Speakers — Startup Summit Lisbon 2026

September 17–18, 2026 · Beato Innovation District, Lisbon

Startup Summit Lisbon 2026 will feature 150+ speakers from 40+ countries — founders, investors, operators and category leaders across the Unicorn Stage, Impact Stage and Workshop Rooms. 48 confirmed speakers are listed below, with more announced weekly.

Confirmed speakers

Paulo Andrez

Angel Investor & Author

Zero Risk Startup

Paulo is a seasoned entrepreneur turned angel investor, bestselling author of Zero Risk Startup (Forbes Books), and President Emeritus of the European Business Angel Network.

LinkedIn
Luis Valente

CEO & Co-Founder

iLoF

Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, strategist, and business manager with a Computer Science background, driven to solve complex problems. My entrepreneurial journey began at 18, and since them have been founding ventures focused on demand prediction, lean operations, and growth design. Believing in technology's power to democratize personalized medicine, I co-founded iLoF - a deep tech company using AI to build a cloud-based library of disease biomarkers. On a mission to accelerate adequate treatments for millions living with complex, heterogeneous diseases globally.

LinkedIn
Anmol Goel

CEO & Partner

Gacs Ltd & Gacsym Ventures

With a sharp eye for high-potential founders and a background in finance and entrepreneurship, Anmol brings a fresh, global perspective to venture investing.

LinkedIn
Karan Setiya

Fintech Venturing Manager

ABN AMRO Bank

Fintech Venturing at ABN AMRO, early stage investor, ex-BCG, former edTech founder (built and scaled Veduo to 10k users, sunsetted)

LinkedIn
Rita Kastrati

CEO and Founder

Pioneering People

Rita Kastrati is the founder of Pioneering People, a platform connecting businesses with verified flexible staff instantly, while ensuring workers are paid fairly and on the same day. Growing up in hospitality, she experienced first-hand the challenges of last-minute staffing, which led her to build a faster, fairer way to work. Today, Pioneering People operates across 20+ UK cities, supporting over 10,000 workers and a growing network of businesses. Rita is also building a community of young founders through her 15 Under 30 events and is passionate about shaping the future of flexible work.

LinkedIn
Luis Gutman

Managing Partner

OW Ventures SCR

Luis Felipe Gutman is the Managing Partner at OW Ventures, a Lisbon-based venture capital firm where he leverages over 20 years of experience in technology and innovation to invest in early-stage startups across Portugal, Europe and Brazil. A seasoned executive with a background in digital transformation and agile leadership, he has held key roles in international corporations and startups, specializing in sectors like SportsTech and Impact Investments.

LinkedIn
Héctor LV

Head of Corporate & Legal Counsel

Lexidy Law Boutique SLP

Héctor López Vázquez is Head of Corporate at Lexidy Law Boutique, a pan-European law firm with offices across Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece. He specialises in cross-border M&A, fundraising structures, and European market entry — advising founders and investors at the intersection of legal strategy and business execution. He also teaches entrepreneurship, financing, and international expansion at ISDE Law Business School and mentors startups at Madrid International Lab.

LinkedIn
Tina Valand

Generative AI Director

Accenture

Tina is a Generative AI Director at Accenture leading Gen AI centres of excellence and Agentic AI. She has been working with clients in Financial services, Media and Retail with over 20 year in innovation, fintech and leading technology transformation. She is leading conversational AI ecosystem partners including Boost.Ai & ElevenLabs. She works closely with Fintech and innovation labs and was Tech 100 Women Uk and Women in Fintech award winner. She is the co founder of Women in Alliances and was recently featured in Forbes for her work in creating inclusive networks. She also works with entrepreneurs as part of a digital membership club called 1 club supporting the new generation of talent

LinkedIn
Vini Devnani

Fractional Head of People

JAB Holdings

Fractional Head of People, provide start-up and scale ups with practical skills to hire effectively, build culture and design organisations with humans in the loop. Previously built a HR function globally and scales a company from 30-150 in two years.

