About us
WORLD TALENTS GROUP
GLOBAL TALENT PORTUGAL Residence Program is delivered to you by World Talents
Mobility is personal. We believe in tailoring the Global Talent Residence Program to meet the specific needs of every client. That's why we take time to assess each case and prioritise the safety of your funds through our escrow model.
With our deep industry experience and relationships established on the ground in Portugal, we have created a unique product. Our program is the result of extensive research and collaboration with industry experts, and we are confident that it will exceed your expectations to reach Europe.
Our innovative approach has received support from universities, tech partners, and business incubators, and we are committed to creating sustainable solutions that benefit our clients and the wider community.
With our deep industry experience and relationships established on the ground in Portugal, we have created a unique product. Our program is the result of extensive research and collaboration with industry experts, and we are confident that it will exceed your expectations to reach Europe.
Our innovative approach has received support from universities, tech partners, and business incubators, and we are committed to creating sustainable solutions that benefit our clients and the wider community.
Since 2014, we have been working in the investment migration industry helping clients get mobility around the globe and secure their wealth and families.
From the beginning, we noticed a demand for an alternative to the usual Caribbean or Golden Visa programs that were popular at the time. However, there were no such options available in the European market.
Clients were asking if they could make investments into European funds and startups without investing in real estate or needing to living full time in one place due to their global lifestyles and mobility needs.
From the beginning, we noticed a demand for an alternative to the usual Caribbean or Golden Visa programs that were popular at the time. However, there were no such options available in the European market.
Clients were asking if they could make investments into European funds and startups without investing in real estate or needing to living full time in one place due to their global lifestyles and mobility needs.
Our mission is to build a national-level platform in Portugal for supporting the development of entrepreneurship, connecting startups to talent, and linking those startups with a network of global contacts worldwide if they need resources beyond the Portuguese market.
We also help attract investment into early-stage projects and support the industry leaders who are making change in Portugal.
We also help attract investment into early-stage projects and support the industry leaders who are making change in Portugal.
Our Mission
Founded on mentorship. Focused on client service
Helping top-level executives and entrepreneurs access Europe
Our values
We have dedicated years to researching and exploring various pathways in Europe, including hybrid alternatives with work visas, education visas, and other innovative approaches in collaboration with European institutions.
Our goal is to provide our clients with
cutting-edge solutions that simplify the complex regulatory landscape.
Our goal is to provide our clients with
cutting-edge solutions that simplify the complex regulatory landscape.
Researching innovative solutions
Our focus is on enabling talented individuals to pursue their goals and remain flexible with their global lifestyles.
By connecting clients with universities through special partnerships, we facilitate knowledge transfer and financial contribution, creating a win-win situation for all parties involved.
By connecting clients with universities through special partnerships, we facilitate knowledge transfer and financial contribution, creating a win-win situation for all parties involved.
Our aim is to provide straightforward regulations for our clients.
We understand that navigating the legal landscape can be daunting, especially in a foreign country.
With our expertise and comprehensive understanding of the regulations, we guide our clients through the process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.
We understand that navigating the legal landscape can be daunting, especially in a foreign country.
With our expertise and comprehensive understanding of the regulations, we guide our clients through the process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.
Simplifying the sea of regulations
We are committed to delivering exceptional service to our clients.
Our team of professionals brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, enabling us to provide tailored solutions to meet each client's unique needs.
With a focus on excellence in every aspect of our work, we strive to exceed our clients' expectations.
Our team of professionals brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, enabling us to provide tailored solutions to meet each client's unique needs.
With a focus on excellence in every aspect of our work, we strive to exceed our clients' expectations.
Empowering global minds
Commitment to excellence
The program streamlines the process of obtaining a residency permit for our clients.
This program offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods like the Golden Visa program.
Not only does it support our clients' residency needs, but it also contributes to the development of the local community in Portugal.
This program offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods like the Golden Visa program.
Not only does it support our clients' residency needs, but it also contributes to the development of the local community in Portugal.
Pathway to residency — what clients want
Timur Sitdikov is the Founder and CEO of World Talents, where he helps entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals unlock global opportunities through strategic residency and business programs. With a strong background in investment migration and international tax strategy, Timur leads the company’s mission to simplify and humanise global talent mobility across the US, Portugal, the UK, and beyond.
