Rui Escaleira is a Founder and Managing Partner at Alea Capital Partners. Based in Lisbon and Porto , he has a key role in the development of Alea’s multiple investment strategies. Besides helping with the management of the firm, Rui is also co-responsible for developing new funds and identifying and executing new deals, in particular in the industry and services sectors. Rui will also be working closely with portfolio companies as an active board member. Rui has a diverse background, with entrepreneurship and investment as common themes. Prior to founding Alea Capital Partners, Rui was a founder and managing partner of Viam Advisors Corporate Finance, where he advised Private Equities and other investors, entrepreneurs and shareholders on several sell side and buy side mandates and deal execution, with experience in multiple sectors, such as industrial and manufacturing, logistics, services, retail, green energy, construction and real estate, technology and software, with aggregate value superior to €400M. He was previously part of the investment team at Change Partners, where he was involved in private equity investments in software and other technology businesses, industry, logistics and healthcare.

Rui also has hands-on experience as an entrepreneur acquiring companies to restructure and turnaround, in sectors such the apparel manufacturing, bread manufacturing and distribution and short-term rentals. Most recently prior to joining Alea, Rui has led a club deal to acquire a midsized Food FMCG to grow the company internationally. Rui earned a degree in Environmental Engineering from the Portuguese Catholic University and an MBA from INSEAD.