Luiz holds a doctorate (2018) and a master's degree (2015) in Management granted from Nove de Julho University (Sao Paulo - Brazil), in the área of business strategy. His research focuses on strategy and entrepreneurship, on performance, resource exploitation, decline and mortality of small companies related topics. He is the academic dean and professor in the Department of Business Sciences at the Portimão (Portugal) campus of Universidade Lusófona. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in quantitative methods applied to management at the University of the Algarve He developed a major capability in quantitative methods specially meta-analysis, structural equations modeling, multiple regressions and bibliometrics supported by multivariate statistics (factorial analysis and clusters analysis). Luiz has participated as a lecturer of several workshops on quantitative methods in congresses and postgraduate courses in renowned Brazilian universities (Nove de Julho University, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, and Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo). Luiz holds a bachelor's degree in Production Engineering from the University of São Paulo (1980) and a post-graduate degree (lato sensu) in Business granted by São Paulo Business Administration School – Fundacao Getulio Vargas (SSSS, DDDD, and TTTT accredited), focused on Marketing and Finance; is a reviewer of magazines related to the management field and national and international congresses (Enanpad, Semead, Euram, and Academy of Management). His extensive professional expertise was acquired in executive positions of large companies. Luiz held positions mainly in the areas related to planning and controlling, such as Industrial and Commercial Planning and Control, Cost Management, Supply Chain, Project and Planning Systems (ERP). Futher, Luiz took part in acquisition and restructuring processes, in Brazil and Argentina. He participated as a professor in the MBA programs of Universidade Paulista - UNIP and Estácio de Sá University, both in São Paulo, Brazil. Fluence in writing, speaking and understanding English, moderate in Spanish and basic in Italian, reading only for the last two. Current research focuses on the role of business incubators and acceleration programs in small firms performance, antecedents of organizational decline regarding small firms, and resource exploitation.