Connecting Lusophone talent and businesses to global ecosystems
MELLA connects Black founders and professionals from Portuguese-speaking countries with organisations ready to hire, source, and partner.
MELLA connects lusophone founders and professionals with global opportunities through mapping, readiness assessments, and structured introductions.
MELLA is an access infrastructure improving how talent, businesses, and organisations find each other with clarity, context, and intention.
We:
Map Lusophone founders, professionals, and businesses to understand who exists
Assess readiness to provide context and clarity
Connect intentionally when there is real alignment
We design clearer pathways between talent, businesses, and global markets.
The MELLA NetworK
angola · Cabo Verde · Guiné-Bissau · Moçambique · São Tomé e Príncipe · Brazil · Diaspora
Each profile represents a real person, real work, and real potential.
HOW IT WORKS
MAP → ASSESS → CONNECT
Every connection goes through a clear process. No black boxes.
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We find who's building — founders, freelancers, professionals, businesses across Lusophone ecosystems and the diaspora.
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We review readiness — context, intent, and preparation. Not just credentials. When we vouch for someone, they're ready.
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We facilitate introductions when there's real alignment. Not mass lists. Intentional matches that lead to outcomes.
For Companies & Stakeholders
Find talent and suppliers your usual channels miss.
MELLA works with organizations seeking structured access to Black and lusophone talent, suppliers, and collaborators across Portugal, Africa, Brazil, and the diaspora.
What You Get
✓ Verified profiles — every person in our network has been reviewed for readiness
✓ Contextual matching — we don't send mass lists, we send aligned candidates
✓ Warm introductions — both sides are prepared before they connect
✓ Ecosystem insight — we understand the market you're trying to reach
How It Works
1. Tell us what you need — talent, suppliers, or partnerships
2. We match against our verified network
3. You receive a shortlist with context — not just CVs
4. We facilitate introductions when there's alignment
TRUSTED BY
Why companies work with MELLA
Reach
We've mapped talent across 7+ countries that you won't find on LinkedIn. Portugal, Angola, Cabo Verde, Moçambique, Guiné-Bissau, São Tomé, Brazil, and the global diaspora.
Readiness
Every profile is reviewed for context and preparation. We assess intent, capacity, and fit — not just credentials. When we make an introduction, both sides are ready.
Relevance
We don't send mass lists. We send aligned matches based on what you actually need. Fewer conversations, better outcomes.
Responsibility
You engage with communities authentically, not performatively. We help you connect in ways that create real value for both sides.
for professionals & business
The MELLA Index
The MELLA Index is an access infrastructure.
It is a verified directory of Black and Lusophone founders, professionals, and businesses across Portugal and the diaspora built so companies and institutions can actually find, understand, and engage with u
When you register
your profile becomes part of the Index
you join the first cohort shaping this infrastructure
you contribute to defining how access and connection will work going forward
This is not a job application.What comes next
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COMMING SOOn
Readiness assessments to understand positioning and next steps
Partner resources, such as:
certifications
English language training
portfolio and profile development
Join 40+ founders and professionals already in the directory
ABOUT US
READY TO WORK WITH US
We exist because there is a gap between intention and access.
Many organisations want to diversify their teams, suppliers, ande and partnerships — but lack a reliable, structured way to connect. At the same time, founders and professionals are building strong work without visibility or the right introductions.
MELLA bridges that gap through structure, care, and cultural awareness.
Founder
MELLA Supply was founded by Ana Martins, an ecosystem builder and entrepreneur working at the intersection of business, visibility, and access.
After years of working closely with founders, professionals, and companies, Ana repeatedly saw the same challenge: talent and businesses existed, but access depended on informal networks and personal connections.