Bernardo Branco is a British-Portuguese AI-focused founder and investor with experience advising startups through end-to-end fundraising and go-to-market execution. He has held roles across UK and Portugal, including investor/advisor responsibilities and board-level positions. He is the founder and managing partner of Bastia (Portugal), an AI-driven intelligence company focused on market research, go-to-market strategy, and brand communication. He also serves as a non-executive advisor to Paybyrd, a Dutch company delivering customized payment solutions.

Bernardo Branco

Bernardo Branco is a British-Portuguese AI-focused founder and investor with experience advising startups through end-to-end fundraising and go-to-market execution. He has held roles across UK and Portugal, including investor/advisor responsibilities and board-level positions. He is the founder and managing partner of Bastia (Portugal), an AI-driven intelligence company focused on market research, go-to-market strategy, and brand communication. He also serves as a non-executive advisor to Paybyrd, a Dutch company delivering customized payment solutions.

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Bernardo Branco is a British-Portuguese AI-focused founder and investor with experience advising startups through end-to-end fundraising and go-to-market execution. He has held roles across UK and Portugal, including investor/advisor responsibilities and board-level positions.

He is the founder and managing partner of Bastia (Portugal), an AI-driven intelligence company focused on market research, go-to-market strategy, and brand communication. He also serves as a non-executive advisor to Paybyrd, a Dutch company delivering customized payment solutions.

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Language

English
Advanced
Portuguese
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Advanced

Work Experience

Member of Parliament - Assembleia da República at Assembleia da República, Portugal
March 1, 2025 - Present
Served as MP (Mar 2025 - present to Feb 2025 shown in resume dates; exact corrected start is unclear from the provided text).
Coordinator, Budget and Finance Committee at Assembleia da República (Portuguese Parliament)
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Coordinated committee work on budget and finance matters and supported legislative governance activities.
Founder and Managing Partner at Bastia
February 1, 2022 - Present
AI-driven intelligence company powering market research, go-to-market strategy, and brand communication. Clients include LSIG, Sensusqo, Haleon, Zambon, Ferring, Sata, Noxus, Superbook, among others.
Executive Committee Member (AI/Technology Liberal roles)
January 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025
Resume indicates committee coordination roles related to budgeting/finance and environment/energy.
Coordinator, Environment and Energy Committee at Assembleia da República (Portuguese Parliament)
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024
Coordinated committee activities focused on environment and energy policy and related oversight.
Vice Chair, European Affairs Committee at Assembleia da República (Portuguese Parliament)
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025
Provided political strategy and communications support, contributing to committee work on European affairs and governance.
Non-Executive Board Member at Paybyrd, Netherlands
February 1, 2020 - Present
Provided independent oversight on corporate strategy and advised the CEO on scaling operations, product innovation, and market expansion.
Advisor and Fractional CCO at Noxus, United Kingdom
January 1, 2020 - Present
Advised founders across end-to-end fundraising lifecycle; supported execution of go-to-market strategies and public communications for the UK/Portuguese AI platform Noxus handling complex operations.
Political Advisor at Portuguese Parliament
October 1, 2019 - January 31, 2022
Political advisor at the Portuguese Parliament.
Vice President at Inicativa Liberal, Portugal
October 1, 2019 - January 31, 2022
Built a political party and won seats across European, national, and regional parliaments. Served as political strategy and communication lead.
Political Advisor (Political Strategy and Communication) at Portuguese Parliament
October 1, 2019 - January 1, 2022
Served as a political advisor focused on political strategy and communications at the Portuguese Parliament.
Product Manager Trainee at OLX (Naspers)
December 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Completed product management trainee program at OLX (Naspers) in Portugal.
Innovation and Strategy Manager at Liberty Seguros
December 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Managed innovation and strategy activities and contributed to strategic initiatives within the insurance organization.
Advisor Consultant - Strategy & Operations at Deloitte, Portugal
October 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Consulting work in strategy and operations (details not specified in provided text).
Consultant, Strategy & Operations at Deloitte
October 1, 2018 - February 1, 2025
Worked as a strategy and operations consultant in Portugal, supporting clients through strategic and operational initiatives.
Innovation and Strategy Manager at Liberty Seguros, Portugal
January 1, 2018 - January 31, 2018
Innovation and strategy leadership (details not specified in provided text).
Car Verticals EU (Moto.pl, Autovit.ro, Standvirtual.com) at Car Verticals EU
July 1, 2016 - November 30, 2018
Supported operations across EU car vertical platforms including Moto.pl (Poland), Autovit.ro (Romania), and Standvirtual.com (Portugal).

Education

Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration (CLSBE/UCP) at IEP/UCP
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2016
Main Governance, Leadership and Democracy Studies (IEP/UCP) at IEP/UCP
January 1, 2017 - July 15, 2026
Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration at C L S B E/U C P
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2016
MA in Governance, Leadership and Democracy Studies at IEP/UCP
January 1, 2017 - July 15, 2026

Qualifications

Web built political party / electoral success
January 1, 2016 - July 15, 2026

Industry Experience

Government, Professional Services, Computers & Electronics, Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet, Financial Services, Other, Education