FOUNDER
Timur Sitdikov
OUR TEAM OF DIRECTORS
DAVID BONELLIE
VP OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
David Bonellie is the Vice President of Business Operations at World Talents. He leads the company’s B2B strategy, working closely with agencies, institutions, and decision-makers to deliver innovative alternative residency programs like the Global Talent Portugal Program. With expertise in investment migration, sustainability, and strategic growth, David focuses on building lasting partnerships that unlock global opportunity.
From ATP tennis courts to the forefront of talent mobility, Bernardo Saraiva is a Director at World Talents, where he leads operations in Portugal. With firsthand experience competing on a global stage, Bernardo now builds partnerships between universities, startups, and entrepreneurs to create seamless pathways to residency and business success through the Global Talent Portugal Program
MANAGING DIRECTOR
BERNARDO SARAIVA
GONÇALO DA SÁ
Director of Programs & University Partnerships
An award-winning scientist and entrepreneur, Gonçalo de Sá is the Director of Programs and University Partnerships at World Talents. With a PhD in Chemistry and a track record of founding startups like LaserLeap and EcoX, he bridges academia and entrepreneurship to drive innovation. At World Talents, Gonçalo builds strategic university partnerships that help global entrepreneurs connect to Portugal’s world-class research and talent ecosystem.
HARSEV OSHAN
HEAD OF GLOBAL STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Once stateless and now proudly Canadian, Harsev Oshan leads Global Strategic Initiatives at World Talents. He works closely with visionary entrepreneurs and investors to help them fast-track relocation through programs like the Global Talent Portugal Program. With a blend of personal experience and global business acumen, Harsev brings a rare combination of empathy and strategy to every client journey.
Natalia Ismagilova is Head of Innovation, Ventures, and Consulting at World Talents, with 13+ years’ experience in law, deep tech, heavy industry, and strategic consulting. With dual degrees in law and applied physics & mathematics, she bridges legal complexity and innovation strategy, guiding startups, investors, and researchers through growth and regulatory challenges. She helps participants scale globally and connect with Portugal’s innovation ecosystem with clarity and confidence.
Head of Innovation, Ventures & Consulting
Natalia Ismagilova
A legal expert dedicated to simplifying global mobility, Joana Malaquias is the Head of Legal Operations at World Talents. She leads the legal framework that helps entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and professionals confidently navigate Portugal’s complex immigration system. With deep expertise in immigration and succession law, and experience at Portugal’s SEF and AIMA, Joana ensures every client case is handled with precision and care. Under her leadership, the team delivers the Global Talent Portugal Program, connecting international talent with Portugal’s thriving innovation ecosystem, making a complex legal journey seamless and stress-free.
Head of Legal Operations
Joana Malaquias
Oxsana Kasimskaya
head of processing
Oxsana is the Lead of Processing at World Talents, overseeing the full lifecycle of applications for the Global Talent Portugal Program. With expertise in cross-border operations and international compliance, she ensures every application meets strict regulatory standards. Acting as the key link between AIMA, government authorities, and banks, Oxana leads her team in delivering seamless, transparent processes—allowing clients to focus on building and scaling their ventures within Portugal’s thriving innovation ecosystem.
TOMÁS NOTHOF
office manager
OUR TEAM
Joana Águas
LEGAL OPERATIONS
Mateus Leite de Campos
LEGAL ADVISOR
POLINA SOLOVYOVA
CASE OFFICER
julia marakas
Beatriz Padrela
SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER
LISA-MARIE ROOS
MARKETING MANAGER
Medical & HealthTech Partnerships Manager
João Padrella
Customer Relationship ManageR
Linda Pereira
Linda Pereira is an Ambassador for World Talents, bringing decades of global experience in strategic communication, destination development, and international diplomacy to support World Talents' mission of connecting global entrepreneurs and researchers with the Portuguese university and startup ecosystems. British-Portuguese and known internationally as the “Destination Diva,” Linda has worked across 149 destinations and played a key role during Portugal and Spain’s entry into the European Union.
Her journey, from a British-born academic studying Portuguese for the first time to a trusted insider at the European Parliament, set the stage for a career at the intersection of politics, entrepreneurship, and global strategy. Linda chose the entrepreneurial path early, turning down a position in the Portuguese government to build her consultancy, on the condition that the prime minister become her first client. That bold decision led to her global firm, CPL Events & Consultancy.
At World Talents, Linda is a powerful advocate for Portugal’s untapped potential. She believes universities, businesses, and government partners must work together to position the country as a destination for global entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators. Her belief is clear: Portugal has all the ingredients to become the 21st-century hub for innovation.
