This week’s episode of the videocast Negócios com Impacto, a partnership between Rádio Renascença and CATÓLICA-LISBON, features a business created to simplify the shipping process and help small companies expand their operations in both national and international markets.
During the pandemic, when the country came to a standstill and local shops were forced to close their doors, Manuel Laranjo, an alumnus of CATÓLICA-LISBON, found opportunity amid adversity. The initial project was called BOU market, a marketplace that gathered small Portuguese brands and helped them sell online at a time when digital was the only viable channel. Yet it was from this very experience that the idea for BOU express began to take shape.
The founder quickly realised that microenterprises and emerging brands struggled to access transport contracts, typically reserved for large operators. “We realised that the main challenge for small companies was accessing transport contracts. That’s when we saw a market opportunity”, recalls Manuel Laranjo. From that insight, BOU express positioned itself as a facilitator, building a bridge between small producers and CTT, its exclusive logistics partner. The company offers a standardised contract, personalised support, and immediate access to the logistics ecosystem. Within just two or three days, any business can start shipping orders under competitive conditions, with close guidance that traditional carriers rarely provide.
In its first full year of operation, BOU express reached almost one million euros in turnover, doubling that figure in its second year and consolidating a portfolio of over 800 active clients. The secret, the founder explains, lies in the company’s personalised service and attention to detail: “Our goal is to grow sustainably without losing the ability to provide individual support to each client”. This balance between scale and proximity is what sets BOU express apart, turning logistics into an extension of each client’s growth strategy.
With a small internal team but a strong network of external partners, the company remains faithful to its mission: to democratise access to transport services and strengthen local commerce. Its impact extends far beyond parcel delivery. By helping microenterprises structure their shipping processes and understand logistics procedures, BOU express contributes to the growth of Portugal’s business ecosystem and the internationalisation of national brands. As Manuel Laranjo summarises, “BOU express is a business with impact because it helps other companies grow, export, and understand a complex mechanism like transport”.
For the founder, his academic experience at CATÓLICA-LISBON was pivotal to his entrepreneurial path, not only for the solid foundation in management and strategic planning, but also for the professional network that helped open doors. “CATÓLICA-LISBON gave me a very solid foundation. It allowed me to look at business with a strategic mindset and identify opportunities”, he emphasises. That perspective proved essential for identifying potential in the logistics sector and transforming it into a sustainable model of growth and impact.
BOU express is the featured company in the latest episode of Negócios com Impacto, the videocast co-produced by Rádio Renascença and CATÓLICA-LISBON, now available on Spotify and the school’s YouTube channel.