“I’m so impressed by the way you articulate your ideas,” I told 13-year-old Francisco Barroca as I interviewed him to learn more about the young mind behind a platform that’s reimagining learning through the power of human connection.
I had heard about Francisco’s successful pitch at Techstars Startup Weekend in Albufeira, a coastal city in Portugal’s Algarve region. And there he was, explaining to me in his British accent how he was born in London and relocated to Portugal during the 2020 pandemic, and how he developed SkillYay at the 54-hour event organized by 351 Portuguese Startup Association and hosted by Algarve Evolution.
The competition required participants to identify a problem, build a solution, validate it, form a team, and pitch their idea. And I must tell you, the qualities needed to pull all this off were so evident in Francisco.
I don’t know many teenagers who carry themselves with such confidence. Throughout our conversation, he answered every question like a pro, as if he’d already done dozens of interviews at that age. Hats off to his mom, Sandra Pires, who sat by his side the entire time yet gave him the space to shine completely on his own, never interrupting – not even once.
When asked about his project, originally pitched under a different name, Francisco shared that, unlike conventional online learning platforms that operate entirely through digital interfaces, SkillYay connects users based on complementary skills and encourages in-person interaction.
The concept addresses what Francisco identifies as isolation in the digital age, an issue intensified by the pandemic, whose effects still linger.
The idea is simple,” Francisco told me from their home in the Algarve. “You say what you’re good at and what you want to learn, and we find someone for you. Imagine I’m good at PowerPoint and you know archery. We connect and meet. You teach me archery and I teach you PowerPoint.”
SkillYay promises an engaging learning experience where you don’t feel alone, thanks to its built-in accountability. People count on you to show up, and because sessions are live, you’re more likely to stay motivated knowing others are right there with you.
The social interaction at Techstars Startup Weekend was actually Francisco’s favorite part of the event. “It was great talking to people, and that’s also kind of the goal of SkillYay,” he said. The experience, in his words, helped him learn problem solving and showed him, to his delight, how good a leader he is after successfully assembling a team.
SkillYay currently operates through a website, with a mobile application in development. The platform targets users aged 18 and above from all backgrounds who prefer direct interaction over passive content consumption.
Privacy and user safety are top priorities for Francisco, with upcoming plans to ensure people can use the platform with confidence and peace of mind.
Besides his perceived need for more human interaction, his lack of fulfillment with the school curriculum was another reason he launched SkillYay.
Francisco’s assessment of traditional education reflects practical concerns rather than typical student complaints. In particular, he wants to see more time devoted to hands-on learning of modern skills, which he believes are essential for children today.
“We should be learning how to talk with AI, how to make sites with tools like Lovable,” he says, adding that he has taken a proactive approach to learning with support from his parents, which complements his formal education.
He began learning how to code using the Khan Academy platform and has been supplementing his education with YouTube tutorials and practical experience using tools like Bolt and Lovable. This growing arsenal of skills now enables him to manage SkillYay’s development on a daily basis.
Asked how his parents have inspired him on his entrepreneurial path, Francisco said they have been very supportive, and his dad, Rui Barroca – an accomplished entrepreneur himself and a mentor at Techstars Startup Weekend – is the one who challenged him to participate in the most recent competition.
His message for aspiring young entrepreneurs who may not have parents as supportive as his centers on curiosity as a driving factor. “You need to be curious. If you have curiosity, you’ll experiment more and find your way.”
Francisco’s mother also reflected on witnessing her son’s entrepreneurial journey unfold naturally rather than through deliberate planning.
“We didn’t plan anything specific like ‘we’re going to do this and that with him,’” Sandra explains. “It’s just who we are as a family.”
She credits her husband’s teaching passion for Francisco’s growth. “He sets the example, and his passion is to teach. He’s got his main students in the house all the time, always trying to share all the information and experience he has had.”
Sandra’s advice to parents of entrepreneurial children emphasizes authentic modeling over forced guidance: “You have to set the example because you’re the main inspiration for your kids. Your kid is your fan.”
She acknowledges that entrepreneurial inspiration often comes from environment and proximity: “If you don’t have any inspiration to build your own business, similar to me, it’s good to have your kids close to people who are already doing it. The environment impacts us.”
Regarding Francisco’s vision for SkillYay, Sandra sees it addressing a broader social shift: “The idea is to make people meet up more often. We’re seeing a shift from online to in-person events and meetups in different industries. People want to meet up more, and as a student, Francisco has given a lot of thought to the social aspects of learning and life in general, which led to the creation of SkillYay.”
Francisco’s plans extend beyond SkillYay to include additional projects focused on education transformation and teaching methodologies. All concepts are rooted in his belief that learning should involve social interaction and practical engagement.
“SkillYay makes learning fun, which is exactly how it should be,” he says. “No boring videos. No endless slides. It’s literally hanging out with smart friends who teach you cool stuff.”
Featured image: Techstars Startup Weekend wasn’t just a competition for Francisco Barroca – it was a chance to connect with fellow innovators and discover his own team-building and leadership potential. (Photo courtesy of Sandra Pires)
Portugal Startup News 