As Portugal’s startup ecosystem continues to gain global recognition, a new platform has emerged to celebrate and document the country’s most successful tech companies.
Unicorns.pt, launched by venture capital specialist Miguel Pinho, serves as a dedicated resource for showcasing Portuguese companies that have achieved unicorn status – reaching valuations of over $1 billion.
He defines “Portuguese” companies as those founded by Portuguese nationals, established in Portugal, or currently headquartered there, while acknowledging this definition may be refined over time.
The platform’s launch comes at a particularly significant moment for the Portuguese tech ecosystem. In May, defense technology company TEKEVER became Portugal’s seventh unicorn, achieving a valuation exceeding £1 billion (€1.2 billion) in a funding round backed by NATO Innovation Fund, Baillie Gifford, and other existing investors.
“Portuguese tech entrepreneurs are making their mark on the global stage. Unicorns.pt exists to tell their stories,” explains Pinho, the platform’s founder and lead curator who is a computer engineer of Portuguese and Swiss origin.
Portugal’s growing unicorn ecosystem
While the global unicorn landscape has expanded dramatically – with over 1,200 unicorn companies worldwide valued at more than $4.3 trillion as of April 2025 – Portugal has carved out its own notable presence. Other notable Portuguese companies that have achieved unicorn status include OutSystems, Talkdesk, and Feedzai.
TEKEVER’s ascension to unicorn status is a notable milestone as it represents Europe’s latest defense technology unicorn.
The Lisbon-headquartered company, which specializes in AI-enabled Unmanned Aerial Systems, has announced a five-year £400 million development program in the UK, where it has established a physical presence. Called OVERMATCH, the program will create over 1,000 highly skilled jobs and position the UK to lead the transformation of the defence landscape in Europe.
Inspiring the next generation
By documenting these success stories, Unicorns.pt aims to normalize ambitious thinking among Portuguese founders and contribute to the country’s growing reputation as a hub for technological innovation.
“We believe that by documenting these achievements, we can help normalize the ambition for Portuguese founders to build world-class companies,” states the platform’s mission statement.
Featured image: Miguel Pinho, the computer engineer and venture capital professional who founded Unicorns.pt to track Portuguese billion-dollar startups. (Photo source: miguelpinho.com)
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