004: Developing A Sustainable Business with Joaquim Macedo de Sousa

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Try to evolve into innovative ideas. Farmers are very important, but you should try to turn their mindsets into business people...that's definitely what will change the landscape of the food industry and will bring it more innovation and more sustainability.” </span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Joaquim Macedo de Sousa</span></p> <p><strong><em> </em></strong></p> <p><strong>Episode Description:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Habitat for Business Innovation in Strategic Sectors (</span><a href= "https://www.smartrural.pt/incubadora"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">HIESE</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">) serves as an innovation space that promotes entrepreneurship in rural areas. Launched in 2016, this business incubation facility in Quinta Vale do Espinhal, Penela, Portugal has 15 offices that accommodate companies in the critical early stages of their business.</span> <a href= "https://www.smartrural.pt/incubadora"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">HIESE</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">offers various services including physical and virtual incubation and acceleration programs, internationalization, training, and business planning.  </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business incubation is a process employed to help start-ups innovate and accelerate their growth. Learn more about this and other business development programs on this episode as Justine talks with Joaquim Macedo de Sousa, Executive Director of</span> <a href= "https://www.smartrural.pt/incubadora"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Rural Smart HIESE</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">.  Joaquim shares the idea behind incubation and why it is especially needed in rural areas.  Justine and Joaquim also discuss how HIESE can help you turn your ideas into a successful business, how much it costs, how to apply (and get accepted) and more!  Entrepreneurs have a unique “DNA” that makes them distinct, and also capable of creating i