Pedro Santos has built, exited, and now invests in startups across continents. But his biggest lesson? "Just because you love a solution doesn’t mean the market will."

In this episode, Pedro shares raw, hard-earned wisdom from the founder’s seat to the investor’s table. He unpacks the critical traits that separate surviving startups from failed ones, how to actually validate your idea, and why founders in emerging markets often out-hustle their Silicon Valley peers.

From training for Ironman races to leading VC deals at 500 Global, Pedro reveals how mental toughness, relentless curiosity, and painful self-awareness shape real startup success.

Pedro Santos Vieira - Partner, 500 Global

Pedro is an accomplished investor with a remarkable background. He founded and sold GoodGuide, a notable digital health venture, achieving a successful exit. Following this, he established West to West, a non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to supporting Portuguese and EU entrepreneurs in thriving within Silicon Valley, managing an impressive portfolio of 200+ startups. Later, he was a Partner at the Shilling Founders Fund, a substantial €50+ million early-stage tech fund.

Now, as a Partner at 500 Global, he actively designs and oversees acceleration and investment initiatives. Pedro is a hands-on investor, connecting startups with a vast network of VC community members. His profound knowledge of the startup ecosystem, both locally and globally, has earned him recognition as a sought-after speaker at major startup-related conferences, panel discussions, and media interviews, making him a true luminary in the field.

More about 500 Global: https://500.co 

Connect with Pedro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santosvieira/

🎙️Hosted by Zivile Einikyte:

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🎵 Music by Luca Nioi: 

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Chapters

00:00 Welcoming Pedro Vieira to the Podcast

02:56 Pedro's Entrepreneurial Journey Begins

04:21 Curiosity and Innovation in Entrepreneurship

05:53 Building Companies in a Different Era

08:45 Lessons Learned from the Startup Journey

11:48 Navigating Challenges and Stress as Founders

14:03 The Impact of Exiting a Company

14:56 Traits of Successful Founders

16:13 The Athlete's Mindset in Entrepreneurship

18:21 The Journey of First-Time Founders

21:21 Emerging Markets and Resourcefulness

24:05 Criteria for Successful Accelerator Programs

26:32 Post-Acceleration Support for Founders

29:01 Building Trust and Relationships in VC

30:02 Current Trends and Investment Interests

31:54 Insights from the Kauffman Fellow Program

33:16 Lessons Learned in the Startup Ecosystem

34:34 Reflective Questions for Founders