What Madeira Friends does

Madeira Friends Community is a Portuguese nonprofit organization founded in December 2020 by Luis Calado and Marelin Gonçalves, headquartered at Rua dos Barreiros, 26A, 9060-397 Funchal, Madeira (VAT PT516898787). It operates a hybrid community-and-commerce platform that connects 20,000+ members from 135+ countries with local residents, digital nomads, remote workers, and expats in Madeira. The core technology stack consists of a Go-based community web application at app.madeirafriends.org (event sign-ups, member accounts, supporter subscriptions), an unauthenticated public REST JSON API for the blog (https://blog.madeirafriends.org/api/v1), and a contact form service with SMTP, honeypot anti-bot, and CSRF protection. Additional product surfaces include a 40+ trail hiking database and a public REST API for blog content.

The organization generates revenue through a diversified set of subscription and service streams: a supporter membership (monthly/annual); the Madeira Coworking Hub (hot desks at €25/month, private offices from €200/month); Madeira Remote coliving (furnished rooms in Funchal with coworking access); Virtual Offices (business address, mail, phone from €600+VAT/year); event tickets and paid workshops (25% commission share for professional facilitators); and a portfolio of sister service businesses — Madeira Production (branding/websites), Madeira Paradise Island (boutique rentals), Madeira Online Shop (curated products), Madeira Card (discounts), and Madeira Assist (relocation support). The GTM is community-led and event-driven: 800+ events per year (Tuesday lunches, Sunday hikes, skill-shares, yoga, BBQs, language classes, beach cleanups, workshops, hackathons) drive 100–200 new members monthly, distributed via WhatsApp groups, the community app, social media, and a blog supported by 69+ posts, with PR coverage in local Portuguese media. Partners include Câmara Municipal do Funchal, Startup Madeira, and DRCIS, alongside a network of local NGOs (Acreditar, CASA, SPAD, Banco Alimentar) for volunteering programs. The company is GDPR-compliant, registered as a nonprofit with no external investors, and operates with a small core team plus a board advisor.

Name

Madeira Friends

Legal name

Madeira Friends Community

Website

https://madeirafriends.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Madeira Friends is a nonprofit community organization that connects 20,000+ locals, digital nomads, remote workers, and expats across 135+ countries on Madeira through events, coworking, coliving, virtual offices, and education, supported by a Go-based community platform and a multi-brand service ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Networking & Coworking Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Island, Beach & Resort Travel Agencies (THAKAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alumni, Reunion & Affinity Group Educational Travel (THAKAGAJ)

Keywords

• Community networking platform
• Digital nomad services
• Coliving accommodation
• Coworking space rental
• Expat relocation support

Headquarters

HQ city

Funchal

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Community Membership / Supporter: Monthly or annual supporter memberships granting access to community channels, events, member-only benefits, and discounts. Managed through app.madeirafriends.org/supporter.
2. Coworking Space (Madeira Hub): Hot desks from €25/month and private offices from €200/month at the Madeira Friends Hub in Funchal's old town. Includes fast WiFi, 24/7 access, meeting rooms, and community access.
3. Coliving (Madeira Remote): Private furnished rooms in Funchal with high-speed WiFi, utilities included, coworking access, and built-in remote work community. Offered through madeiraremote.com.
4. Virtual Office: Madeira business address, mail handling, and phone services starting from €600 + VAT/year through virtualofficemadeira.com.
5. Event Tickets: Event tickets and workshop fees for community activities. Some workshops are free for supporters; paid workshops for professional facilitators include a 25% commission revenue share.
6. Service Businesses: Multiple service businesses fund the community: Madeira Production (branding/websites), Madeira Paradise Island (boutique holiday rentals), Madeira Online Shop (curated products), Madeira Card (exclusive discounts), Madeira Assist (relocation support).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Madeira Friends is a nonprofit community organization connecting locals and internationals (digital nomads, remote workers, expats) in Madeira, Portugal. It operates a supporter-membership community platform with 20,000+ members from 135+ countries, hosts 800+ events per year, and delivers coliving (Madeira Remote), coworking (Madeira Friends Hub), virtual offices, Portuguese classes, relocation assistance, and a portfolio of sister service businesses (Madeira Assist, Madeira Card, Madeira Production, Madeira Paradise Island, Madeira Online Shop).

