3.9 Start-up funding for young entrepreneurs
Address
Portuguese National Agency Erasmus + YA Programme
Agência Nacional Erasmus + JA
Rua de Santa Margarida 6
PT-4710-306 Braga
Tel: +351 253 144 450
E-Mail: erasmusmais@juventude.pt
Website
On this page
Access to information
Portugal's business ecosystem supports project development through facilitation/networking, qualification/training, and development/financing. Key public entities include IAPMEI, IEFP, and IPDJ. IAPMEI promotes entrepreneurship, while IEFP and CASES provide information on youth and social entrepreneurship. IPDJ offers information through various channels. Non-governmental organisations like ANJE also play a significant role, offering initiatives such as the Entrepreneur's Store and Entrepreneurs Academy.
Access to capital
Public funding for youth entrepreneurship is available through national and European programmes. The StartUp Portugal programme, part of the National Strategy for Entrepreneurship, supports entrepreneurship through ecosystem development, financing, and internationalisation. The National Incubator Network connects incubators and accelerators, promoting cooperation and resource sharing. The StartUp Portugal - Incubator Voucher supports entrepreneurs by funding professional services for business development.
Aims to map and connect incubators and accelerators in Portugal, promoting cooperation, resource sharing, and professionalisation of services to enhance competitiveness.
StartUp Portugal - Incubator Voucher
Incubator Voucher Supports entrepreneurs and startups by funding professional services for business development, including management, marketing, legal support, and intellectual property protection.
StartUp Portugal - StartUp Voucher
StartUp Voucher Encourages young entrepreneurs (18-35) to develop projects with technical and financial support, including a monthly subsidy of €700 for up to 12 months.
Semente Programme
Supports individual investors in innovative startups with favourable tax regimes to foster entrepreneurship and innovation.
Grants residence permits to foreign entrepreneurs developing projects in Portugal, with certified incubators hosting and supporting them.
Business Angels Co-Investment Fund
Attracts domestic and foreign Business Angels through matching funds.
Prepares Portuguese startups for participation in major tech events like the Web Summit.
Supports startups' international presence by including them in official delegations and coordinating their communication with foreign markets.
Startup Hub – Digital Mapping And Matchmaking Platform
Digital Mapping and Matchmaking Platform Centralises information on support for startups and connects them with industry companies.
Facilitates startups' access to corporate relationships, financing, and mentoring.
Offers 90% reimbursed training courses for entrepreneurs and their staff through COMPETE funds.
Inovgov – Innovative Startups Solutions For The Public Sector
Innovative Startups Solutions for the Public Sector Promotes startups' innovative solutions to public sector managers, reducing barriers to public tenders.
Provides facilities for startups to test new catering products and services.
Funds technology-based startups developing innovative energy solutions, offering up to €50,000 per project.
Stimulates entrepreneurship and innovation in commerce through competitions.
International Coinvestment Funds
Attracts venture capital funds for startups, enabling co-investments of €10-50 million per fund, with a total of up to €200 million.
Provides financial support through a €10 million credit line for startups and micro-enterprises with up to 4 years of existence. Companies can receive up to €50,000, which can be doubled under specific conditions, with terms up to 8 years and a capital shortage period of up to 24 months.
Keep- Key Employee Engagement Programme
Offers tax incentives for workers in tech companies under 6 years old, exempting them from personal income tax on equity interests.
Co-investment instruments with incubators and accelerators
Supports acceleration programs and co-financing lines with incubators and accelerators, facilitating access to capital for entrepreneurs.
Provides financing to accelerate startup growth, with capital investment operations that can be converted into loans.
Financing Lines For Tourism Technological Projects
Supports technological projects in tourism, including digitisation and AI-based solutions, with specific support lines and venture capital calls.
Call Mvp – Minimum Viable Products
Offers risk capital investment for new ideas, technologies, and products, with investments up to €1 million.
Metro Accelerator For Hospitality Powered By Techstars
Provides consulting, product testing, and mentoring for startups in the hospitality sector, facilitating access to international investors.
Company Space For Startups – Fast Track To Land In Portugal
Creates service points for foreign entrepreneurs, offering bilingual support and information packages.
Tech Visa –Talent Attraction To Portugal
Aims to attract highly qualified staff to innovative and tech companies in Portugal, facilitating their entry into the labour market.