LinkedIn
Kambis Kohansal Vajargah

Head of Startup-Services and Deputy Head of Founder-Services

Austrian Federal Economic Chamber

Kambis Kohansal Vajargah is Head of Startup-Services and Deputy Head of Founder-Services at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. He is the founding partner of several startup companies, including whatchado, Saturo, Carployee, Freebiebox or ALVERI and angel investor at Gateway Ventures, 4u-ventures and Founders of Europe. The World Economic Forum has chosen him as a European Digital Leader guiding the digital transformation of Europe. Besides, he is an advisory board member at SXSW Pitch, guest lecturer at renowned universities and TEDx speaker. Kambis Kohansal Vajargah is the editor and author of numerous books, including “How to Start-up” “Startup-Code” and “Sammy und das Geheimnis der Goldmünzen”.

LinkedIn
Luiza Castro Rey

Partner & Co-Founder & Head of Corporate and Web3

Fio Legal

Luiza Castro Rey represents a new generation of legal leadership — one that combines technical rigour with strategic vision and human understanding. Educated at PUC-Rio and holding a Master’s in International and Commercial Law from the University of Lisbon, she has built an international career spanning Europe and the Americas. In 2022, she co-founded FiO Legal alongside four partners, driven by the belief that law should actively shape the future of business. As Head of Corporate & Web3, she leads complex work involving digital assets, emerging regulation, and innovative business structures. A speaker, mediator, and entrepreneur, Luiza is recognised for transforming legal practice into a tool for growth, accessibility, and innovation.

LinkedIn
Nashwa Shah

Founder, philanthropist and motivational speaker

Many

Nashwa is public speaker and cultural commentator. With a vibrant career spanning hospitality, venture capital and creator culture, she now works globally with entrepreneurs, influencers and brands to shape and scale their social media presence. She has driven innovation and marketing for the worldʼs first invite-only digital private membersʼ club and advises major FMCG brands and a curated roster of influential figures on brand and growth strategy.

LinkedIn
Rita Figueiredo

HEAD OF PORTUGAL

LEXIDY

II am a seasoned legal professional committed to making law accessible, transparent, and impactful. With extensive experience in Litigation, Banking, Financial, Corporate, Urban and Immigration Law. Guided by integrity, authenticity, and fearless leadership, I strive to simplify complexities, create meaningful change, and empower both individuals and businesses. As Legal Director for Lexidy’s Lisbon and Porto offices, I lead national and international strategies, fostering collaboration, innovation, and cross-disciplinary excellence. Passionate about delivering seamless 360° legal services, I focus on creating strategic solutions that drive clarity, growth, and opportunity. Fluent in English and Portuguese, I build trust and bridge gaps, ensuring law becomes a catalyst for progress.

LinkedIn
Filipa Faria

People & Culture Transformation Leader

Fio Legal | Fractional Freelance HR

With an international career across Canada, US, Portugal, Spain, UK, and France, I’ve worked in organizations in sectors such as construction, healthcare, banking, technology, legal, retail, and both public and private sectors. From scaling startups to guiding established corporations, I’ve seen one truth: organizations grow when their people do.

LinkedIn
Raffaella Loncao

Founder & Managing Director

On This Planet

I'm Raffaella Loncao, a Lisbon-based founder and Managing Director of On This Planet, a strategic people advisory firm that helps climate and nature scale-ups build the leadership, culture, and organisation they need to grow and expand. Before this, I spent over twenty years as an international Chief People Officer in luxury at Gucci and Saint Laurent, building people infrastructure at global level. I sit on the Advisory Board of Women in Sustainable Luxury.

