Hard-working, energetic, self-motivated and strategically-minded, able to work effectively under pressure. Human values and business ethics drive me. In constant evolution as a professional, I'm looking for innovative solutions, to tackle societal and technological challenges.

After my Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics in Portugal, I did a Master of Science in Finland in Electrical Engineering, majoring in Illumination and minoring in International Design Business Management. During that period, I got involved with Aalto University Design Factory and a non-profit organisation run by students, Aalto Entrepreneurship Society.

This academic journey still influences today the professional that I am. It taught me how to tackle complex, real-life challenges in multidisciplinary teams and develop holistic perspectives on the questions of tomorrow.

My current focus lies in Agritech, horticultural technology, lighting, food production systems, vertical farming and urban farming.

Experiences

Overseeing business development into new markets and regions
Created a teams for lean business case development, IP acquisition and partnerships
Opened two new revenue streams
Acquired two patents for short and long-term implementation
Strategic partnerships that help to create a compounding growth strategy for the business
Contributed significantly to decreasing 15% of CapEx/m2 of our system while decreasing OpEx by 40% due to energy management partnerships

Created vertical and horizontal teams and initiated the move from traditional project management to Kanban/Flight levels/Agile. How to work with crops, hardware, software and digital project management
Managed project management, product owners, strategic partnerships, innovation and engineering teams
Setting strategic partnerships strategy
-61% rent cost OPEX per m2 per plant in a hub through automation and integration
+73% output per m2 of growing, through the introduction of new growing technics and space optimisation / high-density crops
-40% energy cost per plant, new HVAC design
-83% labour cost per plant, automation and new process workflow
Got hired by another business (IGS Ltd)

Designing and implementing large scale sustainable vertical farming systems and technologies
Setting a vision for how technology will be used in the company
Ensuring that technological resources meet the company's short and long-term needs
Setting the goals for research and development
Making executive decisions on behalf of the company's technological requirements
Creating timelines for the development and deployment of all technological services
Ensuring all technology practices adhere to regulatory standards
Acting as a mentor to team members
Exited the company successfully

Fostering innovation and education with a focus on sustainable farming systems and technologies
Setting a vision for A Lab Vertical Farm
Developing and implementing a business plan to improve cost-efficiency
Maintaining positive and trust-based relations with business partners, shareholders, and authorities
Supervising, guiding, and delegating tasks
Managing a network of 50+ volunteers between the ages of 15 to 60 years with various backgrounds
Running a prototyping platform between volunteers and professionals to develop new solutions and technologies for sustainable farming
Managing an educational program with over 500 students with ages of 10 to 15 years
Building and enhancing the farm's public profile at events, speaking engagements, etc.

Consulting and engineering services in the fields of lighting and horticulture
Developing the company’s culture and overall company vision
Making high-level decisions about policy and strategy
Developing and implementing operational policies and a strategic plan
Acting as the primary spokesperson for the company
Helping with recruiting new staff members when necessary
Overseeing the day-to-day operation of the company
Exited the company successfully

Developing and manufacturing horticultural lighting
Exited the company successfully after one-year high growth

Workshop facilitation on sustainable controlled environment agricultural systems

Expanding the international market to Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and North America, 50+ countries
Opening a branch in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Setting the goals for research and development
Making high-level decisions about policy and strategy
Acting as one of the spokespeople for the company
Helping with recruiting new staff members when necessary
Exited the company successfully as minority shareholder

Developing and manufacturing horticultural solid-state-lighting and services services
Bringing to market and selling the company products and services

Developing and manufacturing horticultural solid-state-lighting (first company product lines)
Bringing to market and selling the company first product lines

Horticultural Lighting Technologies
Vertical Farming
Solid-State-Lighting Technologies
Agritech Innovation

Education

The IDBM curriculum integrates business, design and technology to enable students to create new value and meaningful innovation. Graduates of the program earn a master’s degree in business, design or technology, and gain extensive interdisciplinary teamwork experience that enables them to work in a wide variety of fields.

The Master's Programme in Electrical Engineering is a broad multi-disciplinary programme providing graduates with the ability to work in and between a wide variety of fields - ranging from traditional Electrical Engineering and Energy sectors to Biomedical Engineering, Control Engineering and Robotics. Drawing from extensive research in mathematical and natural sciences, the curriculum is flexible and allows students to study a unique combination of courses to suit their own interests.

Lighting in greenhouses and vertical farms

Skills

Team work
Communication
Positive attitude
Empathy
Integrity and work ethics
Ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity
Critical thinking
Negotiation
Innovation
Creativity
Flexibility

Decision-Making
Business Strategy
International Business
Project Management
Manufacturing
Research and Development
International Sales
Planning
Motivating Teams

Microsoft Office

Advanced
Software Project Management

Expert
CRM

Good
Software Engineering

Advanced
Cloud Services

Expert
Web

Good
New Project Management Tools
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Microsoft Azure
SQL server
.NET / .NET core
C++

Series A, B, C Funding
Investment Due Diligence
Presentations

Portuguese (native)
English (full professional proficiency)
Spanish (professional working proficiency)
French (basics)
Finnish (basics)

Interests

Farming
Lighting and automation
Gardening

Trail running
Chi-Kung
Hiking

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Gonçalo Neves

(Agritech)

VP Business Development / Head of Agritech Partnerships

Director of Farm Hardware

Co-Founder, CTO

Managing Director

Co-Founder, CEO

Co-Founder, CEO

Guest Lecturer

Business Development Director

Solution Manager

Technical Manager

Researcher

M.Sc.(Minor), International Design Business Management

Aalto University - Finland

M.Sc.(Tech.), Electrical Engineering (Illumination Engineering and Electrical Building Services)

Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering - Finland

B.Sc.(Tech.), Electromechanical Engineering

University of Beira Interior - Portugal

Diploma

Wageningen University & Research - Netherlands

Soft Skills

Entrepreneurship

IT

Investment

Languages

Horticulture

Sports

Mental Health First Aider