This week on the roundup: tradition, rigor and ambition, registration fees, innovation, digitalisation, and international growth, video workflows, strong fintech companies, secret features, guest speakers, zero-gravity relaxation, final stages, intense sharing, different perspectives, journalists, publishers, and legal experts, graduate placements, systematic measurements, data-driven tire management, solo professionals, and more!

But first, here are the IPBN Highlights of the Week

We shared the video of the 7th Annual IPBN Sustainability conference. A big thank you so much to our Media Production Partner, RXLSTUDIO, for such a great job. We are so proud of our collaboration and can't recommend them enough. See for yourself!

And we share all three panel conversations on the IPBN Spotify channel. You can listen to these conversations here

We announced our next event “Algarve Blue Economy Innovation and European Funds,” to take place on 9 April, from 10:00 to 12:00 at CCDR Algarve in Faro. Building on the momentum of our recent Sustainability Conference in Lisbon, this session brings the conversation to the Algarve — a region deeply connected to the ocean — to explore both the challenges facing coastal environments and the opportunities the Blue Economy presents for sustainable growth. Check the special guest speakers and register here!

We shared the profile of our newest member of the IPBN, HAY.CHAT represented by Co-Founder, Damien Mulhall! Hay is a Lisbon-based AI customer service platform that helps e-commerce and SaaS companies resolve support tickets automatically. Find more about their business here and do connect.

We announced our special event April 30 at the new Engineers Hub in Lisbon “Housing After the Storm: Regulation, Resilience & Sustainable Living” on Thursday, 30 April from 10h to 12h at the Unicorn Factory Lisboa's Engineers Hub. This in-person event will bring together experts from Ireland and Portugal for two focused panel discussions exploring housing regulation, investment, and engineering, alongside sustainable, cost-effective, and human-centred living solutions. Open to members and non-members and free of charge, it offers a valuable opportunity to exchange insights and shape future collaboration. Register today to secure your place!

And now...

IPBN member FAmazing shared, "There are projects that are presented. And there are projects that are toasted. Last Saturday, at Eurostars Porto Douro, we had the privilege of attending the launch of Combro Colheita Red 2021 by J. M. Calém and Combro organic extra-virgin olive oil. From the Douro to the world — two products that represent tradition, rigor, and ambition. Thank you to Combro for the trust. Let this be just the beginning of a long story... and full of gifts." 

IPBN member Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf resort & Spa shared, "On March 28, the Hilton Vilamoura will join Earth Hour with a special initiative inviting everyone to 'switch off the lights for the planet.' Between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, at Pinhal Vilamoura, a charity golf tournament will take place, with all registration fees donated to the Algarve Oncology Association. This initiative brings together sustainability, sport, and solidarity in a unique experience with a positive impact."

IPBN Member Luis Escudeiro from ACT Solutions shared, "Under the Portugal 2030 framework, there is currently an open call supporting the hiring of highly qualified human resources (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD level). The programme offers up to 50% non-repayable funding on salary costs, over a period of up to 36 months, making it a strong incentive for companies aiming to accelerate innovation, digitalisation, or international growth. From a strategic perspective, this is not just a hiring incentive, but a tool to reinforce innovation capacity within companies, attract and retain qualified talent, and support structured growth aligned with regional priorities. We believe this could be particularly relevant for IPBN members with operations or expansion plans in Portugal. Call deadlines are phased, with applications ending on June 30th, 2026. Ready to take the next step? Let’s talk info@actsolutions.pt | www.actsolutions.pt and check the leaflet here.

IPBN member Overcast HQ posted, "Enterprise video workflows break when projects fall out of sync. Different versions. Missing files. Confusion over what’s final. The new Project & Production Sync in the Overcast Premiere Pro Panel keeps everything aligned - across teams, locations, and workflows. Learn more about the latest Premiere Pro Panel release."

IPBN member Padraig Nolan shared, "Europe builds strong fintech companies. But scaling them remains a challenge. I’ve written a short piece for the Center for European Policy Analysis on how Ireland is helping change that and what it says about the broader challenge across Europe."

