InvestorEmpowering entrepreneurs through community-driven investment.
The startup scene across Portugal
Where startups are forming across Portugal: the cities, accelerators and investors, and how you get close to them.
The ecosystem
Startup Portugal counted 5,091 active startups in Portugal in 2025, an 8% increase from 2024; the 2025 study included companies that could qualify for statutory startup status under Law 21/2023. It reported €2.856 billion in startup turnover and about 28,000 startup workers that year.
The reported startup cohort represented around 1% of active Portuguese companies, and nearly 70% of its firms were founded in the preceding five years. These figures describe the report’s cohort, not every company that may meet a legal startup definition.
Sectors and strengths
Information and communications technology accounted for 63% of startup turnover in the 2025 report. The report classified 21% of startups as high-growth, defining that category as annual employment growth above 20% over three years.
As of . Official information. Source: Startup & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report 2025
The 2025 report classified 89% of startups as having national capital and 11% as having foreign capital. These figures describe the report’s startup cohort and should not be read as the national share of venture rounds supplied by domestic or foreign funds.
As of . Official information. Source: Startup & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report 2025
Hubs and regional differences
Lisbon accounted for 45% of startups in the national 2025 report, and Porto for 16%. Startup counts grew by more than 5% year over year in Braga, Setúbal, and Aveiro.
As of . Official information. Source: Startup & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report 2025
For founders
Use the 2025 cohort figures as a dated ecosystem reference, and check whether a program or investor applies the legal definition or another eligibility test before relying on the aggregate startup count. The reported concentration in Lisbon and Porto, alongside growth in Braga, Setúbal, and Aveiro, offers a starting point for comparing locations, not a measure of local investor availability or operating costs.
As of . Official information. Source: Startup & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report 2025
For investors
The reported ICT share of startup turnover and the high-growth classification provide useful indicators of the cohort’s composition, but neither establishes venture backing or future performance. The report’s domestic and foreign capital percentages describe startup capital classification, not the share of annual venture investment by investor origin.
As of . Official information. Source: Startup & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report 2025
Constraints and recent changes
Startup Portugal counted 4,719 startups in its 2024 edition and reported 16% year-over-year growth; that edition said it used Law 21/2023 to form its startup universe, while the 2025 edition describes its universe as companies that could qualify for statutory status. The figures should be read with their edition and stated cohort definitions in view.
As of . Official information. Source: Startup & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report 2025; Startup & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report 2024
Startup ecosystem standing
Where Portugal ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (countries) | 2025 | #29 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
 Global Innovation Index | 2025 | #31 | No change | A | Innovation, Competitiveness, Research, Talent |
 Bloomberg Innovation Index | 2019 | #34 | Down 5 | B | Innovation, Research |
 Doing Business (Ease of Doing Business ranking) | Doing Business 2020 | #39 | Down 5 | B | Business Climate |
 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking | 2026 | #40 | Down 4 | B | Competitiveness, Business Climate, Performance |
256 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Portugal
Investors 156
Investor
InvestorInvest in Portugal's real estate and tourism for Golden Visa eligibility.
InvestorInvesting in the future of sports.
The 3 most prominent of 156. Browse all investors
Incubators 44
IncubatorPromoting innovation and technology transfer.
IncubatorEmpowering early-stage startups in Lisbon.
IncubatorPromoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Aveiro Region.
The 3 most prominent of 44. Browse all incubators
Venture studios 30
Venture studioAccelerating hardware and innovation projects.
Venture studioCreating innovative tech solutions and marketing strategies.
Venture studioAI-Native Venture Studio and Startup Incubator
The 3 most prominent of 30. Browse all venture studios
Accelerators 26
AcceleratorAccelerating high-potential startups in Portugal.
AcceleratorEmpowering innovators for a sustainable future.
AcceleratorAccelerating startups for global success.
The 3 most prominent of 26. Browse all accelerators
Pick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in Portugal
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
Get investor introsFinding startups in Portugal
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
Get startups that fitScouting in Portugal
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
Start scoutingCity guides
Cities in Portugal
The largest 4 of 6 published city guides.
Questions about Portugal
How does Portugal rank as a startup ecosystem?
Its best position is #29 in StartupBlink Index (countries) (2025). It appears in 5 published rankings; the table above lists each one.
How many startup investors are based in Portugal?
156 investors based in Portugal have a profile here, including AngelsWay 🔷, 7X Portugal Fund and APEX. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Portugal?
Yes. Portugal has 26 accelerators, 44 incubators and 30 venture studios on record, including Startup Braga, Instituto Pedro Nunes and Unlimit.
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