Unlocking Tech is a senior-only engineering team based in Portugal. We build AI products, custom software, and workflow automation for founders, product-led companies, and SMEs — and we ship the first version in about 9 weeks, not quarters.
Three ways teams work with us:
AI product engineering. We design and build AI-powered software end to end — web apps, AI systems, and enterprise software — with the current model stack and a production bar from day one.
Embedded engineering teams. When you need senior capacity fast, we place engineers into your team from Portugal (CET, aligned hours). Right-On-Skill had a Tech Lead and a Frontend Developer integrated in two weeks, with zero rejected CVs.
Workflow automation and AI agents. We rebuild repetitive back-office work as agents wired to your CRM, ERP, and inbox. Across shipped agents we've averaged a 78% task-time reduction, measured against the manual baseline we capture before building — not a vague efficiency number. OmniTrade's lead-qualification agent processes 1,200 files a month autonomously; Grupo Filtrarte runs two agents in production across HubSpot, WhatsApp, and email.
We work project-based, scope-first, with a short engineer-led diagnostic before we commit. The people who scope the work are the people who ship it — no offshore ticket factory, no junior bench.
or Portuguese SMEs, we also package this as vertical AI solutions — healthcare, real estate, and financial services — starting from an assessment rather than a fixed spec.
Unlocking Tech provided front- and backend development for an AI platform. The team built the API, integrated third-party data providers, worked on the database schema and data modeling, and used React.
Unlocking Tech finished many features, and the system's performance was good. The team delivered on time, and the client communicated with them via in-person and virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps. The client was also impressed by the team's reaction time and friendliness.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the CTO of an AI platform.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Unlocking Tech?
We needed help creating our platform from scratch.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
Unlocking Tech has developed our platform's frontend and backend. Regarding the backend, the team has built the API and integrated third-party data providers under my supervision. Unlocking Tech has also worked with me on the database schema and data modeling. As for the frontend, the team has used React.
What is the team composition?
We've worked with 2–5 teammates from Unlocking Tech.
How did you come to work with Unlocking Tech?
We found Unlocking Tech through an online search. We chose them because their pricing fit our budget, and their company values aligned with ours.
How much have you invested with them?
We've spent around $50,000 to $199,999.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Unlocking Tech in January 2026, and our engagement ended in June 2026.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Unlocking Tech has finished many features, and the system's performance is good.
How did Unlocking Tech perform from a project management standpoint?
Unlocking Tech has delivered on time. We communicate via in-person meetings, virtual meetings, and emails or messaging apps.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I'm impressed by Miguel's (CEO) reaction time and friendliness.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don't think there's anything Unlocking Tech can improve on; everything has gone well.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
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1 Reviews
Our Story
The team behind Unlocking Tech is a tight group of senior engineers, AI specialists, and technical architects based in Lisbon, Portugal. Since 2022, we've embedded ourselves inside the problems of founders and tech leaders across Europe and beyond — building AI systems, custom platforms, and nearshore engineering teams that actually ship. We're not a large agency with layers of account managers. Every engagement runs with senior people who own the technical decisions and are accountable for the
Meet the Team
Miguel MarquesCEO & Founder
Founder and CEO of Unlocking Tech. Fifteen years leading engineering teams and building products from zero; now runs a senior-only team shipping AI software out of Portugal.
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