A newsletter covering all things startup in Portugal

Olá and Welcome back to your Startup Digest Portugal!!

When we speak of “ecosystems,” we adopt a forward-thinking approach to analyzing startup success. An ecosystem encompasses the convergence of resources, networks, opportunities, and institutional frameworks that enable companies to thrive. Local conditions play a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurial success, directly contributing to the growth and development of a region.

The creation of the Portugal Community Fund, a joint initiative by 351 Associação Portuguesa de Startups and Critical Software, marks a significant milestone for Portugal’s startup ecosystem. The fund aims to support local entrepreneurship communities by enabling the organization of events, research projects, and innovation-driven initiatives. Despite its seemingly modest financial scale, its potential impact extends far beyond monetary value, focusing on energizing and fortifying local innovation networks.

This initiative holds the promise of advancing key areas essential to ecosystem development, including: Fostering Local Collaboration: Encouraging partnerships between startups, universities, investors, and other stakeholders to share knowledge, forge alliances, and accelerate innovation Decentralizing the Ecosystem: Promoting initiatives in regions beyond established hubs like Lisbon and Porto, helping discover talent and innovative ideas in emerging areas Support for Education and Research by promoting research and investigation projects, this aspect is essential for creating a continuous innovation pipeline, bridging the gap between academia and market needs Empowering Local Communities: Providing resources and support for communities to organize impactful events and foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation * Increasing Visibility & Scale: Boosting the presence of Portuguese startups on the global stage and increasing their chances of attracting international investment and strategic partnerships.

Startup Digest Portugal welcomes the Portugal Community Fund, recognizing its potential to play a transformative role in strengthening the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. By emphasizing collaboration, decentralization, and community empowerment, the fund contributes to a more resilient, diverse, and innovative ecosystem.

Initiatives like this are crucial steps in cementing Portugal’s position as a prominent hub for startups and innovation on the global stage.

• 🔵 SIM = Startups & Investment Matching! Powered by @Startup Portugal, this conference connects startups, entrepreneurs, and investors for two days of networking, insights, and opportunities to grow your business. Tickets are now available. Secure your spot at the best price!

• 🔵 Landing.jobs need your input for their annual Tech Talent Trends Report This year, the survey targets tech professionals in Portugal and Spain, aiming to collect data for the 2025 report. The survey is available online

Week highlights go to:

• 📍 Applications open for Bloom Your Biz, a program promoted by Fundação Aga Khan in partnership with Unicorn Factory Lisboa

• 📍 Portugal Community Fund initiative by 351 Associação Portuguesa de Startups & Critical Software

Congrats:

• 👏 SWORD Health has acquired Surgery Hero, the world’s first digital clinic for surgery

• 👏 Tap My Back acquired by CultureBoost

• 👏 Tryp.com raises 3.1M

✍ Quote of the Day

Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking question

Primo Levi (Auschwitz survivor & Author)

📚 🎧 🎥

• 📚 Techstars Startup Weekend: I created a startup in 54 hours. What did you do this weekend? by Dani Heredia

• 📚 Tech trends Redefining brand success Report 2025 by Immersiv Studios

• 📚 Report on Scalable Social Business Models in Europe

• 📚 O futuro do UX/UI: Tendências de 2025 que já estão a transformar o presente

• 📚 The Four Cringe-Worthy Mistakes Too Many Startups Make with Data

• 📚 How To Balance Internal and External Focus

• 📚 Google’s Most Serious Rival Isn’t Microsoft. It’s a Startup, Perplexity AI

• 🎧 Fintech Trends 2024: AI, DeFi, and Startup Success Strategies

• 🎧 Carlos González de Villaumbrosia – Product School Founder on How to Become a Product Manager

• 🎥 Make the most of 30 seconds

Plan your week 📅 Jan 28>>

Jan 28

Meeting Point - Heden Rossio

The first edition will take place at Heden Rossio on January 28th. Read more.

Jan 29

School of Startups: Pitch Day Jan 29

A showcase of new projects and the best innovations that have emerged from the School of Startups. Read more.

Apply for Lisboa - Welcome to Lisboa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem Why Lisboa is “Europe’s best work-and-play capital”? Read more.

