Nelson Costa is an Engineering Manager, Tech Lead and Product Strategist with 16+ years building digital products in EdTech, SaaS, AI and Travel. He built an IT department from scratch at a Mercedes-Benz group and AI-powered products used across 120+ countries, turning complex business problems into scalable systems.
Engineering manager and product leader: founds and scales SaaS and AI products, leads and mentors engineering teams, and ships products end to end — from strategy to production.
I have had the privilege of working with Nelson as my Tech Lead, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. Nelson embodies the qualities of an exceptional leader — calm, understanding, and genuinely empathetic, whether navigating complex technical challenges or supporting team members through personal matters. Denis Abonda, Fullstack Developer — reported to Nelson
Nelson is not only a strong CTO with extensive experience in SaaS architecture and AI-driven solutions, but also a pragmatic leader who understands how technology must translate into real business value. Aneta Paciorek, FP&A · Business Analytics
He speaks English fluently and communicates effectively with people from different areas and seniority levels — senior tech teams, design, finance, and end clients. I highly recommend Nelson to any team looking for a committed, collaborative leader focused on delivering results. Rodrigo Ferreira, Software Engineer · Fullstack — reported to Nelson
I highly recommend Nelson Costa as an exceptional technology leader and manager. He has a deep understanding of customer pain points, an ability to translate them into technology solutions, and a remarkably pragmatic approach. An excellent listener who provides clear, actionable guidance. André Vinícius Campos Lucena, Product Manager & Entrepreneur — reported to Nelson
It was incredible to see how effortlessly he manages prioritization and backlog management while creating a safe, positive environment for the team. He makes the work feel easier, smoother, and more enjoyable. Truly a great professional and an even better teammate. Caio Barreto, Software Engineer @ Shippo — reported to Nelson
He is an exceptional leader. His organization skills, deep technical knowledge, and problem-solving abilities make every project run smoothly. He's great with clients, always professional, and often goes the extra mile. Truly a dedicated and inspiring manager. Felipe Escorel, Software Engineer at The Chaincademy — reported to Nelson
What I appreciate most was how involved he is. As a CTO, he stayed close to the product and the team, and even worked with the HR team to develop everyone. Esther Emmanuel, Talent Acquisition Specialist — reported to Nelson
Nelson is a focused, hard-working and tireless problem-solving professional. His extensive knowledge allows him to take a broader view of what people and the company really need. He is undoubtedly an outstanding professional. Valéria Silva, People Development Manager · Global IT L&D @ TUI Technology
A very proactive and professional IT leader, always approachable and a pleasure to work with. Rui Sampaio, Key Account Manager, Mercedes-Benz
Foi fundamental não só no desenvolvimento da nossa loja online, mas também em diversos outros projetos. Não só me ajudou a superar desafios técnicos, como também me ensinou imenso. A sua paciência, competência e generosidade fazem dele um parceiro de trabalho excecional. Sandra Conde, Central de Compras, Sociedade Comercial C. Santos
O Nelson tem a capacidade rara de elevar quem o rodeia. Está sempre à procura de melhorar processos, otimizar soluções e apoiar quem trabalha consigo, criando um ambiente onde todos se sentem mais capazes e motivados. Marta Leite, Advisor to the Administrative & Financial Director
O Nelson é daquelas pessoas raras que consegue ser incrivelmente focado e trabalhador sem perder o lado humano. É genuinamente bondoso e pragmático, e sabe sempre como pôr mãos à obra para ajudar quem o rodeia. Jorge Basto, Technical Support Specialist
Nelson Costa is an Engineering Manager, Tech Lead and builder based in Porto, Portugal, with 16+ years building SaaS and digital platforms.
He builds and scales engineering teams and SaaS products end to end — from architecture and AI integration to leading delivery. He was most recently Engineering Manager at The Chaincademy (until June 2026) and is co-founder and Engineering Lead at Beetravel.
He completed his cycle at The Chaincademy in June 2026 and his next step is set for October 2026, so he is not looking for full-time employment. However, he remains open to conversations on applied AI, engineering leadership, and part-time or pro-bono Technical Advisor roles.
React, TypeScript, Node.js, PHP/Laravel, Python, Supabase and PocketBase, Google Cloud and Docker, plus AI tooling like Google Gemini and OpenAI.
AI-powered products used across 120+ countries, an IT development department built from scratch at one of Portugal's largest Mercedes-Benz groups, and personal products including Beetravel, Beecard and The Chaincademy.