Driving growth for disruptive companies

Hands-on investments in scalable ventures.

About us

At Stake Ventures, we’re dedicated to driving meaningful change. As growth experts, we’re passionate about supporting disruptive companies with proven product-market fit to help scale their businesses into thriving ventures.

We’re not just investors, we’re partners. We’re here to provide the support and resources founders need to thrive and grow, with a special focus on the growth engine and fundraising.

Portfolio

CleanUP is an on-demand laundry service based in Lisbon, Portugal that offers a convenient and hassle-free way for customers to get their everyday laundry done. The company aims to make the laundry process easy and efficient for busy individuals and families, helping them to save time and focus on other priorities.

Importrust is a car import service based in Portugal that helps individuals and companies to import cars from other countries.

The company aims to simplify the car import process for its clients, handling all of the logistics and paperwork involved in importing a vehicle while also providing advice on the most cost-effective and efficient ways to import cars based on the client’s specific needs and preferences.

Volup offers a solution for the high-end food segment by creating a platform that bundles together the best restaurants, chefs and food concepts available. By carefully selecting and curating the restaurants they work with, Volup ensures that every order reaches high quality standards. Volup collaborates with its partners, creating and adapting menus that are optimized for delivery.

Offcoustic provides a range of soundproof phone booths for co-working spaces, startups and SMEs. These phone booths are designed to offer a private and quiet space for individuals to make phone calls or hold virtual meetings without being disturbed by surrounding noise. Offcoustic offers its customers an innovative subscription model that has helped democratise access to additional meeting space within the office.

Bling Energy is a company that is changing the way we harness and utilize solar energy. In a world where sustainable practices are paramount, it stands out as a beacon of innovation and environmental responsibility. Bling Energy is dedicated to helping individuals and communities reduce their carbon footprint while saving on energy costs.

Our Team

Afonso Pinheiro

Afonso is the founder of Stake Ventures. With a background in strategic consulting and business growth, he previously worked at McKinsey and Power Dot, where he led the international expansion of the company. Afonso also founded several successful businesses, including Pleez, CleanUP, and Importrust. In 2022, Afonso was nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year at the João Vasconcelos awards.

Augusto Souza Araújo

Augusto is Stake Ventures’ Portfolio Manager. With a background in strategic consulting, sales and marketing, he previously worked at McKinsey and Unbabel. Augusto has served as board member at MOVE, an NGO that aims to fight poverty through entrepreneurship by empowering entrepreneurs across the globe.

Feedback from our portfolio partners

“Stake has an unique investment model that combines support in crucial macro topics including vision and funding strategy while having the rare ability to support in micro daily challenges with creative and actionable solutions.

Furthermore, as a Stake portfolio company, we have benefited from its team’s capacity to offer a tailored approach towards each investment, shaped to equip the teams with the right toolkit to grow in a structured and sustainable manner.”

Rita Araújo, CleanUP

“We are thrilled to be working with Stake, as they offer a long-term approach and have been successful in their previous ventures. They have an impressive network to solve any specific problems and they want to partner with us, not just ask for reports. Stake is always willing to listen to our problems and find solutions together. You work together weekly, and they act as our new co-founders for the next growth stage.

The team has been ethical and friendly since day one and has a growth mindset, and help you as a founder, with their own founder experience. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Stake and are excited to see how far we can take Offcoustic together.”

Rodrigo Pessoa Jorge, Offcoustic

Contact us

If you are leading a tech or non-tech venture or if you are looking for a hands-on co-investor, please reach out through the form!