Andre Marquet, co-founder of Beta-i, is leaving Beta-i to start a startup and will head out to Spain for Plug and Play accelerator! These are his kind words saying goodbye to Beta-i.

Beta-i has been an important part of my life since 2009, when after having organized the first TEDx event in Portugal with the help of Artur Arsénio (the first believer) and Rui Ribeiro, I met an incredible group of people led by Pedro Rocha Vieira to create shortly after the NGO, Beta-i.

Back in 2009 when we decided to organize the first TEDxEdges, I believed it was important to have a forum to inspire but also to discuss Portuguese policies towards a more developed country, concerning topics on Design, Technology and Science – based on that vision, I’ve come to join Pedro to help cofound Beta-i to promote a more innovative and entrepreneurial society - that was, and is the grand vision.

Caption - A picture from the old days when we did it for the fun (in 2010)

Since we’ve started at Beta-i my life changed for the better and thus, I am very thankful to everyone that has played an important part on this journey – I’ve lost track to the hundreds of new people I’ve met, and of equal importance the connection to startup communities in Portugal, but also elsewhere, especially in Brazil, Europe and in the US.

We can not ignore that during the past 5 years the entrepreneurial support eco-system has suffered what many have called a startup renaissance, with tons of new startups, hundreds of accelerators popping up all over the place, thousands of events, and some of the best conferences. In a way, this is the fight of our generation, dealing with record high levels of unemployment rates and shifting economic paradigms, I guess this was pretty much like for my parents being in Paris for May of 1968, or fighting for liberty in Portugal towards the 1974 revolution. Each generation has its fights, we have ours, fighting for a new attitude towards entrepreneurs and creators.

I am also very proud of all Beta-i events and programs, and their impact in creating a new mindset, new friendships, new endeavors, even political aspirations – not so uncommonly people that I don’t know personally would tell me that they have come to a Beta-i event and how that has impacted their lives – as one of the founders and people working at this organization, I believe that is our highest achievement, changing people’s lives for the better.

After 5 years dedicated to this cause I don’t think the job is done. Portugal is still very far from being a startup country. A lot has changed in the last 5 years but, we’re still a long way to go before we have a vibrant entrepreneurial community with the bright star cases that will make us proud i.e. no skype yet. No matter how great entrepreneurs we have, if they do not have the right conditions they will not be able to thrive in our ecosystem. In the recently released Innovation Report Global Competition 2014 from World Economic Forum, Portugal placed on 51st, as comparison Spain is placed on 35th and Israel on 27th. Portugal is still scoring very poorly on Patents (31st), State as inductor of innovation (42nd), Cluster development (42nd), Supply chain control (50th), Investment incentives (129th), Talent retention (91st), Talent attraction (72nd), Management quality (73rd), so even if a Steve Jobs mind was born in Portugal he would have very little chance to create the next Apple…

Caption - Depending on conditions revolutionaries can use their creative power for the good of the bad side of the force.

NGOs like Beta/i can only do that much, no matter how active the civic society is, if the government does not provide for the right incentives, and economic freedom and regular work of institutions we will be able to cope the challenge. In a way, I believe there is a glass ceiling of how much they can do as you can conclude from the index scores above, other than to lobby government for better policy making but I also believe that our startup ecosystem keeps getting stronger and stronger, maturing by allowing new organizations to pop-in at schools, universities, research institutes, government – that will serve enormous good in keeping our minds dreaming of a better society.

Time to move on.

Caption - We all share the love for Lisbon.

A few months ago, I decided the only way to focus my energy for the new project was by stepping back from the board at Beta-i in order to have headspace to create new wealth.

Beta-i is a special organization, that I’ve seen grow from just a dream to one of the most credible startup support platforms in Europe, with a solid professional team and sales and sponsorships pipeline that guarantee its operation in a sustainable manner.

I have had to pleasure to work in an amazing and growing team, many of whom I am glad to have pitched them to join us, with great sponsors that believe in our work, to help develop numerous projects, including Lisbon Challenge a powerful love brand that is our core accelerator product and that is getting better with every edition, and incredible momentum in the startup scene in Europe. The future is bright for Beta-i.

In close coordination with board, I handed the Lisbon Challenge “Coordinator” role to an incredibly capable leader in Bashara. Together with the board of Beta-i he will have the task of leading the next edition of Lisbon Challenge through its next phase of growth with the new investment and fund features. I know the accelerator will be in great hands; his skills fit our next phase and I think his management style is already very appreciated by you. And I will be there to help (on a need basis) in whatever areas he needs help.

The next project

I am creating a startup with a team of 3 engineers and colleagues (Rodrigo Silva an ex Beta-i colleague that was starting the Beta-i office in Brazil is also a cofounder) that is going to develop a hardware payment/security system for clothing and sports-ware retail chains, in a way is a back to the origins, to the security and telecom sector where I started my career.

The startup is based around a community and uses a hardware device enabler, a smart anti/shop lifting tag for merchandise items that unlocks it self after payment via a smartphone app. For the user it means no more queues!

We have lots of technical challenges and we are developing a new telecom radio protocol for very low energy devices that is two orders of magnitude better at managing radio energy that anything else, we are also working on IP for the hardware and software devices where applicable.

Caption - Planning for World domination with Rodrigo!

For the next 3 months we will be doing the Plug and Play Spain accelerator, as we were lucky to be accepted into 4 different accelerators and chose the one we thought would provide for the best help on our current stage of development, as we search product market fit and need to do customer development.

Are we going to succeed? I don’t know, it’s a big risk. Right now, I choose to spend my time on this tech based project and am confident that I will be able to use my engineering and management skills in a meaningful way. This was a hard choice, but I am certain that it is the right choice.

Being around.

For my side, I am available to help organizers of innovation/ startup events and I will keep working to create more inspiring events and continue my post-Beta-i life. That said I would like to let you know that I will keep supporting Beta-i as a founding associate.

I count to keep being deeply involved in the startup community, and I’ll be volunteering to organize pro/bono events, and work with people on the ground to help spur the startup ecosystem.

Caption - Above everything else, a group of friends.

I think it is always time to appreciate how Beta-i was the best job I ever had also in terms of life balance, in 15 years since I have joined the job market, in no other place have I seen such a flexibility to deal with family and personal issues as at Beta-i and I think that is one of the great things I will miss. As great as this job has been, I look forward to creating one which is even better.

I would like to thank to all of you friends at Beta-i for your help and support, look after yourselves, love your life, develop your community, or join a startup

Hugs and greetings from,

– André

PS: We will probably bump into each other at startup events but, you can also find me here:
Email: [email protected]
Linkedin: pt.linkedin.com/in/marquet/
Twitter: @amarquet