EDP announces the winners of the first edition of the Entama program in Portugal
EDP is announcing the six winners of the first edition of the Entama entrepreneurship program in Portugal, an initiative launched in May this year to support and strengthen small business projects in the Minho and Trás-os-Montes regions.
The first edition of Entama in Portugal has recognized six projects that reflect the region’s entrepreneurial dynamism and its innovation potential. EDP’s program aims to strengthen the local economy, stimulate job creation, promote equal opportunities and support population retention in low-density territories.
Among the selected initiatives is Merchy – Merch Your Brand, from Arcos de Valdevez, a digital platform for personalized merchandising that brings together technology and the community economy by allowing clubs, associations and local brands to create their own products without any initial investment, using a print-on-demand model with local production. Also selected was Nowhere Desk, based in Ázere, Arcos de Valdevez, a pioneering rural regeneration project that combines coworking, continuous learning and sustainable practices, creating a hub of social innovation and community participation in low-density areas.
The appreciation of local products is represented by Ó Quintela – Licores do Soajo, originating in Soajo, an artisanal brand that revives traditional flavors and invests in direct sales channels and tourism-related distribution to strengthen the local economy. In the field of gastronomic tourism, another highlight is the restoration of Casa da Poia, in the Lima valley, part of the “Taste of Minho” brand, which will offer immersive experiences such as cooking workshops, themed dinners and guided tastings, promoting the region’s cultural and wine-and-food heritage.
Also included is a project dedicated to wellbeing and connection with nature, developed in the Minho area: LindosoConnection, which proposes therapeutic experiences in a forest environment—from guided meditation to forest bathing—promoting holistic health and emotional reconnection. Lastly, Passo a Passo, created in Minho, combines craftsmanship and contemporary design, presenting sustainable footwear made of linen and burel, reinterpreting traditional techniques and revitalizing local crafts through the use of natural, nationally sourced raw materials.
Entama—a name inspired by an Asturian-origin word meaning “to start something”—seeks to be a driver of transformation within local communities, promoting entrepreneurship aligned with values such as the enhancement of endogenous resources, sustainable tourism, the creation of new local services, innovative solutions and the energy transition.
In addition to financial support, the program offers an online platform that allows applicants to submit proposals, access resources and establish partnerships with other local entrepreneurs—known in Spain as “entamadores”—fostering an active, collaborative and innovation-oriented community.
Originally launched in Spain, Entama has already supported 73 projects in regions such as Asturias, Cádiz and Gerês, with over 740,000 euros invested in areas such as sustainable tourism, enhancement of local products and waste management. Examples like the Brañagallones tourist train or the dairy-waste Agrolinera illustrate the positive impact of this initiative, which has now expanded to Portugal.