Digital Hackathons In Commerce, Tourism And Industry
Promotes thematic hackathons to solve technological challenges, increasing visibility and recognition for startups.
Center For Innovation In Tourism With A Digital Academy And An Incubator Specialized In The Sector
Supports innovation in tourism, developing new business ideas and projects, and attracting international startups.
Think Tank For European Digital Single Market Support
A think tank to help startups scale within the European market, accelerating the Digital Single Market (DSM) and positioning Portugal as a leader in digital entrepreneurship. Startup Portugal moderates dialogue with key partners in Brussels and EU Member States, proposing measures to facilitate startup internationalisation and modernise industry.
A public policy action to develop skills for the future, investing in new knowledge and job creation. Measures include:
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Academia I4.0: Network of academies to improve staff qualifications for Industry 4.0.
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Learning Factories: Development of demonstrators for innovative technologies.
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Hiring Researchers: Recruitment in critical areas for technical excellence.
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Inter-Entreprise Actions: Training services to develop digital skills.
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Assessment Tools: Evaluating company maturity for Industry 4.0.
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Action Plans: Universal e-learning content for self-training.
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Qualified Trainers Network: Ensuring technical excellence in I4.0 academies.
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Partnerships I4.0: Aligning themes in R&D partnerships.
To promote a network of i4.0 academies in companies that develop plans to improve the qualification of their staff in response to the challenges of the 4th industrial revolution, in the fields of know-how, reducing set-up times. At the beginning of a new function and increasing the efficiency of the person and the company as well as the quality of the product or service.
Encourage and enable the development of Learning Factories in i4.0 academies as demonstrators of innovative technologies, processes, operations and methodologies.
Hiring Researchers In I4.0 Critical Areas
Boost the recruitment of researchers in critical areas i4.0 to ensure technical and scientific excellence in i4.0 academies.
Inter-Entreprise Actions In I4.0
Encourage inter-company actions promoted by entities of the business environment and qualification centers with proven experience in providing individual and collective training services for people, which contribute to the development of digital skills.
Tools For Assessing The Maturity Of Companies Against The Challenges Of Industry 4.0
Create and test tools for evaluating the maturity of companies in the face of the challenges of the industry 4.0.
Plans Of Action And Reference Contents In I4.0
Propose the creation of action plans and reference contents available in a universal and freeway, via e-learning, to boost self-training and qualify the demand for services, in line with the evaluation and diagnostic tools.
Network Of Qualified Trainers On I4.0 Subjects
Encourage the creation of a network of qualified trainers in themes i4.0, ensuring the qualification of academies i4.0 to meet the challenges of the market with technical excellence.
Encourage the alignment of themes i4.0 in R & TD partnerships
Other measures in the scope of capital access
Concurso Nacional de Jovens Empreendedores
Promoted by the Youth Foundation and Porto City Council, this initiative fosters an entrepreneurial culture among young people aged 15-30 with innovative projects in various fields.
A national initiative promoting social entrepreneurship through four financing instruments: Capacity Building for Social Investment, Impact Partnerships, Social Impact Titles, and Social Innovation Fund. It uses European Structural and Investment Funds to boost social innovation.
A government initiative supporting startups that address UN Sustainable Development Goals. Winners receive €30,000, collaboration with the State, incubator space, internationalisation support, and Websummit access.
Other measures aiming at supporting young entrepreneurship
Transforms Terceira Island into a tech hub by attracting IT companies with infrastructure, training, and financial incentives.
Offers free office facilities and training for programmers, aiming to train 300 highly skilled workers.
A development marathon fostering technological solutions to social challenges, strengthening the connection between tech and social sectors.
Focuses on Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, offering training, research, and consulting.
An acceleration program honing skills and preparing startups for challenges.
Startup Braga Acceleration Programme
Helps entrepreneurs define business models, create products, and grow their business.
A fashion and retail tech accelerator offering mentorship, networking, and early-stage funding.
Invests in startups bringing digital transformation to key areas.
Transforms innovation and venture creation.
Promotes a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lisbon through annual events.
Promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in Porto, strengthening its role in the ScaleUp movement.
Internationalization Support Missions
Supports Portuguese startups' participation in international tech events and official visits, enhancing their visibility and Portugal's reputation as an innovative country.