We already had the official kickoff of the Madeira Startup Retreat.
Founders from across the globe gather in one room. The day was all about laying the foundation for the weeks of growth ahead.
Welcome & Set-UP
The day began with more than just coffee. It was a moment of “Set-UP”—not just logistically, but mentally. Our cohort arrived ready to dive into the ecosystemand meeting their first mentor.
The Inner Compass: Self-Assessment with Marta Marques Pereira
We didn’t jump straight into spreadsheets or pitch decks. Instead, we looked inward. Led by Marta Pereira (Founder, Coach & Facilitator @Elephant Answer), the Self-Assessment session was a deep dive.
Marta challenged our entrepreneurs to confront their strengths blind spots. As she often emphasizes, a startup can only grow as fast as its founder does. It was an honest, sometimes raw, but ultimately empowering exercise in self-awareness.
Building the Core: Team Assessment
After looking at the individual, we shifted focus to the collective. The Team Assessment phase focused on the “engine” of every startup: its people. Teams worked through exercises to identify:
- Communication bottlenecks.
- Complementary skill sets.
- Shared values and vision alignment.
- Startup Timeline
Sum-up and Main Conclusions | Sharing
We wrapped up with a “Sharing” circle. It was fascinating to hear the common threads, the challenges are universal.
The journey has officially begun. Stay tuned as we continue to scale new heights here in Madeira!
To catch a glimpse of the day’s activities, check out all the photos HERE.