8 inspiring stories describing how Portuguese business founders overcame adversity and became successful

Startup News Europe - Here are 8 inspiring success stories describing turning points in the lives of Portuguese business founders when they met unexpected adversity and managed to reinvent themselves to achieve success as well as recognition with the 2025 SME Heroes Award by Heróis PME:  

1 – How Portuguese startup ubbu managed to make a breakthrough:

Portuguese startup ubbu was founded in 2021, operating in the IT sector from Porto. In 2025, ubbu developed a digital, gamified and accessible educational platform which has already impacted more than 360,000 students and 3,660 teachers in 830 schools, with a presence in more than 20 countries.

What set tech start ubbu apart and led to its success:

Ubbu is “Teaching the future, today” in a world where 65% of children will pursue professions that do not yet exist according to the OECD, and where the traditional education system is not prepared for the challenges of the digital revolution (McKinsey, 2022). Ubbu thus emerged as a technological response to a social problem: the risk of digital exclusion of new generations.

Ubbu’s success was measured and the startup obtained +69% improvement in digital skills (University of Aveiro, 2023), a +17% in performance in Mathematics, and a +5% in logical reasoning (Nova SBE, 2022).

2 - How Portuguese startup Zone Soft managed to bridge the Digital Transformation gap:

Portuguese startup Zone Soft was founded in 2005, operating in the IT sector from Entroncamento. By 2025, Zone Soft was elected one of the 25 Best Companies to Work for in Portugal (2021); was distinguished as one of the Best SMEs in Portugal in 2020, integrating the top 5% of financial solidity; and was awarded with the Caixa Top distinction, attributed to the most dynamic companies in the Portuguese economy.

What set tech start Zone Soft apart and led to its success:

Zone Soft is “Reinventing the Digital Experience in the HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, and Café) Sector”. As a result, Zone Soft has strengthened its reputation as an innovative company, leading the way in technological modernization in a sector that is traditionally resistant to change. Zone Soft developed the first order & pay solution via smartphone without using apps, 100% integrated with the point of sale billing software, providing a unique shopping experience for consumers.

3 - How Portuguese startups ALEAL and EST managed to become international companies:

a - Portuguese SME ALEAL was founded in 1975, operating in the Industrial sector from PAREDES.

What set furniture company ALEAL apart and led to its success:

Furniture company ALEAL, that was born from tradition and artisanal mastery, had the courage to look beyond borders and has now become a brand of global prestige.

The perfect combination of design excellence, the impeccable quality of materials combined with a strong international sales network in several countries around the world, such as Germany, England, Belgium, Spain, France, USA, Canada, Qatar, Senegal, Angola, made ALEAL become a quality international brand.

b - Portuguese SME EST was founded in 1990, operating in the Construction sector from Leiria.

What set Construction company EST apart and led to its success:

In 2023, EST successfully overcame a huge challenge: it mobilized around 100 employees to Norway and revealed internal leaders, proving that talent and strategy can overcome any obstacle.

In recent years, EST intensified its growth, becoming a European reference in industrial electricity. EST is currently present in multiple European countries, such as Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, France, and Italy, proving that determination and quality are the main drivers of sustainable growth on the international stage.

4 - How Portuguese startup TWINTEX managed to become sustainable:

Portuguese SME TWINTEX was founded in 1979, operating in the Industrial sector from Fundão. By 2025, TWINTEX achieved sustainability by obtaining the following certifications: SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), Higg Index (Sustainable Apparel Coalition), GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), GRS (Global Recycled Standard), OCS 100 (Organic Content Standard), and RWS (Responsible Wool Standard).  

What set Textile company TWINTEX apart and led to its success:

TWINTEX has successfully achieved 5 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely: SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 12 - Sustainable Consumption and Production, SDG 13 - Climate Action, and SDG 15 - Life on Land.

Twintex is committed to proving that fashion can be stylish, ethical and responsible at the same time, and is “Building a Sustainable Future, One Step at a Time.”  