IPBN member Sandra Nascimento shared, "SAL Home & Living SAL was a reference in the NIT guide. Cacilhas' best-kept secret features pieces worthy of a design magazine. Sandra Nascimento is the creator of SAL Home & Living, a brand with a showroom next to the Tagus River. She combines brand curation with interior design projects."

And we are very pleased to welcome Sandra as a guest speaker in our upcoming event in Lisbon on April 30, "Housing After the Storm: Regulation, Resilience & Sustainable Living." You can check all the details here with the full programme and where you can already register. The event is open to members and non-members and is free of charge.

IPBN member FITQOR Cascais posted, "The Science of Recovery. Treat your body to the same recovery protocols used by professional athletes to reduce inflammation and recharge your energy. From the deep detox of Clearlight Infrared Saunas and Avantpool cold plunges to assisted stretching and zero-gravity relaxation, we ensure you leave our club feeling even better than when you arrived. The Founders Membership at FITQOR Wellness Club includes access to our science-backed recovery program. Limited to the first 100 members. Opening in May 2026. Contact us for details."

IPBN member Villagrande Real Estate posted, "There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing how our clients experienced the journey. At Villagrand, attention to detail is at the heart of everything we do. From the first conversation to the final stages and beyond, our focus is always the same: ensuring every step of the process feels smooth, transparent, and fully supported."

IPBN Academic Partner UC Business said, "The UC entrepreneurship community is stronger than ever! This month, we celebrated the closing of the 1st cycle of the UC Mentoring Program (PMUC) with Boost Day. We brought together more than 50 people — including founders of spin-offs, researchers with business ideas, entrepreneurs, and students — for a moment of intense sharing."

IPBN member Innovation X Hub Porto Business School shared, "After questions of control, the conversation at What's Next Summit 2026 turned inward. In her Flash Talk, Anel Imanbay offered a different perspective, not on what AI is doing to systems, but on what it may be doing to us. Through a simple but powerful idea, she challenged the illusion of certainty. When the “smartest voice in the room” always agrees with you, are you learning - or just being reassured?"

IPBN member and Partner of the IPBN Conversation with a leader series, John Byrne posted, "Most startups rush to build. With Writers' Bloc EU, we did the opposite. We spent 4 years researching, listening to customers, and getting deep into the weeds. Hundreds of conversations with journalists, publishers, and legal experts. All to solve one hard problem big tech doesn't want solved (yet). Last week, that patience paid off: Proud to share that Writers' Bloc is the first startup to be accepted into the most recent cohort of David Slowey's Accelerator Program to build an "MVB", a minimum viable business. This is only the first rung of the ladder. Now the real work begins."

IPBN member Emma Olohan has a number of Marketing, Events, and Business Graduates (Irish, French, Brazilian, Spanish, German, all Dublin-based) currently seeking internships, FT graduate placements, part-time and full-time jobs. College is out on the 9th of April. "Can you stick your name or an email below so they can contact you. Thanks Emma"

IPBN member GEOPALM Engineering Consulting posted, "We were at the Rainha Santa Bridge, in Coimbra. Not to cross it — to monitor it. To the millimetre. This is one of the infrastructures where GEOPALM® carries out periodic High Precision Geometric Levelling campaigns: systematic measurements that determine whether the structure remains stable over time, or whether there are vertical movements that require attention. The process is invisible to those who pass by. But the data we collect protects those who pass by every day."

IPBN member TIRECHECK is responding with smarter, connected tire solutions that make proactive fleet management possible, not just for fleets, but for any tire dealer or service provider looking to offer more value. "We believe that data-driven tire management is the next big unlock in sustainable mobility. And we are here to make it simple, scalable, and accessible."

IPBN member Witfy Socially Smart posted, "Most social media advice for solo professionals is just a list of things you do not have time for. Stop trying to be everywhere. It is exhausting and rarely works. At Witfy, we built a virtual brain that learns how you actually speak. You get to sound like yourself, only faster. How many platforms are you honestly trying to manage right now?"