Hangout #36 | My Business Abroad

The monthly Hangout for the Portuguese entrepreneurial ecosystem, where we gather all level players to talk about the community’s challenges Read more.

Jan 30

The Break

**Do you believe in life after work? Over here at sitio, we certainly do! It’s time to unwind, relax, and have a blast at “the break”** ENG: Do you believe in life aft Read more.

Coworking Day

Coworking Day… Connect, collaborate, and cowork with like-minded individuals in a shared workspace environment. Read more.

Porto Tech Connect

Welcome to tech event in amazing Porto! Connect with like-minded tech professionals. Read more.

2025 TECH Leadership Perspectives

Portugal Tech Salary Benchmark and the Impact of AI Leadership in Software Development Read more.

Welcome 2025! A ProductTank meetup Join us as we kick off the new year in style! Let’s come together to celebrate the start of 2025 with the [ProductTank Porto](https://www.linkedin.com/company/producttank-p Read more.

#7 Viseu Tech Talks 🤝 Outsystems User Group Viseu | Sponsored by Synvert xgeeks Viseu Tech Talks is back for its first edition of 2025! 🎉** We’re kicking off the new year with an exciting partnership with the **[OutSystems User Groups](https://u Read more.

Inovação Empresarial com Inteligência Artificial Iniciamos 2025 com um Meetup dedicado à Inteligência Artificial com um dos nossos mais recentes parceiros - [DRUID](https://www.druidai.com). Read more.

Jan 31

Porto Speed Tech Networking Looking to meet other tech enthusiasts in Porto? 🌍 Porto Speed Tech Networking is the perfect place to connect with fellow professionals who share your passion for tech Read more.

Business Talks & Brunch #15 New in town and looking to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs? Join us for ***Business Talks & Brunch***, a casual networking event where you’ll meet fellow go-getters, Read more.

Feb 03

Feb 04

Techstars Startup Weekend: Startup from [0] to [1] - How to get your startup off the ground? · Join us for an insightful event on how to get your startup idea off the ground and turn it into a successful project!In this workshop, we will share case… Read more.

***

SHARK CAFÉ Feb 06

Encontro informal de networking dos empreendedores, colaboradores e coworkers do Centro de Incubação de Évora Read more.

#5 Leiria Tech Talks 🤝 OWASP Leiria 🤝 Gophers Portugal Leiria Tech Talks is back for its first edition of 2025!** 🎉 We’re kicking off the new year with an exciting partnership with OWASP Leiria and **Gophers Portugal Read more.

Apply for Lisboa - Welcome to Lisboa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem Feb 07

Why Lisboa is “Europe’s best work-and-play capital”? Read more.

Empreender no feminino: a realidade em Portugal

10 de fev A AESE organiza uma tarde de aprendizagem, inspiração e networking com profissionais que estão a liderar a mudança no mundo dos negócios. Esta conferência celebra o espírito empreendedor feminino, destacando histórias de sucesso, desafios superados e as melhores práticas para prosperar em mercados cada vez mais competitivos. Read more.

+ Ideias ’25 | Reformar Portugal Feb 15

+Ideias’ 25 assinala o 4º aniversário do Instituto +Liberdade numa conferência que procura estimular uma reflexão reformista para Portugal Read more.

Networking PitchDay.PT #5 | The Lisbon Founders Club Feb 25

This event is perfect for connecting with like-minded founders and investors. Read more.

InnoWomen Hackathon 2.0🚀 · Mar 07

• 🌊 Hackathon by the beach? Yes, please! 🌴 Win prizes by solving real-world challenges with no-code and AI. No coding skills needed. Next March, the… Read more.