LinkedIn
Muhammad Farooq Rathod

CEO & Founder

UpStride Holdings

Serial Entrepreneur & Startup Founder | Driving Digital Business Transformation | Global Award Winner | Investor, Mentor & Author (US & Europe)

LinkedIn
Zoya Mesaric

Executive Coach, Psychoanalyst & Trauma Specialist

Zoya Mesaric – Private International Practice

Zoya Mesaric is an Executive Coach, Psychoanalyst, and Trauma Specialist working internationally across Vienna, Lisbon, and London. She helps founders, executives, and high-performing professionals navigate leadership, identity, performance, and psychological resilience. Her work has been presented at the World Congress for Psychotherapy, and she is a regular contributor to Elle Slovenia.

LinkedIn
Alexandra Isenegger

Founder & Managing Director

Linkilaw Solicitors, CBCA Group

Founder & MD of Linkilaw Solicitors, a boutique Mayfair law firm specialising in complex, high-profile international disputes. Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and The Times/LDC Top 50 To Watch. Over a decade advising entrepreneurs, investors, family offices and business leaders where law, leadership and international growth intersect. I speak on conscious leadership, organisational culture, entrepreneurship, cross-border business, and building values-driven organisations. My experience spans complex international structures, cross-border disputes and long-term growth strategies across multiple jurisdictions — with significant engagement in the UAE and wider Middle East. I deliver actionable insights grounded in real-world experience for audiences of founders, executives and investors.

LinkedIn
Viachaslau Smirnou

CEO & Co-founder

Around PR Studio

A senior PR & Marketing leader with 15+ years of hands-on experience in IT and tech-driven companies. CEO and Co-Founder of Around PR Studio - PR and communications agency specializing in startup visibility, investment PR, and AI-era reputation strategy for tech and AI companies operating in the US and Europe.

LinkedIn
Román Knörr Durán

Brand & Growth Strategist

Román Knörr

A Brand & Marketing Strategist who helps founders and SMEs grow through positioning and go-to-market strategy and content, shaped by real entrepreneurial experience. Román has worked with SMEs across Spain on customer acquisition, digital presence, and brand positioning, drawing on years spent building and running his own ventures from the ground up. He graduated with honours in Marketing & Business Administration from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He speaks on what it actually takes to grow when resources are limited and every decision counts.

LinkedIn
Akshay Ruparelia

CEO & Co-Founder

Brdge

Akshay is a serial entrepreneur and Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe alumnus who founded Doorsteps at 17; an online estate agency that sold over £1 billion in property and saved customers £15 million in fees. A former free school meals pupil and carer to his deaf parents, he has built his career around commercial impact and social purpose. He founded AKR Growth, an OFSTED-regulated social enterprise helping disadvantaged young people into employment, and serves on the board of the Prince's Trust RISE Campaign. He now leads Brdge, an Emerging Tech Consultancy & Venture Studio delivering GenAI and blockchain solutions globally.

LinkedIn
Saachin Bhatt

CIO & Co-founder

Brdge

Saachin Bhatt CITP MBCS is a serial entrepreneur, innovation strategist, and keynote speaker who joined Accenture at 18 as a data scientist, becoming one of their youngest consultants globally by 21, delivering £15M in impact across national security, aerospace, and tier-1 banks. The youngest ever to achieve Chartered IT Professional status under the Royal Charter, he co-founded Brdge, an award-winning global consultancy and venture studio helping startups, scaleups, and SMEs access world-class AI and emerging tech expertise. He advises Fortune 500 CEOs on AI strategy and is Vice Chair & Governor at one of the UK's top-performing secondary schools.

LinkedIn
Dina Kondratiuk

CEO & founder

Solegency

Founder of Solegency, helping startup founders build clarity in their pitches to investors and customers. Previously at Techstars Berlin, I supported early-stage founders with Go-to-Market strategy and fundraising across EU and US markets. Over my career, I have built two business accelerator programs and managed a portfolio of 150 startups with a total implied valuation of $150M+.

LinkedIn
João Ramos

Innovation Manager

MEO

Ex-founder, angel investor, and corporate innovator, I specialize in corporate venturing by bridging corporations with the startup ecosystem to drive new revenue streams, strategic partnerships, and long-term impact.

