Startup Genome’s Post

Portugal Calling: Europe's Sneaky Innovation Hub Is Lisbon the next Silicon Valley? Here are a few data points for your consideration: Last week I wrote about the undersea cable being laid by Google (Alphabet) between New York and Portugal, with a stop in the Azores. Growappy raised €600,000 investment from Caixa Geral de Depósitos CGD in their first funding round. The LISBON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE along with the Unicorn Factory Lisboa (a pretty cool name), launched a €360,000 prize fund for companies that use innovation to improve and modernize the city of Lisbon. GED Ventures Portugal made a €2 million seed investment in sqill which they will use to open an office in Austin, Texas. Though I'm not really plugged into the tech community yet, Lisbon strikes me as a place with lots of entrepreneurs who could move elsewhere to make it easier on themselves but they want to succeed here because Portugal is their home. The government doesn't really know how to support them. There's not nearly enough capital, and too many people have a scarcity mindset. Investment dollars tend to gravitate toward real estate. The economy is dominated by long-established companies, and there is a cultural predisposition to encourage young people to get a "good job" and not take risks. In spite of all this, there is a ton of entrepreneurial energy here. And because of the capital supply dynamic, investors are getting favorable terms and downright reasonable valuations. No, it doesn't look like Lisbon is going to be Silicon Valley (but it has the hills, bridges, and bay for it). But it does look to me a lot like Atlanta about 20 years ago, with the exception that Lisbon's airport can't match up with Atlanta's - but we are finally getting a new one by around 2030. And that's why I'm so excited about and bullish on Portugal in general and Lisbon in particular. #portugal #startups #entrepreneurship

🚀 I am honored to represent Cabo Verde at the Startup Summit 2024 in Florianópolis as a guest of SEBRAE! 🌍 On August 16th at 5:30 PM, I will be speaking on "Navigating Cabo Verde's Digital Waves: Innovation, Startups, and Opportunities." Our participation aims to: Promote Cabo Verde as a country that shares a common language, history, and culture with Brazil, and is just a 3.5-hour flight away. Position Cabo Verde as a gateway to the African market, which has a great need for innovation and showcase Cabo Verde as a country that can provide talent to Brazilian companies, without Cabo Verdeans needing to leave Cabo Verde (remote workers). I will also be sharing what we are doing to achieve these goals, including the Tech Park, EllaLink, youth training, entrepreneurship promotion, and establishing Cabo Verde as a reference in e-governance. We are continuing our commitment to participate in startup events with our own startups, and this time, I will be joined by Africandev, founded by a Cape Verdean Marcos Jamir that operates in both the Brazilian and African markets, seeking tech talent and providing this talent to tech companies. #CaboVerde #Brasil #StartupSummit #Florianopolis #brazil #capeverde #Digital #Tech #CaboVerdeDigital #startups #AfricanDev #Africa

🏆 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹, 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁-𝘂𝗽 𝗵𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲. 🚀 In a race with 125 hubs from 21 European countries, six Portuguese hubs made it onto the selected list created by Financial Times, Sifted and Statista. With Startup Braga, Startup Lisboa in the TOP 10 Portugal ranks as the 2nd country with most startup hubs placed in the leading start-up hubs. Big congrats and another great achievement for the entire Portuguese innovation ecosystem 🙌 . The main criterion being the assessment of the respective start-up hub by alumni who participated in at least one program of the hub. Thanks for the great work shaping the ecosystem - Luís Rodrigues, Director at Startup Braga; Gil Azevedo, Executive Director at Unicorn Factory Lisboa; Diogo Teixeira, Ricardo Marvão, Manuel Tanger, Co-Founders of Beta-i • collaborative innovation; Inês Sequeira, CEO of Casa do Impacto; Jorge Pimenta, Innovation Director at Instituto Pedro Nunes; Gonçalo Amorim, CEO of BGI - Sustainable Ventures 💙 🔗 Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eXTnzb8H

I am very excited to register here my participation in the Networking & Business Enrich in Lac and Members meeting this morning as Country Manager Brazil, at The Venture Builder. Portugal has several possibilities for investment funds, such as Portugal 2030 and other programs to support the digital transformation of European businesses, connecting startups that have these solutions with companies and businesses that need these solutions, in other words, programs that help validate your business in Europe. The venture builder is here to help your startup and company in this internationalization process to scale to Europe and access these and other opportunities. What great opportunities our Innovation Ecosystems provide us every day! 🚀 #Internacionalização #Startups #Negócios #Inovação #Tecnologia #EcossistemasdeInovação #Brazil #Europe

That’s a wrap for the first #SIMConference of Startup Portugal in Porto, with the support of Câmara Municipal do Porto - City Host, with the presence of the Secretary of State for Economy, João Rui Ferreira in the closing session. Explore the City of Porto Economic Ecosystem: ScaleUp Porto | InvestPorto | TERA

