FAQs

The Executive Program takes you on a time-traveling journey to the future to explore the impact of exponential technologies and help you act in the present.

Throughout the program, leaders will be challenged to develop an impact mindset: how to use technologies to solve the most pressing problems of our time. With a focus on hands-on learning, practical application, and real-world insights, this executive program will equip leaders with the skills, knowledge, and confidence that is needed to act as exponential leaders in the present.

By the end of the program, we hope the participants have gained not only new information, insights, and connections but also a new way of thinking about the future and what they believe is possible.

This journey consists of three steps:

1. REFRAMING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
   The program begins with a comprehensive overview of exponential technologies and their potential impact on various industries. You’ll learn about the latest breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, energy, and how they are shaping the future.

2. SCANNING THE HORIZON
   Next, you’ll embark on a time-traveling journey to the future, where you’ll experience first-hand how exponential technologies are being used to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. You’ll meet visionary speakers who promote the use of technology to create a better future and learn from their experiences and insights.

3. FORECASTING AND PLANNING
   Upon your return to the present, you’ll participate in a series of workshops and discussions designed to help you apply what you’ve learned to your own organization. You’ll work with experts in exponential leadership and develop a strategic plan for harnessing the power of exponential technologies to drive innovation and growth in your organization.

The Executive Program in Portugal runs for three and a half days. It begins on the first day in the afternoon, followed by three full days, ending on the last day’s evening with a closing ceremony and celebration of what’s to come.

We recommend planning to arrive one day before the first day and leave on the evening of the last day or the day after the last day.

Day 1:

This is primarily a travel day, where you’ll welcomed at 2:00 pm. At around 2:30 pm, we will start with introductory sessions, followed by networking drinks & dinner.

Day 2, 3, and 4:

Keynote, workshops, and discussion sessions during the day (9:00 am to 7:00 pm) + dinner and networking activities / immersive experiences (7:00 pm to 10:00 pm).

Covers
The Program Standard Fee is EUR €7,500.00 + VAT (if applicable). It includes:

• Participation in the program’s sessions and contents: keynotes, workshops, activities, site visits, and networking.
• Transfers from the venue (Nova SBE) to dinner locations and back to the venue.
• Catering (three meals per day: Day 1 afternoon and evening; Day 2, 3 and 4 during all days).
• Welcome kit.
• Parking (if needed).
• Insurance.
• SingularityU Portugal Executive Program Certificate.

Does not cover
Attendees will be responsible for booking their hotel reservation as part of our discounted room block, and transportation to and from the airport.

• Travel expenses;
• Transportation from the airport to the hotel, hotel to the venue, venue to the hotel/airport, and hotel to the airport;
• Accommodation: attendees will be responsible for booking their own hotel reservation as part of our discounted room block, and transportation to and from the airport;

There is an Early Bird Fee at € 6,900.00 + VAT (if applicable) valid until two months before the start date of the program, or until sold out (limited number of Early Birds).

For the time being, we do not have a non-profit rate or a scholarship program. If the Executive Program’s price is cost-prohibitive, we have several other programs you may wish to explore that will allow you to engage with Singularity:

• Custom Programs: 1 to 3-day sessions organized in Portugal and designed to meet corporate needs.

If you are interested in bringing a Singularity program to your organization, please contact us.

Most classes have between 30 and 50 participants.

Yes. We accept and embrace participants from around the world.

The Executive Program is currently only offered in English.  Due to its intense one-week curriculum and numerous opportunities for networking among the participants, we highly recommend participants are comfortable with the English language to best absorb the content and be fully engaged as a participant.

The Executive Program is a highly sought-after leadership transformation program. Applicants go through a rigorous review process and are accepted based on individual merit and alignment with each cohort. Because a diverse and highly curated cohort is critical to the success of the EP, applicants could not be approved for one cohort but approved for another. If your application is denied for one cohort, please continue to reapply and we will do our best to find the best fit based on your background and experience.

The first step is to access our landing page and fill in the form to register your interest and download the brochure with information about the program.

After that, we will contact you and ask you to fill out and submit an application form to understand what you are hoping to get out of the program and in what way(s) your attendance will contribute to the overall experience for other participants and the program itself. Once completed, you will receive a notification acknowledging receipt of the application. Your application will then be placed in the queue for the admissions team to review.

Our Admissions Team reviews hundreds of applications per program​ and uses​ a holistic review to consider many factors including seniority and influence in one’s industry or organization, passion for having a positive impact in the world, and a desire to join the Singularity community. It is a highly competitive process. The Admissions Team ​then carefully crafts each cohort to ensure diversity of industries, demographics, and psychographics. Due to the high volume of applications received, the review process could take up to two weeks.

