.”

  Carolina Amorim · #083 · Jan 30, 2025 · 37:04 →

• Fear is natural when starting something new, but it shouldn't paralyze you — it should serve as driving force.

  “O medo não te deve paralisar. Desde que não te paralise, está tudo bem.”

  Mariana Barbosa · #087 · Feb 24, 2025 · 13:53 →

Imposter syndrome hits everyone. But if you're thinking about a problem deeply and working on it daily, you likely know more about it than anyone else. Don't downplay your position when asking for advice — show you know what you're doing. Trust your instinct, take calculated risks. You can do it.

• Show a stronger position when asking for advice or opinions, demonstrating you know what you're doing and that you make final decisions.

  “Tens que marcar uma posição um bocado mais forte, tens de mostrar que tu sabes o que estás a fazer.”

  Carolina Amorim · #020 · May 30, 2022 · 21:23 →

• Believe in yourself and pursue goals with conviction, because you're often exactly the right person to make something happen — don't give up to doubt or imposter syndrome.

  “Na prática é provável que sejas mesmo tu. Dificilmente haveria outro.”

  André Marquet · #071 · Jul 8, 2024 · 84:34 →

• Believe in your instinct and intuition, taking calculated and educated risks, and identify good people to learn from like a sponge.

  “Acreditar em ti no sentido de "tenho o meu instinto e ele há de estar certo".”

  Ricardo Mesquita · #077 · Nov 11, 2024 · 59:33 →

• You can do it — believe in yourself.

  “O medo não te deve paralisar. Desde que não te paralise, está tudo bem.”

  Mariana Barbosa · #087 · Feb 24, 2025 · 13:53 →

Don't listen to noise from people without entrepreneurial experience. Criticism is cheap and abundant. You'll hear many reasons why something won't work, often from people who've never tried. Be self-critical with advice you receive, but remember you're the one who knows the business best. Success is your responsibility, nobody else's.

• Be self-critical with advice from investors and consultants, but remember you know the business best and success is your responsibility, nobody else's.

  “Vocês é que sabem bem o que é que precisam. Vocês conhecem melhor e o sucesso é esse negócio. Vai ser auto-imposto a vocês e a mais ninguém.”

  António Rocha · #054 · Dec 17, 2023 · 15:42 →

• Don't listen to the noise, especially from people without entrepreneurial experience — trust your own judgment, because everyone can criticize or say something is impossible.

  “O único conselho é não ouvir o ruído. Toda a gente consegue dizer mal, ou ter uma opinião negativa, ou dizer que aquilo não é possível.”

  Ivo Gomes · #056 · Feb 14, 2024 · 60:22 →

• Be like a sponge, listening attentively to feedback from mentors and partners, questioning the why behind suggestions, but maintain decision autonomy based on your daily understanding of the business.

  “O tipo de founder que nós procuramos são aqueles de esponja. Se tu lhes disseres isso, eles estão a ouvir, muito atentos.”

  Ricardo Macedo · #090 · Mar 17, 2025 · 59:27 →