Portugal is Building the ‘Waze’ of the Oceans

From a tiny garage to the vastness of space, a Portuguese startup is aiming to transform maritime navigation. LusoSpace, founded in 2002 by Ivo Vieira and two friends, began in a 10-square-meter room — one partner from college, another from a Kung Fu club — in what Vieira calls “a half-ruined building.”

Today, the company is preparing to launch a constellation of 12 satellites, with the first four — named after poets — set to go up in the coming months. This network will power a navigation system designed specifically for sailors worldwide, providing safer, smarter, and more precise guidance at sea.

“We are creating something that doesn’t exist yet, and it will bring real value to the maritime community,” Vieira tells O Futuro do Futuro. From humble beginnings, Portuguese technology is set to guide ships across the oceans, turning a bold vision into reality.