Hello everyone, and welcome back,
The past week has truly put Portugal to the test. The country faced one of the most severe weather events in recent years, with isolated communities, damaged infrastructure, and thousands of people dealing with material and emotional losses. Moments like these remind us how fragile daily life can be, but also how strong our networks become when everything else seems to fail.
Among those networks, the Tempestade SOS platform stood out immediately. It quickly became a reference point for requests for help, offers of support, and community coordination. In an emergency scenario, the ability to organise information, connect people, and speed up responses makes all the difference. And this initiative showed once again how technology can serve as a tool for collective resilience.
This episode also reminds us of something the Portuguese entrepreneurial ecosystem has already proven in other crises: when the country needs it, the tech community steps forward. During the pandemic, the Tech4Covid19 movement mobilised hundreds of volunteers, startups, and specialists to create solutions in record time; from telemedicine platforms to logistical support systems. It was a clear example of how talent, creativity, and a sense of mission can turn moments of vulnerability into concrete progress.
Today, facing the devastation caused by the extreme weather, the challenge is different, but the principle remains the same. The entrepreneurial ecosystem can and should play an active role in the recovery of the affected areas. Whether through mapping tools, communication solutions, volunteer platforms, reconstruction technologies, or simply by offering skills and time, there is room for everyone to contribute.
Rebuilding is not only physical; it is also social, emotional, and deeply community driven. And this is where Portuguese innovation can once again show its value: bringing people closer, accelerating responses, and creating bridges where before there were barriers.
This week was tough. But it was also a powerful reminder that when the country faces storms — not only the meteorological ones — there is an ecosystem ready to act, to support, and to rebuild. And that is something we can be proud of.
