This is a translation from an interview conducted after we won the Startup World Cup Portugal 2025, originally published by Link To Leaders. You can read the original in Portuguese [here].

Interview/ “We want to be the global reference in software for the circular economy”

Ricardo Morgado, co-founder of LoopOS

The Portuguese startup won the national edition of the Startup World Cup 2025 and is preparing to compete in Silicon Valley against more than 70 companies from around the world. For Ricardo Morgado, co-founder of LoopOS, this is a milestone that reinforces the global ambition of the platform, which already works with clients such as Fnac, Auchan, Decathlon, MediaMarkt, and Fidelidade.

LoopOS was born with the mission of accelerating the transition to the circular economy through a modular and scalable technology platform that has already won over major groups in Portugal and abroad.

After winning the Portuguese edition of the Startup World Cup, the company is preparing to compete in the final in Silicon Valley, where it seeks not only the million-dollar prize, but, above all, to gain visibility and access to the global innovation ecosystem.

In an interview with Link To Leaders, Ricardo Morgado reveals what this achievement represents, the challenges of scaling a solution to different markets, and the vision of transforming LoopOS into the global standard for the circular economy.

What did winning the Portuguese edition of the Startup World Cup mean to LoopOS?

It was a very important recognition of the work we've been doing. It's yet another external assessment of what we're building, particularly important due to the jury's independence and the fierce competition we faced. This result increases our responsibility, but at the same time, it gives us even more motivation to continue scaling LoopOS.

Were you expecting this victory or was it a surprise?

It ended up being a surprise, because we never felt it was guaranteed, given the fierce competition. But we knew we had a solid project, and that gave us the confidence to present our pitch.

"We have a clear technological proposal, already with reference clients, and we have shown that the circular economy is not just an ideal, it is a scalable business."

What do you think was the key differentiating factor that convinced the jury to choose LoopOS?

I believe it was the combination of impact and execution. We have a clear technological proposal, already with reference clients, and we've shown that the circular economy isn't just an ideal, it's a scalable business.

Now they're moving on to the grand finale in Silicon Valley. How is the team preparing for this challenge?

We're adjusting the pitch for a global audience, working on simple and direct messages, and strengthening the team's preparation for networking with international investors and partners.

You'll be competing with more than 70 startups from around the world. What do you hope to find on this global stage?

For a startup, it's essential to have a global presence, and this finale is a unique opportunity to do so. We'll be in one place with dozens of brilliant teams, where a wealth of talent and spectacular ideas are concentrated. We hope to find top-notch innovation, collaboration opportunities, and contacts that can accelerate our entry into other markets.

“Winning the award would be fantastic, but our priority is to gain visibility and access to the global innovation ecosystem.”

What is your main ambition in San Francisco: to win the million-dollar prize or, above all, to gain international visibility?

Winning the prize would be fantastic, but our priority is to gain visibility and access to the global innovation ecosystem. This can open doors that are worth much more than the prize.

LoopOS has created a modular and scalable platform to manage circular economy channels. Can you explain, in simple terms, how it works?

LoopOS is a next-generation ERP, built for circularity. It orchestrates processes such as trade-in, repair, refurbishment, resale, and donation, integrating carriers, workshops, marketplaces, and internal company systems. What makes the platform unique is that it allows each product to have multiple reuse options, extending its useful life and creating new value channels. Even within companies, it's possible to launch internal initiatives with enormous impact. And we can do all of this at scale, with the complexity and interoperability each organization requires, thanks to the technology's flexibility, while providing clear circularity KPIs.

Which are the main clients and sectors already using your solution today?

We already have many clients, including large groups such as Fnac, Auchan, Decathlon, MediaMarkt, Rowenta, Fidelidade, Sonae, and CTT. All of these companies are using LoopOS to enable their circular strategies. The most interesting thing is that the same technology can leverage very different initiatives in completely different sectors.

What has been the biggest challenge in implementing circular economy practices in large companies?

We've seen a tremendous openness among companies to this topic. The challenges often stem from decision-making times, which can be longer than we'd like. But there's a strong desire within the ecosystem, especially among large companies, to embrace circularity and adapt to this trend.

In February, you closed a €3 million round. What impact did this investment have on your growth?

It was a very important validation and gave us the resources we needed to fulfill our roadmap. We were also fortunate to secure a group of investors fully aligned with us, who have been a decisive force in our growth. I'm referring to 3xP Global, which led the round, but also to Beta Capital and Fundbox, whose support has been crucial.

"Yes, we will soon be sharing very positive news in France. Furthermore, we are actively working on the German and Belgian markets."

Portugal, Spain, and France have been identified as priority markets. Are you already considering new countries?

Yes, we'll be sharing very positive news in France very soon. We're also actively working on the German and Belgian markets. And of course, with the final in Silicon Valley, we'll have to look to the United States sooner than expected, which is excellent for accelerating our expansion.

The team quickly grew to 35 people. How have you managed this rapid growth?

We have a brilliant team, which is largely responsible for the results we're achieving. We strive to manage this growth with strong communication, organization, and a deep spirit of cooperation and respect among everyone.

How do you see LoopOS's role in the transition to a more circular and sustainable economy?

We believe that, like any consolidating industry, the circular economy will also require standards in terms of systems and technology. Only then will it be possible to make circular models scalable and efficient. Our goal is precisely this: for LoopOS to become the industry standard in this area, the reference digital infrastructure for the transition to a more circular and sustainable economy.

What is your medium-term vision: to be European leaders in the field or do you already have your sights set on the global market?

From the beginning, we've always thought globally, although our initial focus was primarily on the European market. This opportunity in Silicon Valley accelerates that ambition and forces us to look beyond Europe sooner than we anticipated. Our vision is clear: we want to be the global benchmark in software for the circular economy.

“Another piece of advice I would give is to not pay too much attention to the “entrepreneurship gurus” who flood LinkedIn with texts full of paragraph gaps, caps locks and egocentrism (…)”.

What message would you like to leave for the Portuguese innovation ecosystem and the startups that are just starting out?

I would say never to be intimidated by the fact that we're in Portugal. It's perfectly possible to build global projects from here, and there's no shortage of good examples of success. We've always believed that our country is an excellent "test bed," with excellent conditions for rapid market testing and then scaling. It can also be important to choose good incubation and then acceleration programs. They exist in Portugal, such as the Pedro Nunes Institute, where we were incubated, or the Unicorn Factory, where we're currently in the scale-up program.

Another piece of advice I would give is to not pay too much attention to the "entrepreneurship gurus," who flood LinkedIn with texts full of paragraph gaps, caps locks, and egocentrism, but rather to look for reliable examples that fit the company's industry and stage.

And, above all, it takes hard work, the ability to listen to the market, and the courage to pivot when necessary. The path is never linear and rarely goes exactly as planned, but that's precisely what makes it so challenging and rewarding.