⏳ Local & International Applications

Deadlines coming up soon:

• 🔜 Lisboa Innovation takes startups to the global stage and aims to support and foster the city’s innovation ecosystem by ensuring the free participation of Lisboa’s startups in international programs, propelling the city’s startups onto the global stage. Participation on the following program includes free entries for the team, exhibitor presence, and networking opportunities at one or more of the events. Apply here

• 🔜 Media Open Call 3 AMCC Test Bed, integrada na rede nacional de test beds, é um consórcio formado pelo PCI- Creative Science Park Aveiro Region (PCI), NOS Comunicações e NOS Technology (NOS Group) em parceria com a Universidade de Aveiro (UA), Aveiro Media Competence Center (AMCC) e Google, que consiste num conjunto de infra-estruturas, equipamentos, serviços e conhecimento especializado disponível para as PME e start-ups do setor dos media, para o desenvolvimento e teste de novos produtos e serviços, possibilitando a aceleração do processo Go To Market. Candidaturas aqui

• 🔜 Business Abroad assegura e apoia a presença de startups portuguesas em conferências internacionais de tecnologia, criando assim um impacto mais significativo nas representações fora do nosso país e permitindo-lhes coordenar as suas comunicações com os ecossistemas internacionais e com os meios de comunicação locais. Candidaturas

• 🔜 CESAR Europe is looking for innovative startups to join the Test Bed Program, in partnership with MC Sonae, the largest retail group in Portugal. Startups with solutions for retail and wellness now have an opportunity to develop and test their technologies, with the potential to roll-out through the Test Bed. By joining this pilot, companies gain access to expert support and experience for developing a Proof of Concept (PoC) and advancing their TRL. To participate, the company must have a Portuguese Tax ID (NIF) and SME Certificate.

Know someone who could benefit from this opportunity? Spread the word!

• 🔜 NGI Trust Chain Calling all developers, innovators, researchers, SMEs and entrepreneurs! €1.989.000,00 to employ digital identities, trustworthy data, and already designed novel mechanisms for the ecosystems’ economy, in order to achieve high energy efficiency and optimisation of particular DLTs. We are looking for the most appropriate, relevant and pertinent tradeoffs between the use of technologies, the security of consensus protocols on one side, and the sustainability requirements on the other. A user-centric design, focused on energy efficiency, trustworthiness, and scalability, will guide the development of solutions.

• 🔜 Applications are now open for the 2nd edition of Bloom Your Biz, a program of the Aga Khan Foundation Portugal in partnership with Unicorn Factory Lisboa! This accelerator program supports startups in the creative industries and technology sectors by providing mentorship, specialized training, resources, and a collaborative community

• 🔜 Faber Calling all MSc, Ph.D., and Postdoc students in STEM areas or fields of study!

Are you ready to turn your innovative ideas into the next big thing? 🌟 Join Faber’s Entrepreneurship Program and learn from the real-life experiences of successful entrepreneurs who have turned their research into thriving businesses.

This is a unique opportunity to: - Learn from successful entrepreneurs who’ve been where you are - Discover how to turn academic ambitions into thriving businesses - Receive personalized mentorship - Get the opportunity to intern at a startup. Don’t miss out! The deadline to apply is Jan 31

• 🔜 Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Health! is an exclusive program providing healthcare and wellbeing startups with essential growth skills, internationalization strategies and Google tools & products to help them scale. During the program, we will also connect startups with experts from various Alphabet functions, such as Google Health AI, DeepMind, Fitbit, Verily and others. Who are we looking for: Startups that are using AI to improve healthcare and wellbeing in any way, shape, or form; Seed to Series A startups based in EMEA; *Demonstrated traction, such as a track record of users and revenue.

The program is equity-free and we’ll be accepting applications through Jan 31

• 🔜 STARTUP COMPETITION AT SOUTH SUMMIT MADRID Want to be selected among the 100 most disruptive projects and get the chance to pitch in front of a jury of top investors and corporations in South Summit? Any startup from any country, industry or development stage can apply. Do it now! Until Jan 31

and not so soon: 

• 📌 local.foundation just released a program that grows your founder mindset. The hands-on workshops have a good balance between personal development, tools and practices that help you to become a more resilient founder. Sign up for a weekend here or choose a week long retreat style course here Both will happen in February

• 📌  EIC Service Catalogue to Accelerate Deep-Tech Innovation Exciting opportunity for deeptech innovators! If you’re a deep-tech startup or SME, this is your chance to access up to €60,000 in funding to scale your innovation with specialised services from the EIC Service Catalogue.Take the chance to accelerate your growth and overcome scaling challenges. Apply today and make an impact

