Story

Would you fly across Europe for a meeting that might change everything?I’ve done it. And if you’re a founder, you probably know that feeling – the fear of missing out on the opportunity that could make or break your startup. The Problem Startup culture glorifies speed. Every day, you see headlines about founders who “moved […]

When you’re 20 years old and building a startup from scratch, every big number feels like a dream. So when someone offers you €3 million in your first year, it doesn’t just sound good – it feels like validation. Like all those sleepless nights, all those risks, finally meant something. The High We were two

Last week, I did something wild: I flew to Chengdu, China, for a global competition where ROOTKey was one of only two European companies in the finals. 4 flights, 48 hours, and barely any sleep – all for a chance to represent what we’ve built. But the real reward wasn’t the competition. It was a

Today, I want to talk about losing. As much as we celebrate wins, it’s the losses – the seemingly pointless, invisible, unfair ones – that really build resilience. If you’re a founder or soon-to-be founder, maybe you’ll see yourself in some of these stories. I know I did. Loss #1: Losing in Competitions I’ve lost

How I Accidentally Landed My First Investor Over Lunch Some dates just stick with you. For me, one of them is January 3rd, 2022, 1 p.m. That was the day I walked into a random lunch near my house in Lisbon… and walked out with my first investor (even though I had zero clue what

Hi! I’m Gonçalo, I’m 25 years old, and this is my first post here on the blog.I decided to start this because I wanted an honest space – without clichés, thoughts manipulated by fear of media interpretation, or prepared speeches – where I can share my view as a founder. And maybe inspire or at