Exploring new frontiers, from satellites to startups
Pedro Coutinho's journey began in Porto, Portugal, where he pursued telecommunications engineering at FEUP-Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto . His passion for digital communications took him to Sweden for a master’s degree, where he developed a keen interest in satellite navigation systems. This newfound fascination led him to the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. ospace Center for his master thesis and eventually to Madrid, where he started his career at GMV, one of Europe’s largest space companies. As Pedro recalls, "I was working as a digital signal processing engineer, solving complex signal acquisition problems and improving location accuracy in challenging urban environments."
Discovering a passion for leadership and innovation
Pedro’s career took a significant turn when he was invited to join a newly established Aerospace Technology Center in Barcelona. Here, he quickly transitioned from a technical lead to managing a team of developers and engineers working on cutting-edge European projects. This early exposure to leadership and management sparked a new passion in Pedro – building and leading technical teams to create innovative products.
Becoming an entrepreneur, building products, and solving real-world problems. By 2009, Pedro returned to Portugal and, after a brief stint at a small aerospace company, made the bold decision to start his own company, WATERDOG. "I found out that what I really like to do is set up technical teams, build products, and drive innovation," he shares. WATERDOG started in 2010, focusing on developing native mobile applications for iOS and Android. Over the years, it evolved into a technology development company specializing in digital products and cloud platforms for a range of industries, from pharma to aerospace and Industry 4.0.
Investing time, knowledge, and expertise to nurture startups
But Pedro’s entrepreneurial spirit didn't stop there. Alongside WATERDOG’s growth, Pedro sought ways to invest in promising products and startups, often opting for sweat equity – investing time, knowledge, and expertise rather than cash. One of his early ventures was Meethub in the UK, an ambitious attempt to automate business meetings and events. Though the startup did not succeed, Pedro views it as a valuable learning experience that fueled his desire to continue supporting startups.
Pivoting strategies in a rapidly changing world
During the COVID-19 pandemic, faced with market disruptions and a changing business landscape, Pedro made a strategic shift. Instead of rebuilding WATERDOG’s team, he co-founded Keita Mobility Factory tory, a joint venture focused on urban mobility innovation in Barcelona. This venture, which leverages European innovation funding, reflects Pedro’s ongoing commitment to building and testing new ideas and solutions.
Joining COREangels Lisbon to learn, grow, and make an impact
Pedro’s growing interest in angel investing led him to COREangels Lisbon, where he now plays a pivotal role. "I joined COREangels Lisbon to learn more about the intricacies of startup investment and venture capital, and to share my experiences with others," Pedro explains.
As the head of the startup selection group, Pedro is responsible for managing the process that pre-selects three startups to pitch to the Investment Committee, where all angels are present. His technical expertise and entrepreneurial experience have been instrumental in shaping the selection process, ensuring a diverse range of startups are considered. Pedro is very active and participates frequently in diferent COREangels Lisbon activities in Portugal and abroad. Pedro has also a close relation with all the COREangels network, crossing opportunities and learning and sharing information with other regional and vertical groups among COREangels network.
Mission to Dubai
Pedro, was part of the recent COREangels and COREangels Lisbon mission to the GITEX GLOBAL Largest Tech & Startup Show in the World in Dubai. It was a busy but great experience that permitted to have direct contact with close to 100 startups from different areas, provide them feedback and eventually bring some to Lisbon in the future. Created the opportunity also to develop contact with different investors and actors in the local and international entrepreneurship space, that permits to continuously grow group network.
🤩 With over 6,000 exhibitors, 180,000 attendees, and groundbreaking innovations in AI, tech and more from every corner of the globe, this event presented a multitude of opportunities for our team and everyone in the business angel realm!
Looking ahead: investing in technology to solve real-world problems
Looking ahead, Pedro is enthusiastic about the future of technology and SaaS startups. He remains passionate about the potential of software as a service to solve real-world problems and envisions creating an angel group focused on this sector. His advice to aspiring angel investors is clear: “Angel investing is not just about financial returns. It’s about enjoying the process, helping startups succeed, and understanding where you can add the most value. Invest where your expertise can make a difference.”
A commitment to learning, building, and contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Pedro’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity, continuous learning, and the willingness to take risks. From his beginnings in the aerospace sector to leading the startup selection group at COREangels Lisbon, Pedro Coutinho inho exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation. He remains committed to finding and nurturing the next generation of startups, applying his deep experience to help them thrive in an ever-evolving market.
If you are a startup interested in pitching to COREangels Lisbon or want to learn more about Pedro’s work and his vision for the future, connect with him on LinkedIn here. COREangels Lisbon is always looking for innovative ideas and passionate founders to join our portfolio!
