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Read MoreTIM
VIEIRA
MEET TIM
The South African–Portuguese self-made entrepreneur is a builder of businesses and of people. Over decades, Tim has launched ventures and supported entrepreneurs across continents — from Africa to Europe — shaping industries as diverse as agriculture, media, real estate, film production and, more recently, education.
At just 18, Tim founded one of South Africa’s first independent artisanal breweries. Eight years later, the business failed, leaving him with nothing. What could have been an ending became a defining turning point — a lesson in humility, resilience and perspective. It reshaped how he approached risk, failure and growth, grounding his belief that no one wins every battle, but every experience can be transformed into momentum.
In 2001, drawn by a country on the brink of renewal, Tim moved to Angola. There, alongside his partner Nuno Traguedo, he co-founded Special Edition Holding — a media group spanning advertising, outdoors, print and digital. Over more than a decade, the company grew into a leading player, employing over 400 people and contributing to the country’s evolving media landscape.
Tim moved to Portugal in 2015, becoming widely known for his role as an investor on Shark Tank Portugal. A self-declared optimist with a deep belief in human potential, he became the most active investor on the show, backing entrepreneurs with both capital and conviction. To date, he has invested in more than 40 businesses worldwide — embracing both the successes and the failures as part of the journey.
Together with his wife beautiful, Lidia, Tim is also the Founder and CEO of Brave Generation Academy, an education project reimagining how young people learn — through a personalised, flexible model designed to prepare them for an ever-changing world.
A man guided by faith, family and an unwavering drive to create, Tim is in constant motion — building, teaching, imagining and supporting others to go further. Because for him, entrepreneurship is not just about ventures; it is about unlocking potential — in ideas, in people, and in life.
‘I think something to try and do, is keep growing a company and knowing that when it is going to slow down you better look after those very top people or you are going to lose them.’