When an applicant is approved for admission, an Offer of Admissions notice is sent with instructions for payment. 

Once all steps are completed, our team will send logistics information for travel and hotel planning, if necessary.

To ensure a rich learning experience for all participants, admission to SingularityU Portugal Executive Programs is selective and based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. For most programs, proficiency in written English is required, and participants must be fluent in the English language to take an active part in fast-moving discussions.

For each program, we carefully select a cross-section of high-potential leaders with different backgrounds and experiences. This diversity enables participants to enhance their management effectiveness by leveraging the experience of their peers and acquiring a new level of cultural sensitivity.

Applicants approved to a program can request to be placed on the waitlist of a sold-out program by emailing info@suportugal.org.

Please note that admission is not guaranteed for those on the waitlist as we do not know when or how many openings may occur. Spaces may open due to unforeseen changes resulting in cancellations. When seats open, we will send a notification to approved applicants on the waitlist to check availability and ability to complete registration and payment within two weeks of the notification. It is a tight timeline but is required as this allows us to move the process along and complete cohort selection. This timeline may be shorter if an opening is within 30 days from the start of the program.

Due to how quickly seats are filled for each program, we strongly recommend participants confirm their space by completing registration and payment to a program with open slots soon after receiving their Offer of Admissions notification. You can then request to also be placed on the waitlist for another program.

The advantages:

• If a space opens in your desired program, you’re already registered and paid, and we can easily switch you to another program if an opening is available.
• If a space does not open in your desired cohort, you have a confirmed seat in the original program you were accepted to.

Cancellation Policy by the client, individual or corporate

The client, individual or Corporate, may ask the Program Advisor to withdraw from the Program by written communication. 

• General rule: 
  1. If the participant requests to withdraw from the Program by 15 days before the beginning of the program, the entire amount of the tuition paid, will be refunded. 
  2. Should the participant request to withdraw from the Program between 15 days before the program and the day that the program starts, there will be no refund of any amount. 
  3. Should the participant request to withdraw from the Program after it has begun, there will be no refund of any amount. 
  4. If there are outstanding invoices during the withdrawal process, there will be no refund of any amount and the remaining debt will remain until it is settled. Failure to pay the outstanding amounts will limit access to any other program offered by SingularityU Portugal as well as grant the right to the application of default fees upon its regularization, under the following conditions: 
     • 2% of the total amount of the tuition, for settlements within 60 days after the due date of the invoice. 
     • 5% of the total amount of the tuition, for settlements after 60 days from the due date of the invoice. 

• Exceptions: 

1. In case of cancellation where, generally, there are non-refundable amounts, the total amount of the tuition fee may be used as credit for another edition of the same program or used, upon payment of the tuition differential, in other programs, if any of the following situations occur:
   • Change of your professional situation to an unemployment situation.
   • Serious illness of you or your dependents (all sudden, unpredictable, and non-pre-existing life-threatening medical conditions, as well as those resulting in more than 1 day of hospitalization). 
   • Pregnancy at risk. 
   • Change of residence or place of work (after enrollment) to a radius greater than 100km from the place where the program is taught, only in the case of face-to-face programs.
2. In case of cancellation where, generally, there are non-refundable amounts, the tuition fee may be refunded if any of the following situations occur:
   • Death (including yours, spouse, ascendants, and descendants in 1st degree)
   • Cancellation or postponement of the program on the initiative of Nova SBE Executive Education
3. For any of the above exceptional situations, it is up to the participant to prove it.

Cancellation Policy by SingularityU Portugal

SUPT may, at its own discretion, cancel any EP with 21 calendar days’ notice for any reason. If SUPT cancels an EP, at your option, SUPT will refund you in full all paid Program Fees for the canceled EP, or you may make an Extension Request. 

From time to time, business circumstances or new laws may require SingularityU Portugal to modify the existing Cancellation Policy. SingularityU Portugal reserves the right to change or update this policy with or without notice (subject to applicable law).

Postponement Policy

The client, individual or Corporate, may request from the Program Advisor the postponement of the Program attendance and, consequently, its transfer to another edition of the same Program or to another program by written communication.

If the postponement request occurs before the beginning of the program, and the invoices issued have not yet been settled, the participant may request their re-issuance so that the payment deadline coincides with the beginning of the next edition.

If the request for postponement occurs after the beginning of the program, the participant can only resume participation in the sessions of the next edition that he or she has not yet attended.

Additionally, a postponement request can only be requested once per program. Otherwise, the cancellation policy will apply if the program is not attended.

Transfer Policy

The client, individual or Corporate, may request the Program Advisor to transfer to another Executive Training Program on an Open Enrolment basis, by written communication prior to the start of the program.

