Ten Portuguese startups have made it into Wired’s ‘Europe’s 100 Hottest Startups’ list in 2018, and we have already compiled some of the companies you should be keeping your eye on here.
With the new Tech Visa and many other incentives for foreign investment, amongst other reasons, more and more companies are choosing Portugal for their HQ location; be it in the capital, Lisbon, or other cities such as Porto, Faro, and Braga. And that number will only rise in 2019! Follow the examples below to start or continue your entrepreneurship journey on the sunniest country in Europe:
Secret City Trails: a new way to discover a city? Yes, please! That was the breakthrough idea of friends Wendy van Leeuwen and Kristina Palovicova, from the Netherlands and Slovenia, respectively. They created a city discovery game that relies on puzzles and riddles to explore a new area without feeling like a tourist — and never as boring as a sightseeing bus tour! Currently, they offer 20 games in nine different European cities.
Fresh.Land: this Danish company connects farm producers to companies or establishments that need a massive (around 8KG!) delivery of fruits. Despite not delivering in Portugal (yet, we hope), the company’s tech office is based here.
BeerOrCoffee: looking for coworking space in Brazil? This startup has the right solution! They organize 400+ shared and co-working locations under one single app, where one can easily find the perfect place to work — and even better, choose an environment to network and also benefit from the perks one needs, such as shared kitchen, bicycle space, or pet-friendly. Their HQ is in Lisbon, but the offers are over 75 Brazilian cities.
Vixtape: a new vision of television is the promise of Vixtape, launching later in 2019, with lots of secrecy around it! What we can expect: multiple layers of media to enhance or stimulate a certain mood in its viewer. Founded by Italian Michael Fiorentino, who fell in love with Lisbon in 2017 and promptly chose the city after its creativity and innovation. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsqp1vcF-MJ/embed
SeaBookings: looking for unique opportunities in what sometimes seems like a saturated market is a key to success for many startups, and SeeBookings, founded by Dutch sisters Bo and Femke Irik, does precisely that, allowing customers to discover, compare and book the best watersports and boat tours in five countries, compiling over 500 different experiences.
Uniplaces: If only Uniplaces was around when most of us were going to university! This startup, founded in 2013 by friends (from Portugal, UK, and a Slovene) that met — guess what! — Sharing a house during their university time in Leeds, UK. It is worth noticing that Miguel Santo Amaro, one of the founders, has been placed on Forbes’ ’30 Under 30′ list — twice. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsqor3WAGAU/embed
GrowIN Portugal: With its mission to democratize access to European markets, funds, investors, visas, and residence permits for bright minds and entrepreneurs from all over the world; GrowIN Portugal has chosen to set its operations in Faro. GrowIN Portugal strives to showcase Portugal’s innovation potential, enable other startups to benefit from the booming Portuguese ecosystem, and bridge the existing gaps between the local administration and tech talent. The Faro-based startup is a Company as a Service Platform that helps Entrepreneurs Incorporate, Accelerate, Fund, and Move their Startups to Portugal.
Onibus: With almost 10 million visitors each year, the Algarve region attracts more and more tourists from all over the world. With this in mind, Moroccan entrepreneur Issam Darui decided to launch his visionary startup in Portugal. With Onibus, you won’t have to worry anymore about booking your airport transfers, finding up-to-date local transportation information, and navigating your way comfortably during your stay in the southern part of the country without knowing a word in Portuguese.
Brave Logic: Youness has long traveled the world and lived in Morocco, France, and Russia before deciding to launch his startup in Portugal. In Brave Logic, everything is about using logic in developing brave and creative web and mobile solutions. The Faro-based startup aims to position itself as the leading web and mobile development agency that enables other entrepreneurs to dive into the digital world without any prior coding skills.