"Doing business in Brazil [...] gives you an edge—if you can succeed here, you can succeed anywhere." Marcelo Linhares is a name that stands out in Brazil's tech scene. As the CEO and co-founder of Onfly, Marcelo has been at the forefront of revolutionizing corporate travel management, offering innovative solutions to streamline travel processes for companies. In this month's edition of #OpenZeitgeist, Marcelo shares some fascinating parallels between the challenges of doing business in Brazil and his experience expanding Onfly into Mexico. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dXzqMmTd #Investment #BrazilianMarket #BrazilianInvestment #BrazilianInnovation #Brazil #Startups #Traveltech #Turism #Mexico #LATAM #Internacionalização #Expansion

✨ What an incredible week in Lisbon! 🌟 During the first week of our business mission in Portugal, we had the honour of exploring the wonders of Lisbon while immersing ourselves in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. We want to share a bit of this exciting journey and express our gratitude to SOFTEX, the Paulo Feitosa Foundation (FPF) and the WIT incubator for accompanying us on this inspiring path. Throughout our stay in the Portuguese capital, we had the opportunity to showcase the impact and vision of our two Amazonian startups, GETTER and Btracer. 🚀 GETTER, a true pioneer in digital transformation, is leading the industrial revolution with its arsenal of innovative technologies. From utilizing 5G to artificial intelligence, GETTER is shaping the future of the industry, driving operational efficiency, and sustainability. A Brazilian startup that proves that the future is closer than we imagine! 🌱 On the other hand, Btracer is bringing transparency and trust to the family agriculture sector, not only in Brazil but now also in Portugal. Their blockchain-based platform is revolutionizing food traceability, ensuring the authenticity and security of products from origin to the consumer's table. And, above all, it shows us that technology can be a powerful ally in promoting sustainability and social justice. Our agenda was filled with inspiring moments and strategic encounters. From LISPÓLIS to the Brazilian Embassy in Portugal, passing through Startup Lisboa and other key points of innovation, we visited and connected with public and private stakeholders from various sectors to support the landing and growth of a startup in the Portuguese market. Each stop was an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and strengthen bonds. Our commitment to sustainable development, innovation, and strategic partnerships remains stronger than ever. We extend our gratitude to everyone who warmly welcomed us in Lisbon. We can't wait to see what the next week holds in store! WIT Incubadora Tecnologica SOFTEX GETTER S.A. FPFtech BTracer #PortugalMission #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #DigitalTransformation #Amazonia #businessmission

Exciting developments are unfolding in Porto’s vibrant startup ecosystem! 🚀 Bandora secures €1.5 million in funding: the Porto-based startup has raised €1.5 million in its latest funding round. This significant investment will fuel Bandora’s innovative solutions and accelerate their growth. EZ4U , a spin-off from Universidade do Porto, has been acquired by a major European telecommunications company, LINK Mobility. This acquisition highlights the strength of our local talent and innovative spirit. Seedsight ranks among the World's Top 11: the startup from INESC TEC and UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of University of Porto, has been recognised in the top 11 globally by Nature magazine, highlighting Porto’s position as a hub of groundbreaking research and entrepreneurial success. These achievements reflect the dynamic and thriving environment of Porto’s startup scene. 🌍 Check more news: https://lnkd.in/dagMxGaQ #InvestPorto ScaleUp Porto

2024, MARCH 25: attending the online workshop "Strengthening Portugal’s incubation and acceleration system: Lessons from international programmes", which was commissioned by the "Ministry of Economy and Maritime Affairs". "OECD", IAPMEI, I.P. - Agência para a Competitividade e Inovação and Startup Portugal were also involved in this research work and further initiatives, which has received financial assistance from the "European Commission". #startupecosystem #innovationecosystem #Portugalstartuplandscape #startups #lessonslearned #learningopportunities #OECD #nationalpolicies #technologybasedincubators #accelerationinitiatives

📅 Last week, on June 20-21, the TNW - The Next Web Conference, one of Europe’s most influential and anticipated technology events, took place in the vibrant city of Amsterdam. The conference brought together industry leaders, innovative startups, and tech enthusiasts from around the world to discuss the latest trends, share ideas, and network with peers in the tech community. 🇵🇹 Building on the previous year's success, AICEP returned with an institutional stand to support and promote the Portuguese technology and innovation ecosystem, while exploring opportunities for business and investment in Portugal. During the two days, the AICEP  team highlighted the dynamic Portuguese tech scene, forging connections with companies and investors from the Netherlands and beyond. As part of their showcase, they also delighted attendees with Portugal's iconic treat, the pastel de nata. Additionally, the event was also visited by several Portuguese companies and startups as well as the president of the CCINP - Chamber of Commerce and Industry NL-PT, 🦋Marisa Monteiro Borsboom. For more information about the Portuguese technology and innovation ecosystem, please contact 📧 aicep.thehague@portugalglobal.pt   #TNWConference #TNW  #IT #Tech #Innovation #Portugal #PortugalMakesSense #InvestInPortugal Startup Portugal ANI | Agência Nacional de Inovação Startup Lisboa InvestPorto Porto Tech Hub Startup Braga Set.Up Guimarães ARDITI - Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação Startup Madeira Portugal Fintech The Fintech House Beta-i • collaborative innovation Unicorn Factory Lisboa Portugal Ventures 351 Portuguese Startup Association Instituto Pedro Nunes Fábrica de Startups S.A. Impact Hub Lisbon