If the transfer request occurs up to 15 days prior to the program start date, only one invoice or credit note will be issued to reflect the difference in value between the original program and the program to which it will transition.

If the transfer request occurs less than 15 days before the program start date, only one invoice or credit note will be issued to reflect the difference in value between the original program and the program you will enroll in.

The payment deadlines for the new invoices will respect the general payment rule defined for each program typology.

The Admissions Team reviews hundreds of applications and carefully crafts each class to be as diverse and mission-aligned as possible.

Given the extremely high demand, admission is a highly competitive process with hundreds of applications for each program.

Although we aim to provide a decision within 2 weeks of application submission, we’re experiencing some delays due to a higher volume of applications received. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an application confirmation notice.

If you did not receive an “application received” confirmation, it is likely that your application was incomplete and will not be in the queue for review. Our Admissions Team will follow up by email if this is the case.

If you have received an application, received confirmation, and have not received a status update after two months, please contact the Program Advisor at: bernardo.almeida@novasbe.pt

A diverse and highly curated cohort is critical to the success of the EP. While we understand the benefit of attending the Executive Program (EP) with a colleague, we review applicants based on their individual merit and typically cap participation to three representatives from a single organization per cohort. This prevents group thinking and encourages more creativity and individuality.

If your company is interested in having several executives participating in an EP, please reach out to learn how we can build a custom program for your organization. For inquiries, please contact us here.

The Offer of Admissions notice will include all the information for you to complete registration and payment. To confirm your seat in the program, you must complete registration within two weeks of the notice and payment up to 15 days before the start of the program. This allows us to move the process along and offer the seat to another applicant if you are no longer available to join us.

Individual registration with individual payment
He/she must guarantee payment of the tuition fee up to 15 days before the start of the program, and the invoice will be issued upon payment. The participant can only participate from the beginning of the program in which he/she is registered if he/she pays the amount due.
If the invoice is not paid on time, it is considered non-compliance and SingularityU Portugal (and under the responsibility of the PA) reserves the right to suspend the registration and prevent the participant from:

• Attending the program classes.
• Accessing any pedagogical materials.
• See notes.
• Obtain diplomas or certificates.

If registration/payment timelines are missed, the applicant will be cancelled, and the seat will be offered to the next approved applicant.

Individual and collective registration with payment by a business entity

Upon registration, a single invoice for the total tuition fee including the application fee will be issued for corporate clients, with a payment due no later than the day before the program start date, limited to a maximum of 30 days from the date the invoice is issued.

The customer is required to submit any information necessary to issue the invoice prior to the start of the program. If the final invoice information is not provided on time, the invoice will be forced to be issued the week prior to the start of the program with the data available and with a payment due date of 30 days. Any invoice changes requested afterward will consider the payment deadline of the original invoice.

If the invoice is not paid on time, it is considered as non-compliance and SingularityU Portugal (and under the responsibility of the PA) reserves the right to suspend the registration and prevent the participant from:

• Attending the program classes.
• Accessing any pedagogical materials.
• See notes.
• Obtain diplomas or certificates.

If you receive an error message after submitting the credit card information, please contact your card issuer and let them know that you’re paying for a program fee, as some card issuers might block our Merchant Category Code (MCC). Once it’s cleared by your card issuer, then use the custom link and enter the credit card information to try again.

Lisbon Airport (LIS) is the closest airport, about 30-40 minutes away from the venue and hotel. 

We are negotiating with hotels in order to provide you with an option with special conditions. As soon as we finalize the negotiation, we will inform

We highly recommend that you stay with at HOTEL TBC for multiple reasons:

1. A typical Executive Program schedule is very intense, and staying at the same hotel will help you avoid a potentially brutal commute. Program sessions usually begin around 8:30 am and continue through at least 9:00-10:00 pm each evening. Commuting back and forth from other locations is not recommended considering Lisbon and Cascais traffic and given how rigorous the program is.
2. Impromptu networking and socializing can be a large part of the EP experience as it often creates additional educational opportunities and uncommon partnerships that create companies, change companies, or change communities for the benefit of people and planet. If this aligns with your goals from the program, we highly recommend lodging with the group. The social aspect greatly enhances the overall experience as many participants learn a great deal from one another in a more casual setting outside of the rigorous program schedule.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate guest requests during the EP. While factors such as classroom size and participant privacy are certainly important considerations, we also believe that all participants should have equal access to program benefits and amenities, and we are unable to accommodate guests at scale. 

Of course, but please note that the EP (including sessions, meals, experiences, and other activities) are only available to registered participants, as spouse/family members are not permitted to attend any part of the Program. Because the program runs from early in the morning to late in the evening, most participants choose to come alone. 

Once registration and payment are completed for the program, you will receive an email from the Executive Program team detailing the next steps. 

