Business Angels Connect @ Innovation X Hub
Angel investing demystified. Startups amplified.
Start Shaping Your Future Today
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Date
Thursday July 10th
Time
General admission: 17h - 21h
Location
Porto Business School
Language
English
International Recognized Accreditation
Porto Business School is the only Business School in Portugal with triple-accreditation
Welcome to Angels Connect, an event created for early-stage startups and aspiring angel investors ready to fuel bold ideas and build the future. Through live pitches, networking, and real investor conversations, Angels Connect helps founders get closer to funding—and investors closer to their first or next big bet.
Our goal is to connect early-stage founders with aspiring and experienced business angels, creating a space to pitch, learn, and build meaningful connections. Rooted in the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem of Porto and powered by Porto Business School’s Innovation X Hub, Angel Connect supports bold ideas in their earliest stages.
This event reflects our commitment to fostering innovation with purpose—by empowering founders, engaging investors, and strengthening a community where sustainable ventures can grow and thrive.
Get To Know The Full Syllabus
Know everything about modules and content, specialization options, international weeks, carreer oportunities and schollarships.
Check-In
Welcome coffee and opening remarks to kick off the session.
17h
Agenda
Speed Connecting for startups
Speed Connecting is a dynamic 1:1 format where early-stage startups first present their pitch live, then rotate through five stations for five-minute conversations with business angels.
This fast-paced setup is designed to deliver focused feedback, spark interest, and open doors to future collaboration.
It’s not about immediate investment — it’s about making the right first connection.
Speed Connecting for startups
Speed Connecting is a dynamic 1:1 format where early-stage startups first present their pitch live, then rotate through five stations for five-minute conversations with business angels.
This fast-paced setup is designed to deliver focused feedback, spark interest, and open doors to future collaboration.
It’s not about immediate investment — it’s about making the right first connection.
Early-Stage Startups
Business Angels Connect is a hybrid event for business angels, who can join in person or online to participate in the Speed Connecting moment and get to know promising startups from the PBS ecosystem.
Startups selected for live pitching must attend in person to take part in the Speed Connecting experience.
Business Angels & Future Investors
You’ve invested before — or you’re ready to make your first move. You're curious about what makes a great founder, how early-stage investing really works, and how to make smart, sustainable bets on innovation.
Who Should Attend?
“The International MBA is not a book you read, a lecture you listen to, or a film you watch. It is an immersive experience you live.
If you live it fully, it might open new doors and broaden your perspective. The International MBA was my entry point to shift my career towards digital business transformation.
I gained new knowledge that was essential to thrive in a new field.”
Digital Portfolio Manager @ Siemens Energy
Anas Husaria | Syria
Allumni Testimonials
“I had professors as well as classmates who represented every continent of the world.
This helped me to grow as a professional in my present job as a consultant in a Big 4 organisation. Unique opportunities like Sailing with CEO, Lunch with C-level helped us realise how decision-making works at a higher level.
In fact, my recruiting director summarised my experience in International MBA as a pocket-friendly opportunity of a lifetime."
Risk and Financial Advisory Consultant @ Deloitte USA
Saurabh Kesar | India
Our alumni work at:
“The International MBA is not a book you read, a lecture you listen to, or a film you watch. It is an immersive experience you live.
If you live it fully, it might open new doors and broaden your perspective. The International MBA was my entry point to shift my career towards digital business transformation.
I gained new knowledge that was essential to thrive in a new field.”
Digital Portfolio Manager @ Siemens Energy
Anas Husaria | Syria
In our Allumni Words:
Our alumni work at:
“I had professors as well as classmates who represented every continent of the world.
This helped me to grow as a professional in my present job as a consultant in a Big 4 organisation. Unique opportunities like Sailing with CEO, Lunch with C-level helped us realise how decision-making works at a higher level.
In fact, my recruiting director summarised my experience in International MBA as a pocket-friendly opportunity of a lifetime."
Risk and Financial Advisory Consultant @ Deloitte USA
Saurabh Kesar | India
75%
Employment rate after 3 months of graduation
Save your seat today!
