ScaleUp Porto

📢 Above & Beyond Hangout #54: PITCH, please!

Nine startups took the stage in Porto and Lisbon to present their solutions, receive feedback from experienced investors, and connect with other founders and ecosystem players.

After an afternoon of pitches and discussion, the jury selected OWLplaces as the winner in Porto and Constructer.ai as the winner in Lisbon. Congratulations to both teams! 👏

A special thank you to Assunção Magalhães (Semapa Next), Carmo Ferreira da Silva (Bright Pixel Capital), Martim Velez (Portugal Ventures) and Bernardo Pequito (Beta Capital) for sharing their expertise throughout the session.

📷 Miguel Ribeiro Fernandes and Ricardo Meireles / Startup Portugal

Building a successful startup takes both capital and time.

That's why Porto's recognition among Europe's Top 10 ecosystems for Funding Runway in the GSER 2026 matters.

This is an ecosystem where founders have the conditions to turn investment into sustainable growth, supported by talent, collaboration and a strong network of organisations.

📊 Source: Startup Genome, Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026

Behind every number is a community building, innovating and growing together.

Porto continues to strengthen its position as a dynamic ecosystem for startups and scaleups.

Alongside Software, Health and FinTech, AI is helping strengthen Porto's position as one of Europe's fastest-rising startup ecosystems.

The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026 also recognises Porto among Europe's Top 20 AI-Native Clusters, highlighting the growing activity of startups building AI-driven solutions across the region.

From funding rounds to ecosystem milestones, here's what's been happening across Porto's entrepreneurial ecosystem this month.

👩‍💼 The 53rd Above & Beyond Community Hangout brought together a conversation on women entrepreneurship and what it takes for more women founders to start, grow and scale.

🎤 From funding and networks to mentorship, visibility, leadership and access to opportunities, the session highlighted the importance of building stronger support systems across the startup ecosystem.

Because a more inclusive ecosystem creates space for different paths, stronger connections and more ambitious founders.

📷 Miguel Ribeiro Fernandes and Ricardo Meireles /

📈 Porto has climbed more than 15 positions in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026.

This recognition reflects the strength of an ecosystem where founders, investors, universities, organisations and communities work together to support entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable business growth.

It's a milestone shared by everyone helping shape Porto's future.

Explore the full Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026: https://startupgenome.com/report/the-global-startup-ecosystem-report-2026/introduction

What makes São João special is the same thing that makes an ecosystem thrive: People.

Enjoy the celebrations 🎈

Porto is home to more than 50 local tech communities.

A strong ecosystem grows through people and partnerships, and Porto’s tech communities play a key role in bringing them together.