LinkedIn
Thiago Vieira

Chief Legal Officer

Pactum Global

Angel Investor, Exited Cybersecurity Founder, Deepfake forensic court appointed expert, TEDx Speaker, Lawyer

LinkedIn
Diego Sampaio

CEO

Globalfy

Entrepreneur for over 20 years, Diego is co-founder and CEO of Globalfy, a company that has helped over 10,000 international entrepreneurs from over 100 countries open and operate businesses in the United States. Diego has spent nearly 11 years selling into the U.S. market and building the infrastructure that allows founders from anywhere in the world to compete globally from day one.

LinkedIn
Amit Grinvald

Communication Strategist & Public Speaking Coach

Independent

Communication strategist for leaders and founders. Works with both founders and VCs on fund narratives, having supported fundraising rounds of €80M+. Mentor at Google for Startups and Founder Institute. Has led conversations at TED, SXSW London, and South Summit. Founder of TEDxUNYP, one of Europe's most recognised TEDx events, with several talks in the global Top 100.

LinkedIn
Eli Promisel

Managing Director

Silicon Foundry

Eli advises Silicon Foundry's global network of Fortune 500 companies on emerging technologies, startup ecosystems, and innovation strategies across mobility, government, aerospace and defense, energy, financial services, and retail. Silicon Foundry works with organizations including BP, NatWest, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Deutsche Telekom, Estée Lauder, Southwest Airlines, UPS, and SK hynix. Prior to Silicon Foundry, Eli worked at Halcyon, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. He holds business degrees from USC, HKUST, and Bocconi University.

LinkedIn
Janelle Harder

CEO & Founder

Humannovate Consulting

Janelle Harder, based in Croatia, is the Founder of Humannovate Consulting. Over the past 15 years, she's trained, advised and coached 1,000+ leaders at global Fortune 500 companies (with revenues $54B+). She now helps leaders of startups across 9 countries by coaching them on how their behaviour and demeanor is impacting the results of their businesses. Through a focus on culture, leadership, and human behaviour, she helps leaders scale their businesses by seeing how they're getting in their own way to lead more effectively.

LinkedIn
Kasia Szczesniak

Founder

Lisbon Business Leaders

Kasia Szczesniak is the founder of Lisbon Business Leaders, specializing in leadership development and transformation. With over 15 years of experience leading marketing strategy for global brands, including Google, and now as a founder herself, her passion for leadership comes from experiencing firsthand the challenges and opportunities of leading in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments. Today, she supports founders and executives in developing the leadership capacity needed to navigate complexity, drive transformation, and thrive in an AI-driven world through a human-first approach to leadership.

LinkedIn
Lisa Rebecca Press

Founder

Lisa Press Consulting

Lisa Press is a finance leader and Founder of Lisa Press Consulting, helping startups and scaling companies improve reporting, automate manual processes, and build finance functions that support better decision making. Her background spans Big 4 audit, Silicon Valley consulting, SaaS finance, FP&A, fundraising, and senior finance leadership, with experience at companies including Stripe and Monta. She is passionate about helping founders turn finance from a reactive back office function into a strategic driver of smarter growth.

LinkedIn
David Graham

Managing Partner

Dyrectli Capital

David Graham has spent 25 years as a founder, including four exits. He now runs Dyrectli Capital, an early-stage investment syndicate and advisory firm that connects post-MVP founders to capital and invests alongside exited founders and HNWIs. He reviews 3,000+ decks a year, has made around 40 investments over the past three years, and advises early-stage founders on what actually generates cash or closes deals.

LinkedIn
Igor Nikolaiev

Co-founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer

Aiffin

I'm Co-founder and CPTO at Aiffin, an AI-native fintech company building the next generation of AI digital infrastructure for SME financing and Underwriting. I lead product strategy and technology, focusing on applying AI to automate financial decision-making. In 2025, Aiffin raised €3.1 million in debt and equity, obtained French JEI status, and joined Station F in Paris. In 2026, I was endorsed by Tech Nation and recognized by the UK Government as an Exceptional Global Talent in Digital Technology. I built and scaled technology products across fintech, AI, Web3, SaaS and digital identity. My experience includes developing platforms used by millions of users, building financial infrastructure, and designing AI-powered systems for credit decisioning, risk assessment, KYC and AML.