Date: Thursday July 10th
Time: 17h - 21h
Location: Porto Business School
Language: English
Porto Business School offers a supportive environment to refine your pitch, meet like-minded individuals, and gain insights from experienced investors and mentors.
Keynote
Experienced angels and early-stage investors share what they look for, how they evaluate teams, and insights into Portugal’s angel investing ecosystem.
17h30
Pitching
Carefully selected startups present their ideas and progress to an audience of business angels and mentors.
18h30
Speed Connect
Fast-paced 1:1 conversations between founders and business angels — five stations, five-minute talks to spark potential collaborations.
Afterwards, enjoy a relaxed sunset networking cocktail, open to all attendees.
19h15
Startups & Business Angels
General audience
Going Global
Support outstanding candidates who come from regions outside Europe and demonstrate exceptional potential for success in their respective programmes.
Women Leaders
Support exceptional women who are seeking to advance their careers by obtaining a graduate degree in business.
Young Leaders
Support outstanding young individuals who demonstrate potential in assuming leadership positions or who are already in leadership roles.
Keynotes
Keynote Speakers – Coming Soon!
For Aspiring Business Angels
This event is your gateway to becoming a business angel investor. Whether you’re curious about investing or ready to take your first step, Angels Connect offers a unique chance to learn what it takes to support early-stage startups.
Gain insights into the Portuguese investment landscape, hear from experienced angels and VCs, and connect directly with founders shaping tomorrow’s innovations.
You’ve moved from idea to action. You’ve built a prototype, developed an MVP, and you're entering the validation phase. Now it’s time to test assumptions, shape your solution, and pitch it to those who can help take it further.
Keynotes
Rodrigo de Alvarenga
Director Entrepreneurship Center @ PBS
Award-winning venture expert and thought leader, ranked by Thinkers360 among the Top 50 in Open Innovation, Startups, and M&A for 3 consecutive years. Founder of HAG Ventures, with 25+ startup investments across the US, EU, LATAM, and MENA. Mentor and advisor in global accelerator programs across 15+ countries. Former Head of Corporate Venture at The Bakery LATAM; now Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at Porto Business School. Speaker, board member, and educator in venture building, digital transformation, and impact measurement.
Alden Zecha
Managing Director, SideCar Angels & Board Member, Angel Capital Association
Alden Zecha serves on the Board of the Angel Capital Association and is the Chair of its Education & Smart Practices Committee. He is also SideCar Angels’ managing director and has spoken at the White House on entrepreneurship, been quoted multiple times in the Wall Street Journal, previously founded and grew Sproxil to profitable operations in 7 countries and served as CFO of Rethos (acquired). He has angel invested in over 75 companies across nearly 100 rounds and is also a Senior CASE Fellow at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business
André Flórido
VC @ Antler
André is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur, currently serving as Senior Investment Associate at Antler—an early-stage global VC backing founders from day zero. With a background in investment banking and hands-on startup experience, including co-founding Betmarkets and scaling it to €50k MRR, André brings deep expertise in venture strategy, business model validation, and supporting founders in building scalable, high-impact ventures.
Rita Vilas-Boas
Science. Tech. Business Builder.
Rita Vilas-Boas has worked in the last +20 years as a global executive, having held several
leadership roles in 7 countries across 3 continents. In the last 5 years, she has advised and
invested as an angel in startups and since 2024 she is a Partner at Angel Invest, Europes’ most
active SuperAngel Fund
Lurdes Gramaxo
President of Investors Portugal | Partner & Executive Director, Bynd Venture Capital
Lurdes Gramaxo is a Partner & Executive Director at Bynd Venture Capital, where she manages two Early Stage funds, FCR Leading Ventures and FCR BA Venture Fund. She has over 8 years of experience in pre-seed, seed, and early-stage venture capital investments and was named Europe's Female Investor of the Year in 2020 by BAND. Prior to this, she spent over 20 years in corporate management roles at Royal Lankhorst Euronete Group, BV, before a successful exit to an international Private Equity firm.
