Applications are open for the second edition of Startup World Cup Portugal, a national startup competition whose winner will represent Portugal at the global Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco in November for a chance to secure a $1 million investment prize.
The Portuguese winner will compete against winners from other regional stages held around the world. The investment prize is awarded by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a global venture capital firm with headquarters in Silicon Valley.
National final set for June in Lisbon
The national final is scheduled for June 17 and 18 at Unicorn Factory Lisboa. The selection process begins with an online application that includes a pitch deck and base information about the company.
From there, 50 applications will be pre-selected, and 10 finalist startups will be chosen for the national pitch competition.
At the national final in Lisbon, the finalists will present before a panel of investors, corporate leaders, and experts. The format includes a five-minute pitch followed by a four-minute question-and-answer session.
Winner advances to San Francisco
The Portuguese champion will go on to compete at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco in November 2026.
The global winner will receive a $1 million investment prize. That investment may be structured either in exchange for a portion of equity tied to the company’s most recent funding round or as a convertible note, depending on the size of the company and how much funding it has already raised.
Startup World Cup is described as a global conference and competition that brings together startups, venture capital firms, entrepreneurs, and technology CEOs. The initiative includes more than 100 regional startup competitions across six continents.
Already funded startups can apply
Eligibility is limited to legally registered entities, meaning individual applicants and non-formalized projects are not eligible.
To participate, startups must also show accelerated growth potential, a well-defined target market, a team capable of executing and taking the solution to the next level, and a clear and solid business plan or strategy.
The competition is open to both early-stage and growth-stage startups, as long as they meet those minimum requirements. Startups that have already raised investment are eligible to apply.
Pitch deck and traction requirements
As part of the application, startups must submit a pitch deck covering the vision of the business and the problem it solves, the business model, the size and potential of the market, the team, and traction and key metrics where applicable.
For the main on-stage competition, the organizers are looking for startups with a minimum viable product, proven market traction, ideally of at least three months, and product-market fit signals such as users, pilots, revenue, letters of intent, partnerships, or retention. Selected startups must also be prepared to pitch in English before the jury.
Very early-stage startups may still apply and could be considered for parallel formats or visibility opportunities, even if they are not yet ready for the main competition.
Areas highlighted by the competition
The areas highlighted by the organizers include technology, with a special focus on artificial intelligence, health and biotechnology, energy and sustainability, education, fintech and insurtech, and entertainment, media, and creativity.
The competition is not limited to those sectors alone, and startups from other areas may also apply and will be evaluated based on their potential and value proposition.
Two-day program in Lisbon
The Lisbon event will take place over two days. The first day will focus on executive conference content, with programming centered on trends, corporate innovation cases, and investment perspectives. It will also include one-to-one meetings and curated networking, alongside panels, talks, roundtables, and social moments.
The second day will center on the national pitch competition, including pitches by selected startups, jury questions and answers, the final round, and the announcement of the winner.
Application and participation are completely free for startups. Interested startups can apply on the official website.
Featured image: Photo courtesy of Startup World Cup
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