About us
Built on Madeira, for Madeira
Madeira Unlocked helps locals, expats and visitors discover the island beyond the obvious — with curated events, tips and partners that respect people and places, without putting the island under unnecessary pressure.
Who we are
Madeira Unlocked was founded by Simone and Andy Meyer. We live on the island and built the platform to make authentic experiences easier to find — while giving visibility to local projects and businesses that care about quality and the island’s character.
Simone Meyer
Partnerships & community
Simone leads partnerships and community impact — connecting the app with local organisers, venues and initiatives across the island.
Andy Meyer
Product & growth
Andy leads product and growth — shaping the digital experience so discovery feels simple, useful and inspiring.
Our story
Want the longer version? Two friends sat down with us for interviews:
Our approach
Discover the island’s variety — ease the pressure on hotspots
Madeira is extraordinary, but popular places are under growing pressure. Madeira Unlocked helps people discover the island’s variety — thoughtfully.
Beyond Funchal’s hotspot loop
We actively surface events and tips outside the capital, so interest and footfall can reach municipalities that often stay under the radar.
Alternatives to overcrowded trails
Where popular hikes are under strain, we highlight strong alternatives — so visitors still get memorable nature experiences without adding unnecessary pressure to the same few routes.
Smarter, shared mobility
We promote more sustainable ways to get around. From events in Madeira Unlocked, we will link to Vamos Juntos — Madeira’s carpooling platform — so shared rides to venues are easier to find.
Volunteering & giving back
We support volunteering events such as beach or cigarette-butt clean-ups and food collections, promote them actively in the app, and regularly take part ourselves to give something back to the island.
Transparency
How we fund the platform
Madeira Unlocked is free for users and free of advertising banners. People often ask how we fund it — here is the honest answer.
- Commissions when travellers book partner services — such as tours or car rental — through Madeira Unlocked. We aim for strong terms for you — and often additional discounts that you won’t find elsewhere.
- Optional paid prominence for partners (for example Highlight or Top Pick placements) who want extra visibility.
- Organisers can list events free of charge. A more prominent “Event of the Day” placement can be purchased.
Important: Madeira Unlocked remains a curated platform. Visibility cannot simply be bought. Editorial standards come first — we promote what we believe is a good fit for the island and for our community.
We have declined partnerships when quality or guest feedback was not strong enough, or when an offer conflicted with our sustainability standards (for example damaging off-road tours through forest areas, or big-game fishing). We do not promote events organised by political parties — and we especially like to support smaller, local and authentic events.
The team
Alongside the founders, Madeira Unlocked is shaped by a changing crew — including Erasmus students and interns who join for a season. Faces rotate; the mission stays.
Cristina
Event sourcing and social media
Razvan
Event sourcing and social media
Noes
Content curation and social media
Get in touch
Questions, partnerships or press? Write to us — we read every message.