Product overview

Madeira Friends is a nonprofit organization operating a multi-service ecosystem that bridges local and international communities in Madeira. The core offering is its community platform (app.madeirafriends.org) providing membership, events, and networking for 20,000+ members from 135+ countries. This core connects to complementary services including coliving (Madeira Remote), coworking (Madeira Coworking Hub), education (Portuguese Classes, Madeira Tech Lab), and lifestyle services (Madeira Card, Madeira Assist, Virtual Offices). The portfolio also includes commercial ventures (Madeira Production, Madeira Paradise Island, Madeira Online Shop) that fund the nonprofit community activities. A public REST API provides blog content access. Programs span volunteering, hackathons, school initiatives, and hiking guide content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Madeira Remote: Community-driven coliving and coworking experience designed specifically for digital nomads and remote workers in Funchal, Madeira.
• Madeira Coworking Hub
• Madeira Paradise Island
• Madeira Production
• Madeira Assist
• Madeira Card
• Madeira Tech Lab

Products and services

• Madeira Friends Community Membership Supporter membership offering access to community channels, WhatsApp groups, events platform, member-only benefits, and discounts. The international community of 20,000+ members from 135+ countries hosts 800+ events per year and onboards 100–200 new people monthly.
• Madeira Remote Coliving Community-driven coliving and coworking experience in Funchal for digital nomads and remote workers. Offers private furnished rooms with high-speed Wi-Fi, utilities included, coworking access, and a built-in remote work community.
• Madeira Coworking Hub Minimalist coworking space in Funchal's old town designed for remote workers, founders, creatives, and teams. Includes hot desks, private offices, fast Wi-Fi, 24/7 access, meeting rooms, workshops, and virtual offices.
• Virtual Office Madeira Madeira-based business address, mail handling, and phone services for remote-first businesses, freelancers, and solo founders. Available on an annual subscription from €600 + VAT/year.
• European Portuguese Classes European Portuguese language classes for internationals living in Madeira. Offered at three CEFR levels (A1 Beginner, A2 Elementary, B1 Intermediate) and held at the Madeira Friends Hub in central Funchal.
• Madeira Tech Lab Four-month mentorship and AI-powered software incubation program for local students aged 16–22. Empowers participants to design, prototype, and launch AI-powered software, with sponsor-provided tooling (including Primio's Flutter app builder) and a December Demo Day.
• Madeira Production Content production, branding, websites, and creative strategy services for modern businesses and projects. Operates as a wholly-owned sister business that funds the Madeira Friends community.
• Madeira Paradise Island Boutique holiday rental management focused on exceptional guest experiences and hands-on local care in Madeira. Operates as a wholly-owned sister business of Madeira Friends.
• Madeira Online Shop Curated online retail shop featuring products inspired by Madeira, the Madeira Friends community, and island living. Operates as a wholly-owned sister business of Madeira Friends.
• Madeira Card Membership perks program offering exclusive discounts and benefits at participating local businesses across Madeira for Madeira Friends community members.
• Madeira Assist Personal local assistance and concierge service for internationals relocating to, settling in, or navigating life on Madeira. Provides support with bureaucracy, translation, and practical daily-life tasks.