The Executive Program will be one of the most intense and rewarding weeks you will experience this year.  While there is no required reading, we want to help you prepare with the mindset and toolset to adopt new concepts and theories during the program. Two weeks prior to the in-person program we will onboard you to your exclusive EP member community where you will have access to program “primers” and networking opportunities with your fellow cohort.

These resources will pique your curiosity and provide you with the foundational knowledge of the exponential tools, technologies, and applications that will enable you to transform your perspective and begin to think exponentially. 

If you want to discover even more, please join Singularity Hub, our official news network covering science, technology, and the future of humanity.

We are committed to the health, safety, and dignity of participants in our programs and to our staff and visitors. Accordingly, during your participation in our programs and events, including during speaking engagements, lectures, salons, time spent in accommodations, off-site visits, and transportation to and from events, or while at SU programming/event venue(s) for any other reason, you are prohibited from engaging (physically or digitally) in disruptive, threatening, violent, or discriminatory behavior, or unwelcome sexual advances. 

• Disruptive behaviors include yelling, using profanity, waving arms or fists, verbally (or in writing) attacking, or abusing others, and refusing reasonable requests to change Your behavior when requested by a member of our staff.
• Threatening behavior includes physical actions short of actual contact or injury (such as moving aggressively into another’s personal space), as well as direct or implied oral or written threats to people or property. 
• Violent behavior includes any physical assault, with or without weapons; behavior that a reasonable person would interpret as being potentially violent (throwing things, pounding Your fist on a desk or door, or destroying property); or specific threats to inflict physical harm.
• Discriminatory behavior includes any type of harassment that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for participants in our programs or events, or for our employees or guests, including, but not limited to, verbal, visual, or physical conduct that discriminates based on sex, race, sexual orientation, national origin, color, religion, age, disability, or veteran’s status.
• Unwelcome sexual advances include: (i) graphic or degrading comments about an individual or his or her appearance; (ii) the display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; (iii) subtle or overt pressure for sexual activity; and (iv) physical contact or blocking movements.

Below is a list of items we recommend that you bring. While you must bring some of these items (i.e. passport if you are traveling from abroad), please note that many of the items listed below are recommendations and are not a requirement.

Travel Documents

• Passport/visa(s)
• Personal ID
• Cash and credit card(s)
• Health insurance cards/document(s)
• Hotel & Venue address
• Transportation tickets (plane, train, bus, car, etc.)
• Emergency contacts and important addresses.

Technology

• Mobile device and charger
• Tablet and charger
• Laptop and charger
• Electrical converters and adapters

Health Items

• Glasses and case
• Contacts, contact solution, eye drops
• Prescription and allergy medications in original containers (make sure you have enough to last the entire trip)
• We recommend packing these in your carry-on bag just in case something happens to your checked luggage.

You will receive a high-level schedule and hotel room block details shortly after registration and payment is received so that you can book your travel logistics. The Welcome Team will send out additional program information for your final planning approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the EP’s kick-off.

If you are planning to stay with us at the HOTEL TBC, a car rental is usually not necessary as we will be on-site for the entire week. You will only need to book your own transportation to the hotel upon arrival and to the airport upon departure. 

The event will be on-site at Nova SBE and accommodation at the Hotel TBC. We will arrange transfers from the hotel to the venue and vice-versa, as well as for any activity as part of the program and outside of the venue. You will not need to travel from one location to another throughout the day. Due to the intense nature of the EP schedule, past participants (who have rented cars) have found that they rarely, if ever, needed their rental car.

Due to the very intense nature of the EP schedule, we do not recommend scheduling meetings during the Program. We start our sessions as early as 9:00 am each morning and programming/networking runs through approximately 10:00 pm. We will have short breaks throughout the day, as well as longer lunch and dinner breaks to check email and make quick phone calls but ask that you plan to participate fully in all sessions for your benefit.  

There will be WiFi available for you in your room and throughout all program locations.  

The dress code is business casual, which typically means jeans and a dress shirt or nice top, blazer optional. The main room will be kept at 68 degrees Fahrenheit / 20 degrees Celsius. Here are a few garments we recommend packing: 

• One slightly more business formal suit or dress for the closing party on the last day;
• One pair of comfortable walking shoes; 
• Athletic wear (and swimwear if you’d like to use the pool), if you choose to participate in our fitness experiences; 
• A warm jacket, sweater, scarf, and gloves! The Lisbon and Cascais areas are colder than most people think, especially in the mornings/evenings. Even in the warmer months we still recommend a warm sweater, jacket, and scarf as the weather can be inclement and unpredictable.

We recommend that you reach out to your local Portugal Embassy to confirm the Visa type and ensure that requirements are applicable to your country. 

The Visa section on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website may be helpful: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/