THE WORLD IS SHAPED BY THOSE WITH A DESIRE TO WIN BIG
Before the 15th century, wealth was entirely tied to land, arable land. Since the amount of land was finite and because medieval guilds stopped technological that threatened their companies, land didn't increase in value.
While the Portuguese had already been exploring the Atlantic for 40 years. The fall of Constantinople in 1453, conquered by the Ottoman Empire, gave the Ottoman a monopoly on the silk road. They now had the power to charge taxes on the flow of goods, making the traditional Mediterranean trade routes nearly unfeasible.
Infante Dom Henrique, with an out-of-your-mind ambition, wanted Portugal to control the biggest prize in the world; The monopoly of spice trade. He spent his life and his fortune as Grand Master of the Order of Christ to develop the Caravel. The ship that allowed Portugal to achieve his mission.
King João II, crushed the Portuguese nobility and their guild minded elite to centralize power, to be able to pour the state's entire treasury into a 10 year mission to find the tip of Africa.
Queen Isabella of Castile (Spain) not wanting the Portuguese to alone become the dominant power in the world. Essentially shifted the center of world wealth from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
The Portuguese and Spanish were so dominant, they had the power to sign the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the world outside of Europe in an exclusive duopoly between the Portuguese and the Spanish.
THOSE THAT COMMAND TECHNOLOGY STEER THE WORLD
Without technology Portugal and Spain wouldn't have the power to draw a line down the meridian of the Atlantic and calim everything on either side. Acknowledging this fact, one can either believe the future will be better, but without exactly knowing how. And go through life that believing that someone, somewhere, will develop the technology that will improve our future. Or you can be a pessimist, to whom the future looks bleak, but without having an idea of what to do about it.
Both of these lead to a life where everything is out of your control.
"Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use." - Steve Jobs
But like Steve Jobs realised, when you realize you can actually build the technologies that will steer the world, you can begin to shape it yourself.
Aplly for the fellowship
The cycle is accelerating
Portugal has produced some enduring technology companies that in some some way or another have steered the future to the place its founders believe it should be.
The first billion dollar startups in Portugal were founded in 2001, Outsytems and Tekever. We had to wait ten years for the founding of the next ones, Feedzai and TalkDesk. From there we only had to wait four years for Sword Health. Then two years for Anchorage and two years more for Remote.
The momentum is here, the cycle is accelerating, but we can't let it reverse. And it most certainly will if all of our brightest minds aren’t building. We don’t have the luxury of being able to wait for our youngest to take the traditional path.
At Shilling
We want to help accelerate the cycle by nurturing the next generation of founders, technologists and investors.
To that end we are launching the Shilling Fellowship. A 10 week, €10.000 program during the summer of 2026 for college students (or dropouts) with a deep interest in technology and exceptional ability.
The fellow will be deeply involved across the activities of the firm, but you can focus on the areas you enjoy the most. From thinking of investment thesis, helping portfolio companies, finding new great founders, and more.
Help us accelerate the cycle, apply.
What you need to know
Deadlines
Application deadline: 24th of March 2026.
Interviews will begin on March 25, and the selected fellow will be announced in early April.
Who are we looking for
There’s no strict age limit, but we are primarily looking for people early in their careers. Typically students or recent graduates (or dropouts).
More than any specific academic background, we’re looking for curious and ambitious individuals with a strong interest in technology, startups, and innovation. We value people who think independently, challenge conventional paths, and show initiative through projects, communities, or ideas they’ve pursued on their own.
Engineers, researchers, builders, product thinkers, and future founders are all welcome. What matters most is intellectual curiosity, ambition, and a genuine drive to learn and build.
"Can I do it remotely?"
Unfortunately, no.
The fellowship is designed to be an in-person experience in Lisbon, working directly with the Shilling team and interacting closely with founders, startups, and investors.
We believe that being physically present allows the fellow to learn faster, build stronger relationships, and fully experience the venture capital ecosystem.
"I’m not from Lisbon...how can I afford the stay and travel??"
We want this opportunity to be accessible regardless of where you live. The fellowship includes a €10,000 stipend, paid in two parts:
50% at the beginning of the program
50% at the end
When does it start and end
The fellowship is a full-time, immersive program lasting around 10 weeks.
It is expected to start around the first week of June and end in mid-August. We keep some flexibility in the exact dates to accommodate academic calendars and exams.
What will I actually do during the fellowship?
This is not a traditional internship. The fellowship is designed as an immersive experience in venture capital and startups. You will work closely with the Shilling team and gain exposure to multiple areas of the ecosystem, including:
-
Investment analysis and startup evaluation
-
Working directly with founders and portfolio companies
-
Exploring roles inside startups (growth, partnerships, product)
-
Understanding how venture capital funds operate
-
Exposure to fundraising, fund operations, and portfolio management
The goal is to give the fellow a front-row seat to how technology companies are built and funded.