LinkedIn
Precy Servito

Founder

KONNECT - AI + Human Strategy Execution Workspace

Precy is a Global Organizational Strategist. The Founder and Principal Consultant of KAPWA Global, a consulting practice specializing in organizational resilience and change management, and Founder of KONNECT, an AI and human strategy execution workspace built for the way startups, scale-ups, and SMBs actually operate. Precy has led transformation across workforces of up to 60K+ employees globally, with senior roles at Accenture, TELUS International, Delivery Hero, Dentsu and UnitedHealth Group spanning Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Precy works at the intersection of AI capability and human judgment for founders and operators navigating fast-moving organizations.

LinkedIn
Irina Shurmina

Founder

Ladies Who Talk

Irina Shurmina is a founder of Ladies Who Talk community and Talk Academy – a curated expert platform for business trainings and events. Irina is a community strategist, networking expert, business development consultant, speaker and moderator. Before moving into entrepreneurship, she spent 14+ years in international law firms as Counsel and Head of Practice at CMS, BCLP, and other firms, working with clients including Nike, Clarins, Nestlé, MARS, Cisco, TEVA, Johnson & Johnson, and Unilever. Alongside her legal career, Irina built professional communities, educational programmes, conferences, and networking formats — including co-founding one of the largest legal communities with 5000+ members.

LinkedIn
Jorge Sebastiao

CEO and Co-founder

Ecox / Bombastic Burgh

International Speaker, author, ecosystems builder, investor, startups in innovation: AI, Web3, XR, Gaming, Sustainability, RWA, CyberSecurity, 5G, Robotics. Founder of EcoX and Bombastic Burgh. Author MBC Book.

LinkedIn
Anisha Yadav

Founder

First Ten Advisory

Anisha Yadav is a cross-industry go-to-market advisor who helps early-stage founders turn founder-led selling into a repeatable revenue engine. With 15+ years across product marketing, account management, and revenue — including accountability for a $100M+ ARR portfolio — she runs First Ten, guiding 0→1 founders through her "Earn the Right to Scale" method. She mentors at various SF-based accelerators, helping European founders break into North America.

LinkedIn
Lauren Mucklow

Co-Founder

What She Said Limited

Lauren Mucklow is the Co-Founder & Lead Consultant of What She Said, a growth consultancy supporting female service‑based business owners at every stage of their journey. With over two decades of senior leadership experience in the Brand Experience agency world, Lauren specialises in helping founders gain strategic clarity, stronger positioning and sustainable commercial growth.

LinkedIn
Max Rodman

Co-founder

MVMT Studio

Founder of MVMT Studio, a movement, wellness & experience brand based in Lisbon. Real Estate Private Equity, Angel, & VC investor. Passionate about balanced wellbeing, purpose-driven projects, and wellness x built environment.

LinkedIn
Sibilla Strupule

CEO & Founder

SibillaStrupule.com

Pitch authority. Serial founder with one exit, 20+ international pitch competition wins, Forbes-featured. She's coached 500+ founders whose companies have raised over €70M. An European Innovation Council (EIC) Tech-to-Market mentor and international pitch competition judge, she's spoken at UN and World Bank events and advises founders and executives across Europe on delivering premium pitches that captivate audiences, investors and close rounds.

LinkedIn
Mark Paul Haaksman

Co-Founder/ Fundraiser

Sotavento Angels Fund

With over 25 years of experience, I am the Co-Founder and Fund Leader of Sotavento Invest and the Circular Hub Algarve, focusing on supporting startups in South Portugal. My work centers on providing impact investing, SMART money, and fostering innovation. I have helped finance and co-create value in pre-seed and seed-stage startups, connecting them to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

LinkedIn
Micael Lopes

CEO & Founder

TIME & SPACE

Founder of TIME & SPACE. On a mission to enable more presence and connection to people at events.

