Who was shocked? Me? Well, not really but many others have been. Leading European blogger Robin Wauters covers technology entrepreneurs and startups worldwide admits in a new blog post that he was ‘shocked’ by significant technology entrepreneurship going on in Portugal. (The link to the blog is posted at the bottom of this page.)Wauters was also shocked at the striking similarities between San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and Lisbon's 25 de Abril Bridge, pictured above, something that many visitors have shared with him.
Does this mean there is some great startup ecosystem alive and well in Portugal? Not hardly. But what blogger Robin Wauters says is that it doesn’t really matter…because “like in most countries and cities around the world, when you look for them you will always find people that just can’t resist the entrepreneurial bug inside them, that build companies even if the circumstances are far less than ideal.” This is indeed good news for Portugal.
But in my experience this sense of ‘shock’ goes far beyond discovering that there are tech entrepreneurs in Lisbon. The majority of people I talk to who visit Portugal frequently tell me that the quality of Portuguese products, including their famous olive oil, wines (not just Port!), linens, ceramics, and overall cuisine is absolutely first rate and often the source of great surprise. Compared to much of the rest of Europe, visitors to Portugal often find excellent bargains in travel any time of year, and the lack of crowds is always a positive thing. From ancient Roman ruins to gothic cathedrals, or quaint fishing villages, Portugal ranks near the top of giving tourists Europe for a bargain.
Even more importantly than all of these wonderful things, the friendliness, the courtesy and respect shown to all people and backgrounds, the concern for your well being and happiness, is what can ‘shock’ visitors the most in Portugal. Travelers to other European countries often attest to the indifference or even rudeness they can experience, but this is usually not the case in much of Portugal.
Often a genuine interest is taken in visitors, especially among the young Portuguese, but I have found this to not be limited to youth. (For an example see Drew Lambert's recent post.)
So yes, blogger Robin Wauters, there is indeed much to be ‘shocked’ about in Portugal! And as Wauters noted, “I came back home feeling confident about Portugal’s startup talent and its ability to build great companies even under difficult circumstances, and curious about how the many people I’ve met will fare over the next few years. And in case you’re wondering, the seafood and pastry were indeed amazing.”
Amazing, indeed!
(To read Robin Wauters blog post on Portugal in its entirety, see:
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