Her journey, from a British-born academic studying Portuguese for the first time to a trusted insider at the European Parliament, set the stage for a career at the intersection of politics, entrepreneurship, and global strategy. Linda chose the entrepreneurial path early, turning down a position in the Portuguese government to build her consultancy, on the condition that the prime minister become her first client. That bold decision led to her global firm, CPL Events & Consultancy.
At World Talents, Linda is a powerful advocate for Portugal’s untapped potential. She believes universities, businesses, and government partners must work together to position the country as a destination for global entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators. Her belief is clear: Portugal has all the ingredients to become the 21st-century hub for innovation.
Ted Hsieh, Managing Partner and Founder of Opexa, has spent over 14 years transforming how organizations leverage technology and operational excellence to deliver exceptional customer experiences. From his early engineering foundation at UC Irvine to his MBA in Marketing and New Venture Management from USC Marshall School of Business, Ted has built a career at the intersection of innovation, strategy, and scalable execution across Silicon Valley's most dynamic technology companies.
Ted specializes in translating complex business challenges into practical, scalable solutions using industry-leading technologies from SAP, Salesforce, Microsoft, and cloud platforms. His executive leadership spans roles as COO at Xrossworld, CTO at Atlantic-Pacific Processing Systems, and senior director positions at Synopsys, Exar Corporation, and LSI/Broadcom, where he led global program management, business systems development, and customer-centric technology implementations that drove measurable growth.
As a World Talents Ambassador, Ted applies his proven methodology for transforming business challenges into scalable technology solutions within Portugal's business environment. His expertise in operational excellence and systematic execution makes him a valuable advocate for entrepreneurs seeking to establish and grow their ventures in Portugal, while tapping into the larger European market.
Ted specializes in translating complex business challenges into practical, scalable solutions using industry-leading technologies from SAP, Salesforce, Microsoft, and cloud platforms. His executive leadership spans roles as COO at Xrossworld, CTO at Atlantic-Pacific Processing Systems, and senior director positions at Synopsys, Exar Corporation, and LSI/Broadcom, where he led global program management, business systems development, and customer-centric technology implementations that drove measurable growth.
As a World Talents Ambassador, Ted applies his proven methodology for transforming business challenges into scalable technology solutions within Portugal's business environment. His expertise in operational excellence and systematic execution makes him a valuable advocate for entrepreneurs seeking to establish and grow their ventures in Portugal, while tapping into the larger European market.
Fred Gil is an Ambassador for World Talents, where he leverages his unique position as Portugal's tennis legend and entrepreneur to support World Talents' mission of connecting global entrepreneurs and researchers with the Portuguese university and startup ecosystems. As the first Portuguese player to establish himself on the ATP Tour for five consecutive years, reaching No. 62 in world rankings and earning Sportsperson of the Year alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Fred pioneered a path that fundamentally changed Portuguese tennis and opened doors for future generations.
Fred's entrepreneurial ventures span tennis academies, international event management, and strategic brand partnerships. His tennis concept manages multiple courts in the country and organizes international UTR Pro Tennis Tour events, creating a bridge between Portuguese talent and global competition. Through his advisory role with Web Summit and as a tennis coach to founder Paddy Cosgrave, Fred has developed an unprecedented network of CEOs and tech leaders, positioning him uniquely to identify and facilitate high-value connections for World Talents' mission.
At World Talents, Fred is passionate about creating comprehensive sports-education programs that rival those in North America. His vision combines his deep understanding of what drives global talent mobility with his firsthand experience of competing at the highest international levels. Fred sees Portugal as a country capable of competing with the world's best in sport, education, and entrepreneurship.
Fred's entrepreneurial ventures span tennis academies, international event management, and strategic brand partnerships. His tennis concept manages multiple courts in the country and organizes international UTR Pro Tennis Tour events, creating a bridge between Portuguese talent and global competition. Through his advisory role with Web Summit and as a tennis coach to founder Paddy Cosgrave, Fred has developed an unprecedented network of CEOs and tech leaders, positioning him uniquely to identify and facilitate high-value connections for World Talents' mission.
At World Talents, Fred is passionate about creating comprehensive sports-education programs that rival those in North America. His vision combines his deep understanding of what drives global talent mobility with his firsthand experience of competing at the highest international levels. Fred sees Portugal as a country capable of competing with the world's best in sport, education, and entrepreneurship.
GLOBAL AMBASSADORS
TED HSIEH
FRED GIL