Named customers6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Câmara Municipal do FunchalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner with logo placement on the Madeira Friends website. The Câmara Municipal do Funchal (municipal government) supports the community's mission of connecting locals and internationals and is a key local government stakeholder.
• Startup MadeiracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner with logo placement. Startup Madeira is the regional startup support organization. Madeira Friends collaborated with Startup Madeira on hackathons and the Digital Nomads Madeira Islands project, contributing to the island's digital transition.
• DRCIS (Regional Directorate for Informatics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner with logo placement. DRCIS (Direção Regional de Comunidades e da Integração das SDM) supported Madeira Friends Tech Lab, school pilot coding programs, and hackathons with technical and organizational resources.
• EstalagemminorOthersListed as a partner with logo placement on the Madeira Friends website. Nature of partnership not specified in detail.
• Madeira HubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMadeira Friends Hub (hubmadeira.com) is the coworking space operated as part of the Madeira Friends ecosystem. It provides hot desks, private offices, meeting rooms, and event venue. Integrated with the community platform and cross-promoted as a key service.
• Madeira RemotecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMadeira Remote (madeiraremote.com) is the coliving service of the Madeira Friends ecosystem. Provides coliving and coworking accommodation in Funchal, integrates directly with the community platform and events.
• SPAD (Sociedade Protetora dos Animais Domésticos)coreOthersLocal animal shelter receiving regular support from Madeira Friends volunteers through dog-walking sessions, donations, and fundraising campaigns. Community donations have funded safer leads, washing machines, beds, blankets, and shelter improvements.
• Centro da MãecoreOthersLocal organization supporting mothers and families in vulnerable situations. Madeira Friends provides on-site volunteering support and food collection assistance (with Banco Alimentar Madeira Contra a Fome) throughout the year.
• CASA (Sem Abrigo CASA)coreOthersFunchal-based organization supporting people experiencing homelessness. Madeira Friends volunteers assist with distribution, meal support, and on-the-ground help alongside the CASA team.
• Banco Alimentar Madeira Contra a FomecoreOthersFood bank organization. Madeira Friends volunteers join food collection campaigns at Pingo Doce to support local families and fight food insecurity, collaborating with Centro da Mãe.
• AcreditarcoreOthersPortuguese cancer support association for children and families. Madeira Friends has run annual holiday donation campaigns (toys 2021, books 2022, PlayStation games 2023) and participated in charity dinners serving 400+ guests.
• Abrigo da FundoaminorOthersLocal rescue dog shelter in Funchal. Madeira Friends community visits the shelter and supports its work with rescue dogs, animal rehabilitation, and dog adoption awareness.
• CRO Santa CruzminorOthersAnimal shelter in Santa Cruz housing 68 dogs and 100 cats. Madeira Friends visits and raises awareness about shelter life, the importance of volunteering, and dog adoption in Madeira.
• Digital Nomads Madeira IslandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-initiated digital nomad program that attracted diverse international visitors to Madeira. Madeira Friends evolved as a community integration layer for this project, connecting nomads with locals and contributing to the island's digital transition.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Hubud: Long-running coworking community in Bali for digital nomads and remote workers. Comparable community-led coworking DNA in a competing nomad hub geography.
• Dojo Bali: Coworking and community space in Bali centered on events, learning, and member-led programming. Comparable events/community intensity and nomad focus, though geographically distinct.

Direct peers

• NomadX: Coworking and coliving operator based in Madeira (Ponta do Sol), serving digital nomads on the same island. Most direct head-to-head competitor on coworking and coliving inventory in the immediate geographic market.
• Coworkbooking: Booking platform and operator for coworking/coliving spaces aimed at traveling remote workers. Comparable model combining workspace discovery, community, and remote-work travel focus.
• Wifi Tribe: Community-driven coliving for remote workers organizing multi-week chapters around the world. Overlaps on the community/membership model and nomad-relocation positioning.
• Outsite: Curated coliving and coworking network for remote workers across multiple locations. Direct competitor to Madeira Remote on the coliving side, with similar digital-nomad targeting and subscription/community-led GTM.
• Roam: Coliving operator offering shared homes and a global community for remote workers. Competes on the coliving-plus-community value prop targeted at nomads and expats.

Broad incumbents

• Selina: Global hospitality brand combining hostels, coworking, and wellness programming for nomads. Overlaps with Madeira Friends across coworking, events, and community programming, but operates as a large multi-country hotel chain rather than a nonprofit.
• Selina CoWorking / Outsite Coliving (collaborative nomad platforms): Workfrom aggregates and promotes coworking spaces globally including island/destination locations. Indirect competitor as a discovery channel that diverts nomads from community-driven properties.

Others

• Startup Madeira: Regional government-backed startup support agency and named partner of Madeira Friends. Not a commercial competitor, but the closest institutional peer in the local innovation/ecosystem — comparable on Tech Lab programming and hackathon convening role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/madeirafriends
• Facebookfacebook.com/madeirafriends
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madeirafriends
• Instagraminstagram.com/madeirafriends

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Madeira Friends