Lisbon’s startup scene is buzzing with success stories of founders raising millions, but here’s the real question every entrepreneur gaining traction eventually asks: “Do I actually need funding to scale my startup?” 🤔

On October 30th, Startup Grind Lisbon brings the community together to delve into this timeless debate: funding versus bootstrapping.

The event will showcase diverse experiences from founders who have raised venture capital, those who have chosen to bootstrap, and investors who evaluate startups at different stages.

We’ll kick off with one startup pitch, giving the spotlight to local founders building the next wave of innovation.

The highlight of the evening will be a panel discussion featuring a solo founder who raised money recently, a bootstraped entrepreneur who delayed or avoided raising money altogether, and a representative from top Portuguese VC.

Together, they’ll tackle hard questions:

💡 When is the right time to raise?

⚖️ What are the risks of chasing funding too early?

🔥 How can founders maximize control and freedom while still growing their business?

Join us to gain clarity, confidence, and community — and to finally answer: Do I really need funding?

Startups pitching:

🚀 talents.kids - an AI-powered platform helping parents and educators understand each child’s development, strengths, and struggles. By bridging home and school, Talents.Kids personalizes learning, detects early challenges, and empowers every child to reach their full potential.

🎤 Validly - a smart tool that helps founders practice and improve their startup pitches. With AI investors providing instant feedback, scores, and insights, founders can refine their story before facing real investors.

💰 OneMAI - a modern community financing platform that empowers people and organizations to save and achieve their goals together. Inspired by the culture of rotational savings (ROSCAs), OneMAI makes group savings simple, trusted, and secure.

Discussion Panel with:

Isabel Carapeta, Forbes 30 Under 30, growth strategist, and founder of Simplifyer
Lena Pishchuk, Marketing & Partnerships Lead at ULTRA.VC
Tiago Cunha Costa, Founder of BloodFlow
moderated by João Nunes Rosado, Head of Portfolio @ Unicorn Factory Lisboa

Join us for an evening of insightful discussions, real startup stories, and community connection.

📅 Date: October 30, 2025

🕕 Time: 6:00 PM

📍 Location: Heden Sta. Apolónia

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Meetball is the official networking app for the event. Want to see who’s attending and start connecting before the event? Join the community here: https://app.meetball.fun/events/startup-grind-do-i-need-funding