Unicorn Factory Lisboa has revealed the winners of the 2026 Entrepreneurship Awards, celebrating startups, entrepreneurs, and key contributors to Portugal’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The winners were selected from among the previously announced finalists and revealed during a ceremony held on October 27 at the Técnico Innovation Center in Lisbon, coinciding with Unicorn Factory Lisboa’s fourth anniversary.
Below are the winners in each award category.
Ecosystem Award
Ricardo Marvão
Ricardo Marvão is the co-founder of Beta-i, a global collaborative innovation consultancy that helps organizations develop innovation strategies, connect with startups, and test new solutions.
A key contributor to Portugal’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, he has also co-founded several education and entrepreneurship initiatives, including Singularity University Portugal and European Innovation Academy Portugal. Previously, he co-founded aerospace software company Evolve Space Solutions.
Entrepreneur of the Year – João Vasconcelos Award
Vasco Lopes
Vasco Lopes is the former CEO of DeepNeuronic, a Portuguese company acquired by Motorola Solutions that developed AI-powered computer vision systems using existing camera networks for highways, airports, retail, and industrial environments. He is now head of vertical AI solutions at Motorola Solutions.
Most Promising Startup Award
BloodFlow
BloodFlow offers a clinical decision-support system that processes patient records and generates evidence-based outputs directly within electronic medical record systems.
Most Impactful Startup Award
knok
knock is a digital healthcare platform connecting patients, healthcare professionals, and providers. Its technology supports personalized patient journeys, care coordination, and healthcare automation.
Youth Startup Award
RTBeamTech
RTBeamTech is a scientific spin-off from LIP and Instituto Superior Técnico developing beam-monitoring technologies for ultra-high-dose-rate radiotherapy, including FLASH radiotherapy, with a focus on precise radiation beam measurement.
Rising Female Award
Rita Barbosa
Rita Barbosa is the founder of Guardian Labs EU, which develops real-time AI technology designed to detect and prevent scam campaigns and fraudulent calls before they reach their intended recipients.
International Personality Award
Fernando Jardim
Fernando Jardim is co-founder and advisor at 351 Portuguese Startup Association. His work has included supporting startups, organizing entrepreneurship initiatives, and contributing to startup policy discussions at the national and European levels.
Featured image: Photo courtesy of Unicorn Factory Lisboa
