Forbes Portugal has released its 2025 30 Under 30 list, featuring 30 individuals under the age of 30 who are driving innovation and contributing to various sectors.
Featured on the list are entrepreneurs such as Isabel Carapeta, founder of the personal finance app Simplifyer.io; Maria Costa Maia of ÈME Beauty and Maria Academy; Sofia Pontifex, creator of Funky Chunky Cookies; Bernardo Bento, real estate developer and founder of Planalto d’Azul; and Mariana Gomes, social entrepreneur and activist who founded and leads Último Recurso – the first Portuguese NGO using legal mechanisms to drive climate action and strengthen the rule of law.
The list was first announced on the official Forbes Portugal Instagram account, @forbespt. It also includes professionals from other areas including sports, science, sustainability, technology, and the arts, with names like professional footballer Rúben Gato Dias, musician Ivandro, and AI strategist Mafalda Rebordão.
To source candidates, Forbes writers and editors review online submissions and consult with industry sources and previous 30 Under 30 honorees. Final selections are made by Forbes staff in partnership with a panel of independent judges, who assess each nominee on criteria including funding, revenue, social impact, scale, originality, and future potential.
To mark the publication of the list, Forbes Portugal will host an event on July 3 that brings together this year’s honorees, as well as entrepreneurs, investors, public figures, and opinion leaders from across the country.
The event aims to recognize achievement, encourage new connections, and support cross-sector dialogue among young professionals. The program will include talks and informal sessions designed to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences.
Below are some of the honorees selected for the 2025 Forbes Portugal 30 Under 30:
Isabel Carapeta is an entrepreneur building Simplifyer.io, a personal finance app that helps you take control of your receipts, warranties, and spending – all in one place.
2- Mariana Madaleno & Vicente Mourão
Mariana Madaleno and Vicente Mourão are the founders of Just Lyne, an e-commerce store specializing in minimalist, just-one-line art, using a sustainable, print-on-demand model supported by Gelato to reduce waste and promote local production.
Mafalda Rebordão is the lead of digital and AI strategy at Microsoft for the United Nations and co-founder of the NGO Ponto Zero, a C-Level mentorship academy that empowers young professionals, especially women, through mentoring.
Margarida Corceiro is an actress and co‑owner/partner at MISSUS, an ethical and sustainable swimwear and apparel brand.
Rúben Gato Dias is a professional footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Portugal national team.
Bianca Castro is an actress, climate justice activist, Deputy Program Leader of Roots – a Greenpeace initiative supporting frontline communities and youth – and an environmental columnist and speaker.
Maria Costa Maia is the entrepreneur behind ÈME Beauty by Maria Maia Beauty, White Deer, and Maria Academy—a community empowering women to turn their passions into info products.
Joana Gentil Martins is a clinical psychologist, trainer, and author of three books.
9- Hugo Pais
Hugo Pais is the CEO of Alfabrent, a company founded in 2018 in Guimarães that specializes in managing gas stations and distributing bulk fuel for business (B2B) and government (B2G) sectors.
10- Luís Bezerra
Luís Bezerra is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and head of marketing at QUAD, a brand offering high-end padel and pickleball gear made in Portugal.
11- Raquel Janeiro
Raquel Janeiro, along with Miguel Mimoso, is behind Explorerssaurus, where they document their travel and lifestyle. They also own the hotel Belajar Bali by Club Life Design.
12- Diogo Carmona
Diogo Carmona is a digital creator, actor, and athlete specializing in skateboarding and snowboarding. He serves as a World Skate judge and ambassador for the Portuguese Olympic Committee.
13- Bruna Fernandes
Bruna Fernandes is a certified accountant and runs lp.acontabilista.pt , a platform created to make taxes simpler.
14- Manuel Moreira
Manuel Moreira is a finance professional and member associations finance services coordinator for financial governance at FIFA. He shares insights at the intersection of economics and football.
15- Bernardo Bento
Bernardo Bento is real estate developer and the founder of Planalto d’Azul, a company specializing in real estate development and marketing.
Luisinha Barosa Oliveira is a model and social media personality.
17- Leonor Borges
Leonor Borges is a model and influencer. She is also a federated athlete in long jump for Sporting Clube de Portugal.
18- Constanza Ariza
Constanza Ariza is a digital creator with a large following on TikTok, where she has been active since 2016.
19- Rafael Parreira
Rafael Parreira is a legal advisor, founder of Grupo P&A, and co-founder of Legal Factor, a training company focused on legal education for investors, entrepreneurs, consultants, and companies.
20- Sofia Pontifex
Sofia Pontifex is an entrepreneur, known for founding the brand Funky Chunky Cookies.
21- Adriana Macedo
Adriana Macedo is an entrepreneur and owner of Kanawa Swim, a swimwear brand.
Afonso Maló Franco is founder at Scandinavian Product Group and host of the Scandinavian Product Podcast. He helps organizations and startups build better products faster while creating happier teams.
23- Mariana Gomes
Mariana Gomes is a social entrepreneur and activist who founded and leads Último Recurso – the first Portuguese NGO using legal mechanisms to drive climate action and strengthen the rule of law.
24- Ivandro
Joaquim Ivandro Paulo, known as Ivandro, is a singer and musician who first gained attention on Ídolos and Got Talent Portugal.
25- Bárbara Branco
Bárbara Branco is an actress, known for roles in Bem Bom, Na Corda Bamba, and Bem Me Quer.
26- André Leitão
André Leitão is a singer and actor known for roles in the Netflix series Turn of the Tide and the action thriller Broken Spies.
António Pedro Pinto is the founder and CEO of Happiness Camp, recognized as Europe’s largest gathering dedicated to creating workplaces where well-being and business success co-exist.
28- Gabriel Ferreira
Gabriel Ferreira is a finance educator sharing straightforward, easy-to-understand financial lessons.
29- Gonçalo Afonso
Gonçalo Afonso is a specialist in crypto, Web3, DeFi, and NFT projects. He currently serves as marketing lead at Peregrine Exploration, Inc. and as a marketing core contributor at InceptionLRT.
Note: The last honoree will be added to the list shortly, once their profile become available on @forbespt.
Featured image (cropped): Photo courtesy of Forbes
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