A new platform aimed at offering a more detailed and dynamic view of Portugal’s entrepreneurship ecosystem is set to launch by the end of 2025, backed by €1 million in funding from the country’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), according to ECO.
The PRR is part of Portugal’s strategy to rebuild after the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by €13.9 billion in grants and €2.7 billion in loans from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Running from 2021 to 2026, the funding aims to boost the country’s economic and social resilience through strategic reforms and investments.
An official from Startup Portugal, which is spearheading the initiative, told ECO the platform will “provide a more granular, up-to-date, and actionable view” of the national entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The unidentified official added that it is intended to complement existing resources such as Dealroom.co and publicly available data, serving as an entry point to Portugal’s entrepreneurship landscape and allowing for more nuanced analyses adapted to local realities.
“The launch of the platform is scheduled by the end of the year, in line with the established timeline and with the ongoing execution plan,” the official said, noting that the investment will total around €1 million, financed through the PRR.
Based on the ECO report, the international public procurement process saw wide participation, receiving multiple proposals. The pre-contractual procedure was concluded with the awarding of the project to the company Leadership Business Consulting in January 2025.
Startup Portugal’s vision and ecosystem growth
The project was initially slated for 2023, following Startup Portugal’s explanation of the need for a new platform that could provide a more detailed and tailored picture of the ecosystem by aggregating information from a wider range of sources – stakeholders including investors, incubators, tech companies, and universities.
Startup Portugal’s executive director, António Dias Martins, previously emphasized the platform’s role in curating and verifying information to ensure coherence and actionable insights. He also highlighted its importance as a contact point for collaboration and partnership between key players in the ecosystem.
The timing of the launch comes as Portugal’s startup sector shows continued momentum. According to the Startup & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report 2024 by Startup Portugal, the country now hosts 4,719 startups – up 16% from 2023. These companies generated a combined turnover of €2.6 billion and created over 26,000 jobs, with strong contributions to exports.
Meanwhile, venture capital funding also surged in Portugal, with startups securing €886 million in 2024 – a 55% increase compared to 2023, as reported by The Portugal News citing TTR platform data.
Despite a 20.8% drop in the number of funded companies to 122, the overall investment grew, reflecting a shift toward larger funding rounds. This trend aligns with global patterns, where venture capital increased by 5%, reaching $274.6 billion worldwide.
The artificial intelligence sector was a major contributor, accounting for 37% of total venture capital investment and 17% of all deals globally in 2024. Portugal mirrored this, with AI startups attracting significant investor interest.
Featured image: Startup Portugal is spearheading the development of a new platform to provide a detailed and dynamic view of Portugal’s startup ecosystem. (Photo credit: Startup Portugal)
Portugal Startup News 