LinkedIn
Satya Morarji

Founder

Freedom VAs

Satya Morarji is a speaker coach, leadership mentor and entrepreneur who helps leaders communicate with greater authenticity, clarity and influence. A double Silver Medallist at the UK & Ireland Public Speaking Championships, his work centres on helping people discover their natural communication style so they can lead with confidence rather than performance and this has lead to him delivering workshops at the United Nations. Away from the stage, Satya has founded businesses spanning virtual staffing, hospitality and e-commerce, giving him first-hand experience of leading teams, building organisations and communicating through uncertainty. His coaching blends practical leadership experience with storytelling, deep curiosity and powerful questioning.

LinkedIn
Tania Tome

American Business Awards® Judge, Global KeynoteSpeaker, Advisor, Innovation Catalyst & Author

BRANDULOGY

Tânia Tomé is an internationally recognized Lusophone keynote speaker, economist, author and entrepreneur who has inspired audiences in more than 22 countries across Africa, Europe, North America and South America. She is Chair of the AI & Technology, New Product & Service, and Sustainability Awards Judging Committee for the 2026 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, held in New York, and the first Lusophone and African woman to chair a Global Women in Business Awards judging committee in New York. A former Forbes Coaches Council member and recipient of an Academic Award presented by former Portuguese President Mário Soares, she serves as advisor, board member and international judge for several global initiatives.

LinkedIn
Angelee SIDAR

Founder

FIIYS Ltd

Angelee Sidar is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker and executive coach who helps founders "scale themselves so that they can scale their businesses." After leaving a corporate career, Angelee built a contract catering company that disrupted a legacy industry, replacing soulless service with experiences centred on health and community. Within three years it reached seven figures and 12+ locations, working with brands including Nike, Adidas, IWG Group and Spaces, before the pandemic brought it to an end. That loss became the catalyst for a deeper journey, reshaping how she saw ambition and success. Today she draws on neuroscience, nervous system regulation and her R.E.F. Method™ to help founders lead with clarity and build purpose.

LinkedIn
Ben Lakoff

Managing Partner

Bankless Ventures

Ben Lakoff, CFA is the Managing Partner of Bankless Ventures, an early-stage venture fund backed by Marc Andreessen, Chris Dixon, and dozens of leading founders and GPs. The firm currently manages two active funds.

LinkedIn
Rita Martins Freire

Marketing, CX & Growth Transformation Leader

Trivevo

Marketing, Customer Experience & Growth Transformation Executive with 30+ years of international experience helping organisations drive sustainable growth across global markets. She has led strategic marketing, customer experience, transformation and commercial initiatives across multinational organisations, startups and entrepreneurial ventures, working across Europe and Asia. She is the Founder of TRIVEVO, a strategic advisory launching soon to help SMEs, startups and scale-ups Build, Transform and Scale for sustainable growth. Her perspective combines business strategy, marketing, customer experience and growth, with a strong focus on creating value, building reputation and driving sustainable business performance.

LinkedIn
Sebastian Horstmann

CTO & Co-Founder

Cosysense

Sebastian Horstmann is Co-Founder and CTO of Cosysense, where he leads the technical architecture behind an AI-native operating system for building energy and operations. His work spans real-time IoT telemetry pipelines, HVAC control and optimization, and the data infrastructure that lets multi-site operators like quick-service restaurant chains monitor and automate energy use at scale. Sebastian is focused on turning fragmented building data into a unified platform that drives measurable energy savings and operational efficiency across hundreds of sites.

LinkedIn

More speakers being announced

We are confirming new founders, investors and operators every week. Follow Startup Summit on LinkedIn or Instagram for announcements, or apply to speak at Startup Summit Lisbon 2026.

Buy Startup Summit Lisbon 2026 tickets · View the Startup Summit agenda · Why attend Startup Summit