Ericeira · Portugal
The new foundation for ethical technology.
We build software that improves people's lives instead of harvesting their attention — and grow toward nanotechnology and quantum technology. It starts at a coworking and community hub in Ericeira, by the Atlantic.
What we do
A tech hub built on four pillars
Members don't just rent a desk — they contribute skills to real projects as part of their membership, so the community continuously feeds the technology work.
Co-working
A workspace designed for building together — not just cafés and generic desks. Our contribution model means every membership feeds skills into ongoing projects, anchoring an international community of builders in Ericeira.
Events & Techathons
Technology workshops, techathons and gatherings that connect local and international talent — from focused build sprints to community evenings at the hub's café and restaurant.
Founder Development Program
Human performance programs for founders, drawing on special forces training and peacebuilding practice — built for focus, resilience and decision-making under pressure.
Executive Tech Team Development
Team coherence and high-performance leadership programs for executive and technology teams, developed from elite performance methods and cross-cultural facilitation.
"Ethical technology cannot be an afterthought. It has to be built into the architecture from day one."
Product · Place · People
Solved together
Product
Ethical software by design — privacy, data ownership and wellbeing as design constraints, not policy add-ons. Starting with communication tools, growing toward nanotechnology and quantum technology.
Place
A hub that builds together — coworking, café and events where members contribute skills to real projects, rooted in a local economy of workspace, food and gatherings.
People
Builders are part of the system — performance programs for focus, resilience and team coherence, for in-house teams, member founders and collaborators.
The Hub
A place to build, eat, train and breathe — steps from the ocean
The hub is designed as one ecosystem: deep work upstairs, good food downstairs, recovery by the sea.
Concept render — the Ericeira Tech Hub above the Atlantic. Interior visuals below are placeholders for the architectural renders.
Co-working Space
Light-filled workspace with focus zones, meeting rooms and open collaboration areas — built for deep work with the Atlantic in view.
Restaurant
A restaurant serving honest, local food — the social heart of the hub where members, locals and visitors share a table.
Café
Specialty coffee, plug sockets and a laptop-welcoming atmosphere — a natural meeting point for the international community, open to everyone.
Sauna & Cold Plunge
Heat and cold exposure as part of the daily rhythm — a recovery space supporting the hub's human performance programs.
Yoga & Movement Studio
A studio for yoga, mobility and training sessions — where the founder and team development programs meet daily practice.
Ocean Wardrobe
Minutes from the water: showers, changing rooms and storage — surf or swim before work, rinse off, and get back to building.
Community
Rooted in Ericeira, building with Mafra
The hub is designed to bridge Ericeira's local community and the international professionals who come here — creating collaboration and knowledge exchange, not a parallel expat bubble.
Working with the municipality
We collaborate with the Municipality of Mafra to elevate Ericeira — and Mafra as a whole — as a home for human-centered innovation. Near term: programs, workshops and coworking that attract professionals and visitors. Long term: skilled jobs, research partnerships and deep tech investment.
A reason to stay and build
Ericeira is full of local and international tech talent — nomads, remote professionals, founders — who currently pass through. The hub gives them a reason to root here and build with local partners.
Local economy, local jobs
The hub creates local workplaces directly through operations, programs and coworking — and indirectly, by drawing international talent and investment into partnerships with local businesses.
Shared programs and knowledge exchange
Techathons, workshops and community events open to locals and internationals alike — designed so both communities learn from and build with each other.
Local ecosystem
A community already forming
We build alongside the wellness, surf and founder communities already active in and around Ericeira.
The Organic Way
Wellness and community hub in the center of Ericeira — organic shop and café, yoga studio, sauna, cold plunge and coworking area.
Hurley's Ericeira
Surf shop and co-work-friendly café — one of the informal anchors of Ericeira's remote work scene.
The FiVth
Multi-day gathering in Santo Isidoro bringing together founders, thinkers, artists and scientists around consciousness and culture.
Conscious500
Global growth network for conscious leaders and founders, with regular retreats and gatherings across the Lisbon, Sintra and Ericeira region.
Sustainability by design
Environmental
Resource-efficient technology, and a hub building designed as a showcase of sustainable construction and operation.
Social
Bridging local and international communities through shared programs, collaborations and knowledge exchange.
Economic
Local jobs from hub operations, and international investment rooted in Ericeira through local partnership.
Core Team
Deep tech, law and human performance
Torstein Vabo Ansari
Nanotechnologist with hands-on experience in nanoelectronics and advanced materials fabrication, feeding directly into the hub's deep tech agenda. His Norwegian special forces background shapes the hub's leadership and human performance programs, complemented by entrepreneurship and experience in energy storage management.
Samina Vabo Ansari
Afghan-Norwegian founder, lawyer, peacebuilder and author of When the Almond Trees Bloom. Previously ran a business hub in Afghanistan. TED speaker, with work featured in The New York Times, France 24, Der Spiegel and Vogue. Leads business development, community building and program design.
Advisory
Research depth and investor experience
Prof. Antonello Monti
Directs the Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems at RWTH Aachen's E.ON Energy Research Center, with a double appointment at Fraunhofer FIT. Author of 400+ peer-reviewed papers; recipient of the 2017 IEEE Innovation in Societal Infrastructure Award. His recent work applies quantum computing to power systems.
Fred Destin
Founder & General Partner of Stride.VC, London. Two decades in venture investing including senior partner roles at Accel and Atlas Venture; has led or backed 50+ investments including Deliveroo, Cazoo, Zoopla and PillPack — several reaching IPO or $1B+ exits.
Paul van Katwijk
Dutch entrepreneur and angel investor active in early-stage, impact-oriented ventures. Table Captain for Fundsup's investor communities on personal development and on nature and climate, with a focus on supporting fundamental scientific research.