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Yunit Consulting has revealed the winners of the 8th edition of the Heróis PME Awards, an initiative that recognises Portuguese companies that stand out for their capacity for overcoming challenges, resilience, growth, innovation and contribution to the national economy.
The awards gala took place on 26 June in Leiria, bringing together representatives from the business sector, partners, sponsors and public entities. In this edition, the initiative awarded five categories: Micro Enterprise, Small Enterprise, Medium-sized Enterprise, Sustainability and Startup. The ceremony also featured the participation of Gonçalo Lopes, Mayor of Leiria Municipality, and Gonçalo Regalado, CEO of Banco Português de Fomento, in a moment that reinforced the connection between the appreciation of SMEs, the promotion of decentralisation and the importance of support instruments for capitalisation, investment and business growth.
Following an application period marked by strong engagement from the business community, with 372 applications received, the Heróis PME Awards once again gave visibility to companies that, from different contexts, sectors and regions, demonstrate the ability of Portuguese SMEs to respond to challenges, turn opportunities into growth and generate impact in the communities and markets where they operate.
In 2014, Paulo and Susana revitalised an abandoned property in Vila de Pernes and transformed it into a sausage manufacturing unit. From a project deemed "unviable" to an epic journey of overcoming challenges, winner in the Micro Enterprise category.
In 2020, Daniela and Hernâni faced unemployment and created DHXM, starting with a domestic oven in Tentúgal. Today they support 19 families and are positioning themselves as an international benchmark for traditional Portuguese convent confectionery. Winner in the Small Enterprise category.
Founded in 1985 in Sintra with the mission of creating the best climate simulation machines in the world. It transformed a market crisis into an opportunity for internationalisation. Winner in the Medium-sized Enterprise category.
Born in 2015, WOTELS — World of Travellers — is today the largest national hybrid tourist accommodation group, focused on environmental responsibility and sustainability. Winner in the Sustainability Category.
Founded in 2021 in the Azores, blueOASIS developed Hydrotwin, an artificial intelligence monitoring platform that generates real-time underwater intelligence. With clients including the Portuguese Navy and the Government of Canada, winner in the Startup Category.
The prizes awarded to the winning companies aim to help accelerate their growth, capacity building and brand awareness, including: consulting services by Yunit Consulting, legal support and training by Andersen Portugal, Business Coaching programmes by ActionCOACH, visibility on CNN, training by the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and, depending on the category, additional solutions in the areas of risk, internationalisation, leadership, technology, entrepreneurship and innovation, among others.
The selection of the winners was carried out by an independent jury, composed of representatives from partner entities, sponsors and prominent figures from the business ecosystem. The 2026 edition was supported by leading partners, including VICTORIA Seguros, novobanco, Jelly Agency, Sage, Tabaqueira, ActionCOACH, Andersen Portugal, Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Startup Portugal, Portuguese Olympic Athletes Association and CNN Portugal, among others.
Throughout its various editions, the Heróis PME Awards have established themselves as a platform for recognizing and valuing Portuguese Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, showcasing business stories that reflect the resilience, ambition and adaptability of a sector essential to the national economy.
Stay informed about upcoming editions and apply with your company for the accolade that recognises the best of Portuguese SMEs. Learn more with Yunit Consulting.
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