5 - How Portuguese company Cunha Metalworks took risks to develop new products:

Portuguese company Cunha Metalworks was founded in 1988, operating in the Construction sector from Braga.

What set Construction company Cunha Metalworks apart and led to its success:

Cunha Metalworks managed to build a significant reputation among construction companies in Braga. However, between 2010 and 2013, due solely to the bankruptcy of its main clients, it was dragged into a difficult situation with bad debts of around €5 million. 

Instead of closing the company and putting around 50 employees out of work, the founder, António Martins, aged 55, mortgaged all his personal assets and, with no experience in international markets, began to approach the Algerian and Belgian markets. The Belgian market proved to be a huge success, due to the highly personalized and quality service that has always characterized the company.

Later, Serralharia Cunha established a partnership with a North American multinational Dextall Inc. specializing in industrialized construction and decided to invest around €10 milion in a new industrial unit dedicated to the production of modular façades for construction. With this investment, Serralharia Cunha will be able to respond to the demand of the North American market as well as the Iberian market.

6 - How Portuguese company Next Generation Chemistry transformed challenges into innovation to create a greener textile future:

Portuguese company Next Generation Chemistry was founded in 2018, operating in the Chemistry sector from Perafita.

Some stories are written with formulas and results. Others, with conviction and courage. The story of Next Generation Chemistry (NGC) is written with all of these things – but, above all, with purpose.

What set scientific company Next Generation Chemistry apart and led to its success:

The real turning point for Next Generation Chemistry (NGC) came in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. When the world stopped and so many companies retreated, NGC decided to move forward despite everything telling it otherwise. Would it Shut down or reinvent itself? The answer came from the strength of the team and its long-term vision: Thus, was born a mask with an active compound capable of eliminating SARS-CoV-2. The success was immediate, both at home and abroad.

This moment of innovation marked a decisive reflection in the founder's life: Leaving petrochemicals behind and investing in biotechnology was a leap in the dark, but also a step towards the future: To transform challenges into innovation and create a greener textile future. The result was the development of award-winning organic products.

7 - How Portuguese startup António Cuco Distillery managed to reinvent itself during the lockdown:

Portuguese company António Cuco Distillery was founded in 2014, operating in the Distillery sector from Reguengos de Monsaraz.

What set António Cuco Distillery apart and led to its success:

It was from adversity that one of the most unique and emblematic brands in the Portuguese business landscape was born. In 2014, faced with unemployment, António Cuco decided to transform uncertainty into opportunity, despair into ambition and the unknown into creativity. Thus, was born Destilaria António Cuco, the home of Sharish Gin, in the heart of the Alentejo, in Reguengos de Monsaraz.

At a time when there were no gin distilleries in Portugal, the path was anything but obvious. With no role models to follow, António and his wife went all in: they put all their savings into the project, took significant financial risks and started from scratch, with independent research and a first still that was improvised from a pressure cooker.

Their courage was rewarded with rapid success. Sales grew at an unexpected rate, forcing them to hire new employees and expand their facilities. In 2018, António Cuco Distillery opened a new 1,400 square meter distillery, a milestone that symbolized not only the growth of the business, but the consolidation of a Portuguese signature brand, made with soul, technique and a deep respect for the land and its roots.

The 2020 pandemic, however, dealt a severe blow. Out-of-home consumption — a key channel for spirits — practically disappeared. And, once again, the company had to reinvent itself.  It created new products, started producing hydroalcoholic solutions, prioritized e-commerce and, above all, the company preserved jobs. 

In 2024, a new chapter began with the entry of the second generation of the family into the business. This new energy boosted the marketing department, intensified the brand's presence at major events and on social media, and added even more dynamism to a company that knows how to combine tradition and modernity like few others.

With a current team of 9 employees and a turnover that exceeded 1.2 million euros in 2023, Destilaria António Cuco is today a symbol of grassroots entrepreneurship, emotional resilience and artisanal excellence, elevating the name of Portugal in every bottle produced.