Applications are now open for the Algarve Tech Hub Summit 2025 Startup Showcase, where six startups will be selected to pitch on the main stage before a global audience of investors, mentors, industry leaders, and media.
Startups at any stage – idea, pre-seed, seed, growth, or expansion, whether funded or bootstrapped – are welcome to apply, especially those in tech, SaaS, AI, blockchain, sustainability, education, tourism, and lifestyle.
Solutions can be either B2B or B2C. Applications for the showcase close on September 26 at 6 p.m.
The showcase will be held on November 6 in Lagos as part of the two-day summit running November 6-7, which is open to the public by pre-registration and organized by a coalition of innovation bodies, including Algarve Evolution, the University of Algarve, and Algarve STP.
Selected teams will pitch for five minutes and take questions for another five before a curated audience. There is no cost to apply or to pitch, and no equity is taken.
While startups from across the country are welcome, those based in the Algarve or already doing business in the region will be given preference.
“It is about more than just pitch time – it’s about giving visibility to founders who are building real companies here in the Algarve. We’re creating an ecosystem where lifestyle and innovation meet community, and it’s inspiring to see the progress our startups have made all across the Algarve,” Startup Showcase Lead David Williams told Portugal Startup News.
The serial startup entrepreneur said they are excited about showcasing the “best of the best” in the Algarve to help local businesses and founders build awareness, attract funding, form partnerships, and connect with industry-leading mentors and advisors.
“We are aiming to showcase a full spectrum of business innovation happening right here in the Algarve and help them succeed,” he added.
Williams also emphasized that the Algarve’s identity extends well beyond “one of the most, if not the most, incredible European lifestyles with amazing beaches, great golf courses, and over 300 days of sunshine.”
“There’s a lot more happening in the Algarve than tourism, thanks to the hard work of the Algarve Evolution community. We are starting to transform the region from its roots in tourism. We want the world to see that the Algarve is more than sun and surf. It’s a serious startup region with serious talent – and this event gives our entrepreneurs the stage they deserve,” he noted.
Last year’s showcase, Williams recalled, generated attention both inside the venue and across the wider ecosystem. The 2025 edition, he added, is intended to build on that foundation with enhanced visibility and high-quality pitches.
Algarve Summit’s global tech ambition
The Algarve Tech Hub Summit, designed to position the region as a competitive global technology ecosystem, gathers Portuguese and international speakers from sectors such as travel and tourism, fintech, marine industries, biotech, AI, blockchain, sustainability, agrofood, health, energy, digital, art, and culture, among others.
It explicitly aims to position the Algarve as a destination of choice for founders, investors, families, part-time and full-time retirees, digital nomads, remote workers, students, tech talent, companies, and investors looking to make the Algarve their global home.
The 2024 Algarve Tech Hub Summit, held in Albufeira from October 23-25, brought together over 400 participants, including tech leaders, innovators, investors, and local government officials. The event’s Startup Showcase highlighted emerging entrepreneurs.
Proven success for participants
Alumni of the Algarve summit’s startup events have seen real outcomes. A standout example is Sea4Us, a biotech spun out of NOVA University Lisbon. The company recently completed a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign for its marine-inspired chronic pain drug, Sea4Pain.
According to Sea4Us, the experience was highly supportive from the start, with strong mentorship, and constructive feedback from the jury. They recommend the program to both early-stage and more established startups, highlighting the learning, exposure, and networking opportunities as a “win-win.”
Other showcase alumni report similar gains. For instance, Rat Rig, a high-performance 3D-printer startup, called its showcase pitch “a turning point,” giving it exposure to hundreds of new investors and mentors. Biotechnology firm expressTECsays the summit helped it win pilot programs and expand into new markets.
Featured image: The Algarve Tech Hub Summit is designed to position the region as a competitive global technology ecosystem. (Photo courtesy of Algarve Tech Hub Summit)
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