In recent years, the venture capital landscape in Portugal has seen a significant rise in influential female leaders driving innovation and growth. These accomplished women have been instrumental in shaping the future of various sectors through their investments and leadership. This article highlights the notable female VC partners who are making impactful contributions to Portugal's entrepreneurial ecosystem in 2024. From seasoned investment managers to dynamic partners leading high-impact ventures, their expertise spans diverse fields including technology, healthcare, and clean energy.

Adelina Figueiredo - Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures

Adelina Figueiredo is an Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures, where she has held the role for over 12 years, focusing on ICT funds. She brings extensive expertise in the tech sector, particularly in investment management. She holds a degree in Management Informatics from Universidade Portucalense.

Cristina Fonseca - General Partner at Indico Capital Partners

Cristina Fonseca is a General Partner at Indico Capital Partners, where she focuses on seed to Series A investments in SaaS, Artificial Intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, and digital startups. Before her current role, she co-founded Cleverly.ai, which was acquired by Zendesk and served as Co-Founder of Talkdesk, a company revolutionizing call center creation. Cristina holds a Master's degree in Network and Telecommunications from Instituto Superior Técnico and completed the Global Solutions Program at Singularity University.

Filomena Pastor - Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures

Filomena Pastor is an Investment Director at Portugal Ventures, bringing extensive experience in both Private Equity and Venture Capital investments. She has managed strategic investments across various sectors, including glass, concrete, pulp, and furniture, and has honed her expertise in Corporate Finance, M&A, and Risk Management. Filomena currently oversees investments and manages the Portuguese startup’s portfolio, focusing on tech-based companies offering innovative solutions in areas like agri-tech, clean-tech, smart manufacturing, and smart materials.

Helena Taveira - Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures

Helena Taveira is an Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures, with nearly eight years of experience, currently focused on pre-seed investments. She previously held roles as Head of Marketing & Communication and VC Investment Manager at the firm. Helena has also served as a Non-Executive Board Member of Startup Portugal and has extensive experience in business development and marketing from her previous tenure at Fundação de Serralves.

Joana Rocha - Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures

Joana Rocha, an Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures, brings over 18 years of experience in finance and accounting across various industries, including venture capital, pharmaceuticals, and food. With a decade-long tenure in venture capital, she specializes in financial analysis, investment assessment, and portfolio company monitoring. Her current focus lies in the tourism sector, where she oversees investments in startups like Doinn S.A., Live Electric Tours, and Storymatik Software.

Lurdes Gramaxo - Partner at Bynd Venture Capital

Lurdes Gramaxo is a Partner at Bynd Venture Capital, where she has been involved since 2015. She also serves as the President of Investors Portugal, the Portuguese Association of Early Stage Investors, and holds board positions at APBA - Associação Portuguesa de Business Angels. Lurdes previously worked as CCDO at Royal Lankhorst Euronete Group BV from 2010 to 2013 and holds a degree from the University of Porto in Portugal.

Maria João Almeida - Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures

Maria João Almeida is a Senior Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures with over 20 years of venture capital experience, focusing on engineering and manufacturing. Before her VC career, she worked at KPMG in financial auditing and tax consultancy. She has held board positions in several portfolio companies, overseeing investment analysis, due diligence, and portfolio management.

Patrícia Costa - Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures

Patrícia Costa is an Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures, specializing in therapeutics and health tech since February 2022. She has a strong background in oncology research, having worked as a research scientist at the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa and as a postdoctoral researcher at Instituto de Medicina Molecular. Patrícia holds a PhD in Cell Biology/Oncology from King's College London and has additional experience in medical management and microfluidic device research.

Rita Casimiro - Partner at Maze Impact

Rita Casimiro is a Partner at MAZE Impact, leading the Maze X accelerator for impact ventures. She also heads acceleration at Blue Bio Value and serves on the advisory board of Native Scientist. Rita holds a Master's in Social Entrepreneurship from Nova SBE and a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of Bath.

Rita Sousa - Partner at Faber

Rita Sousa is a Partner at Faber, where she leads the Faber Ocean/Climate Tech fund, focusing on early-stage startups in Southern Europe. She previously served as Managing Director at Naves Venture Capital and held senior roles at Espírito Santo Ventures (now Armilar Venture Partners), working with innovative startups in clean tech, ICT, and Healthcare. Rita holds an MBA from AESE/IESE Business School and a Master's in Finance from Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics.

Silvia Silva - Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures

Silvia Silva is an Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures, with over a decade of experience in finance, accounting, and human resources. She has held various managerial positions in investment firms and companies in Portugal, demonstrating a strong background in financial management. Silvia holds postgraduate qualifications in Business Sciences and Management from the University of Porto and ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.

Sofia Santos - Partner at Faber

Sofia Santos is a Partner at Faber, with over a decade of experience in venture development and investment management. Before joining Faber, she worked as a Senior Consultant at Jason Associates and gained extensive experience in human capital consulting at Ray Human Capital and SDO Consultoria. Sofia holds postgraduate qualifications in Foresight, Strategy, and Innovation from ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics & Management, and in Impact Investing from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Sonia Magalhaes - Managing Partner at Kleber Capital

Sonia Magalhaes is the Managing Partner at Kleber Capital and a Partner at FastTrack Ventures, both focused on supporting startups and sustainable growth. Previously, she was Group CFO at Sports Stars Media Plc, helping the company to list on the AIM London Stock Exchange. She also held senior advisory roles at SolarWinds N-able and Tyco Retail Solutions after key acquisitions.

Teresa Fiúza - Executive Vice President at Portugal Ventures

Teresa Fiúza is the Executive Vice President at Portugal Ventures, focusing on venture capital investment. She previously served as Deputy Head of SMEs, Corporate, and Institutions at Banco Montepio and held leadership roles at Novo Banco and Banco Espírito Santo. Fiúza also has experience as a non-executive board member at Lisgarante and has completed advanced banking and marketing programs at INSEAD and Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

Veronica Korzh - Partner at SID Venture Partners

Veronica Korzh is a Partner at SID Venture Partners, a Ukrainian venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology startups. She is also the co-founder and CEO of GeekPay, a platform for secure digital currency payments, and previously served as General Manager at Sigma Software Labs and co-founder of WOD Insight, an AI-powered app for fitness enthusiasts. Korzh's background includes experience in media with True!, a project highlighting tech personalities, and recent coursework in entrepreneurship at Cornell University.

The presence and influence of female venture capital partners in Portugal are not only reshaping the investment landscape but also fostering a more inclusive and innovative startup ecosystem. Their leadership, dedication, and strategic vision are paving the way for the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors. As Portugal continues to grow as a hub for startups and venture capital, the contributions of these remarkable women will undoubtedly play a crucial role in driving the country’s economic and technological advancements forward. Their achievements stand as a testament to the vital role women play in the global venture capital arena.