• 📌   APOLLO - Junitec is a startup acceleration programme designed by students for students in partnership with Unicorn Factory Lisboa. With our support, students with innovative and disruptive minds have the opportunity to influence and impact society. This year, the programme will be focused on AI startups and HealthTech startups. We offer mentoring, support, training at the cost of NO EQUITY. Applications are open until Feb 12

• 📌   PORTUGAL FINLAB is a communication channel between innovators – new players in the market or incumbent institutions having innovative tech-based financial projects or products – and the Portuguese regulatory authorities. Through it, the Authorities provide guidelines to the Participants on how to navigate and operate in the regulatory system. Apply until Feb 14

• 📌   5.ª edição da Call INNOV-ID, promovida pela Portugal Ventures em parceria com a ANI – Agência Nacional de Inovação e com a colaboração da Startup Portugal. Os projetos e respetivas soluções devem contribuir, de forma direta ou indireta, para um destes eixos: descarbonização da economia; sustentabilidade de processos, produtos e materials;

eficiência e sustentabilidade energética; circularidade da economia. Candidaturas até Mar 02

• 📌   Building a Community and need help to grow? The Product Folks have your back with everything you need, with mentorship, funding, and everything else. Apply here

• 📌   Netmentora Lisboa by Réseau Entreprendre for women entrepreneurs. Take a look @Wom’Energy

• 📌   Baby VC Venture Capital has little to no transparency. It is difficult to know the skills required to do the job and it’s even harder to build a network, especially if you have a non-business background. Baby VC exists to bridge this gap. We want to help people from all backgrounds get the insights and connections that are typically hard to access when you are not an insider. unite young and ambitious talent from diverse backgrounds, offering them opportunities to connect and learn from leading investors and entrepreneurs in the two ecosystems. Apply here

• 📌   Sogrape, in partnership with Beta Capital, is investing in high-potential start-ups that present innovative solutions within the value chain of the wine and beverage sector. Innovators, entrepreneurs, and start-ups are invited to present their projects. Apply to Sogrape Ventures

• 📌   BioHackathon Europe is an annual event that brings together life scientists from around the world. It is organised by ELIXIR Europe, and offers an intense week of hacking, with over 160 participants working on diverse and exciting projects. The goal is to create code that addresses challenges in bioinformatics research. This year at Campus Belloch near Barcelona, with remote access available if you cannot attend in person. Apply here

• 🚩  INOVA Quality HUB, incubadora promovida pelo Instituto Português da Qualidade, I.P. (IPQ), tem por objectivo incentivar a criação de negócios inovadores e o desenvolvimento de startups, através da disseminação de uma cultura empresarial para a Gestão da Qualidade. enfoque nas áreas prioritárias da Saúde, Energia e Ambiente, promovidos por empreendedores individuais, estudantes (mestrandos ou doutorandos), startups e spinoffs de empresas. Apply here

• 🚩  Startup Wise Guys Web3 Accelerator Program: Elevate your Web3 startup to the next level, transform your business, and discover your potential. Apply here

• 🚩  Future Innovators Program is looking for university students who want to develop a problem-solving mindset to join this journey through a 3-stage Innovation Program that takes you from real-world challenges to developing your business idea. The 1st phase - the Online Academy - is available here

• 🚩  The Collider Venture Builder – Call for Technologies: Are you a researcher or part of a research team with promising results? Do you want to bring these results to the market so they can have a positive impact on society? The call for technologies is your chance to be considered for The Collider Venture Builder programme. Apply here

• 🚩  IH Sensor Tech Partnering with the Instituto Hidrográfico from the Portuguese Navy, this open innovation edition drives maritime innovation across five areas: augmented reality software, hydrographic data consolidation, GNSS-denied navigation, real-time data processing and decision-making. Apply here

• 🚩 consolid8 Deep & inclusive social innovation ecosystems

Please submit your event as early as possible so that we can communicate timely

Techstars Startup Digest Portugal newsletter is curated by:

Carlos Resende

• 📭 [email protected]

@ LinkedIn

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