Upwork, a globally leading human and AI-powered work marketplace, has announced that it will open its first international operational hub in Lisbon, Portugal. With this move, Upwork becomes the 17th unicorn to establish an office in the city.
The announcement was made on Wednesday at a press conference at Web Summit in Lisbon by Upwork President and CEO Hayden Brown, alongside Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, according to a company statement.
“Upwork is the 17th unicorn company to set up an office in Lisbon since we launched Unicorn Factory,” said Moedas, referring to Lisbon City Hall’s flagship innovation program, created in 2022 to attract high-growth tech companies.
“Our distinctive innovation strategy and strong positioning are clearly paying off, creating more and more job opportunities across the city – especially for young talent. Upwork is a dynamic and disruptive company, and we are thrilled to welcome them to Lisbon,” he added.
The new operational hub will be located in Alcântara, an area known for its concentration of technology and creative companies. The office is expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2026. Upwork has already started hiring to support its expansion in the region.
According to the company, the Lisbon hub will serve as a base for product development and technical hiring outside the United States.
“Lisbon is a natural choice for our first home outside the U.S.,” Upwork’s president and CEO said, noting that the city offers “an exceptional pool of innovative, entrepreneurial, and forward-thinking professionals” who can contribute to the company’s next phase of growth.
Brown added that Upwork was impressed by the local and national governments’ focus on making Portugal an attractive place to invest and grow within the European Union.
The announcement follows a record-breaking third quarter for Upwork. The company reported a return to gross services volume (GSV) growth, driven by AI-powered product innovation and rising demand for talent with AI skillsets on the platform. GSV from AI-related work grew 53% year over year.
“Lisbon gives us a powerful advantage as we scale the Upwork Marketplace,” said Andrew Rabinovich, chief technology officer and head of AI/ML at Upwork.
“This hub will play a central role in further advancing our AI infrastructure – one of the strongest drivers for Upwork’s next chapter of growth. I’m thrilled to build in a city that shares our energy, creativity, and belief in what’s possible,” Rabinovich added.
Featured image [cropped]: Upwork President and CEO Hayden Brown (Photo courtesy of Upwork )
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