Armilar’s Team Grows Stronger: Four Promotions to Celebrate

As we open the second quarter of 2026, we have not one but four promotions to celebrate. This is a reflection of the consistent growth of our team and the increasingly ambitious scope of what Armilar is building across Europe. We are proud to announce the promotion of Rodolfo Condessa to Investment Partner and of Inês de Macedo Santos, Pedro Almeida and Pedro Castel-Branco to Principal.

Rodolfo Condessa, Investment Partner

Rodolfo joined Armilar in 2019, bringing with him a career that started at the European Space Agency as an Aerospace Engineer and spanned more than 14 years across space policy, technology transfer and sales. His path into venture capital was anything but conventional. He came with a genuine passion for understanding technology and how it can be used to solve real world problems, and with a rare ability to assess and communicate the commercial potential of technical innovations.

“I have followed Rodolfo’s career since 2009 when he led the technology transfer office at the Instituto Superior Técnico. Rodolfo has a unique talent for translating complex science into viable business models, providing very practical support to our faculty, researchers and students in commercializing their technologies.” Luis Caldas de Oliveira, Deputy Director of iStartLab, IST Innovation Laboratory at Instituto Superior Técnico

From day one, Rodolfo brought a rigor and intellectual honesty to the work that made him feel right at home at Armilar. He became Principal in 2023 and has since been one of the most driven members of our team, both internally and across the European ecosystem.

“Rodolfo’s journey at Armilar has been truly remarkable. He arrived with an uncommon background, and yet from the very first moment it was clear that he understood, perhaps instinctively, what venture capital at its best should be, and what Armilar is about: a genuine partnership with founders built on trust, knowledge and commitment, in the relentless pursuit of value creation for the investors . Over the years, he has grown into one of the most respected investors among all those who have had the pleasure to work with him, and I have no doubt that his best chapters at Armilar are still ahead of him.” Pedro Ribeiro Santos, Managing Partner Armilar.

What makes Rodolfo exceptional is not only the depth he brings in when thinking about a problem or an opportunity, but also his ability to combine it with genuine care for the founders he backs.

“Rodolfo has a rare ability to balance assertive feedback with a “finger on the wound” approach, while maintaining a genuine relationship with founders — it’s this instinct that makes him a trusted partner. A well-deserved promotion.” Nuno Brás, Co-Founder DareData

“Working with Rodolfo has been a genuinely enriching experience. From the very beginning, what stood out to me was not only his sharp thinking, but also how naturally he builds trust with the people he works with. Beyond his strengths as an investor, it is simply a pleasure to work with him on a human level. I am delighted to see his contributions recognised. “ Chiara Manfletti, CEO Neuraspace

“Rodolfo is an outstanding partner: thoughtful, driven, and adept at bringing clarity to complex challenges in deep tech investments. Collaborating with him has been a true pleasure, as he seamlessly combines sharp strategic insight with genuine team spirit.” Rick Hao, Founder & Managing Partner Ruya Ventures

Inês de Macedo Santos, Principal

A Biomedical Engineer, Inês joined Armilar as Senior Associate in September 2021 from BCG, bringing eight years of consulting experience and an MBA from The Lisbon MBA (Católica \| Nova). She has quickly established herself as a sharp, insightful investor, blending rigorous analytical thinking with a highly personable approach, and plays a key role in the firm’s investment activity.

Pedro Almeida, Principal

Pedro joined Armilar as Senior Associate in March 2021 with a background in Management and Finance and a professional experience spanning McKinsey as a consultant, Aptoide as an operator, and deep involvement in the Portuguese startup ecosystem, alongside an MBA from INSEAD and a Master’s from Nova SBE. Known for his generosity, ecosystem leadership, and strong founder relationships, he is a trusted voice within the firm and works closely with several companies in the portfolio.

Pedro Castel-Branco, Principal

Pedro joined Armilar as Senior Associate in March 2021 from McKinsey, with a technical foundation in Biomedical Engineering from IST and an MBA from INSEAD. Combining deep intellectual curiosity with a people-first mindset, he leads investments and partners closely with portfolio companies.

Our team is at the heart of what Armilar is and what we are capable of delivering for founders and for the ecosystems we operate in. Rodolfo, Inês, Pedro, and Pedro each represent the best of what we look for: intellectual rigour, genuine commitment to founders, and the kind of character that makes working alongside them a privilege.

We are proud of each of them, and we look forward to what they will build in their new roles.

We couldn’t be more thrilled for this next chapter!