Hello and welcome to the Thursday edition of our newsletter. This is Sergei, editor of Startupt.co. I'm thrilled to bring you the latest and most exciting updates from Portugal's vibrant startup scene. Our aim is to keep you informed and engaged with the developments that are shaping our ecosystem.

This Week's Highlights:

• Lisbon on the Rise: It's incredible to see Lisbon climb 21 places in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index. Our city now leads over European counterparts like Oslo and Milan, a testament to our burgeoning influence on the global stage.
• Spotlight on Success: We're proud to feature startups like BHOUT, which continue to secure vital funding for their groundbreaking projects. It's inspiring to see local innovators push boundaries and gain well-deserved recognition.
• Educational Opportunities: With Escola 42 Lisboa expanding its offerings, our students are set to thrive in an increasingly digital world. These new courses are not just about learning to code—they're about shaping the future.
• Supporting Growth: Our update on initiatives from incubators like Startup Lisboa highlights the robust support network available to local entrepreneurs. These programs are crucial for nurturing the next generation of innovators.
• A Personal Touch: This edition introduces Henrique Pereira in our "A Person" project. His insights as Head of Programs at Draper's Startup House and his involvement in global startup competitions offer invaluable perspectives on age diversity in entrepreneurship.
• Economic Insights: We also dive into the latest stock market trends, which reflect a strong performance and provide insights into the broader economic environment affecting our startups.

Each week, we strive to deliver content that resonates with your interests and aspirations. Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or tech enthusiast, we hope to provide you with information that is not only useful but also inspiring.

MESSAGE FROM PARTNER:

Lisbon leaps 21 spots in Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings for 2023

Image credits: Startupt.co

StartupBlink's The Global Startup Ecosystem Index Report 2023 has recently published its rankings, placing Lisbon significantly higher in the global startup ecosystem standings. Jumping an impressive 21 places, Lisbon now occupies the 62nd position, surpassing cities like Oslo, Milan, Cambridge, and Ottawa, and closely trailing Zurich. In the country rankings, Portugal has ascended two spots to 26th, positioning itself ahead of Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Brazil, with Austria just one place ahead at 25th. The full, updated rankings are available for download and further exploration.

Henrique Pereira

The next in our "A Person" project — Henrique Pereira, Head of Programs in Portugal of «Draper's startup house» and Head of a global startup competition called «Meet the Drapers»: "The age diversity is also an existing fact now — a 20 years old boy can create a startup, as well as a 60 years old person".
Read more on our website.

◉ BHOUT has recently been recognized as one of the top five startups in its industry. This accolade highlights the company's commitment to innovative technology and its significant impact on the market.

◉ Seedsight is making strides with its platform aimed at boosting user engagement through tailored content and interactive tools. This initiative is designed to enhance online interactions, providing a richer and more personalized user experience. More on their innovative solutions can be found here (via Portugal Global).

◉ The agricultural tech startup Hortee has received significant investment, propelling them into the next phase of development. This funding boost will enable them to expand their services and continue improving sustainable agricultural practices. Detailed information on their latest funding can be read (via Uptec 🇵🇹).

◉ Celebrations are in order for Flexty, as they have secured another Innovation Award. This recognition underscores their role as a leader in creating transformative tech solutions. The details of their recent achievement are outlined here (via Idealista 🇵🇹).

◉ An engaging event hosted by Startup Leiria is set to explore the latest trends and best practices within the startup ecosystem. Industry experts will gather to share insights and strategies, aiming to foster innovation and growth among new businesses. For further details on the event and how to participate, visit their LinkedIn page (via Startup Leiria).

◉ The renowned programming school, Escola 42 Lisboa, will expand its curriculum starting August, offering a new range of cutting-edge coding courses designed to equip students with the skills needed in today's digital world. Additional information about their new programs and enrollment can be found (via ECO 🇵🇹).

◉ Startup Braga is inviting tech enthusiasts to delve into the exciting realm of Big Data at their upcoming workshop. This event promises to provide valuable hands-on experience and learning opportunities in Big Data analytics, which are crucial for anyone looking to excel in the tech industry. Check out more about this opportunity (via Startup Braga).

◉ Startup Madeira's partner, mudaromundo.pt, continues to make significant strides in driving social innovation and entrepreneurship. Their collaborative projects aim to address various societal challenges through innovative solutions. Learn more about their impact and projects (via Startup Madeira).

◉ Blip.pt is pioneering a new work model by implementing a 4-hour reduction in the work week without reducing pay, aiming to improve work-life balance and boost productivity among employees. For more insights into this progressive policy, visit their LinkedIn announcement (via Blip.pt).

◉ Unicorn Factory Lisboa has been recognized by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) for its commitment to fostering innovation through its diverse programs (via European Innovation Council).

◉ The Scaling Up program by Unicorn Factory Lisboa is designed for scaleup founders and senior teams, helping them to expand their business internationally. This program offers connections with major corporations and seasoned growth experts to navigate scaling challenges. Interested parties can apply until May 26 for Cohort 5 (via Unicorn Factory Lisboa).

◉ For high school students, the Innovation Summer School offers a chance to spend the summer in a creative and international environment with bootcamps in Porto and Lisboa. Experts from New York and Lisbon will guide the participants, with an early bird discount available until May 31 (via Unicorn Factory Lisboa).

◉ Startup Lisboa provides an incubation program that offers comprehensive mentoring, fundraising, and helpdesk support to startups at any stage of their journey. Applications for the Summer Batch are open (via Startup Lisboa).

◉ The Soft Landing Lisboa program aids international businesses in simplifying the process of moving or expanding operations to Lisbon, ensuring a smooth transition without constraints. Applications are currently being accepted (via Startup Lisboa).

◉ Additionally, Unicorn Factory Lisboa is preparing to launch the second themed hub of a city-wide network, the Hub Web3, in Alvalade next week, with an Artificial Intelligence hub planned later this year. For more on this, including an upcoming full interview offering exclusive details, check out the provided link (via ECO 🇵🇹).

◉ The EIC Transition competition for 2024 is now open, designed to facilitate the move from research and development to innovation. This funding opportunity allows for individual or collaborative participation from entities with projects active for more than 12 months or completed within 30 months. The competition remains open until September 18. Learn more via ANI 🇵🇹.

◉ Cintia Mano has released Part 3 of her series 'Angel Hacks - Insights for Entrepreneurs'. This latest publication aims to equip entrepreneurs with innovative strategies to attract and work effectively with angel investors. The full article can be accessed on her LinkedIn profile (via Cintia Mano).

◉ In a recent podcast episode, Bitalk discusses valuable insights for government engagement with the tech sector, proposing approaches to foster a more collaborative environment between policymakers and technology experts. Listen to the full discussion on their LinkedIn page (via Bitalk 🇵🇹).

◉ The Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economy recently shared 'Three ideas for universities to become increasingly relevant in the digital age.' This article explores methods through which academic institutions can enhance their relevance and adapt to the changing educational landscape. Read more about their innovative ideas (via Catolica Lisbon School of Business and Economy).

◉ João Ferrão dos Santos highlighted the transformative power of AI-augmented decision-making tools in a recent demonstration. His insights underline the potential of AI to enhance efficiency and strategic planning in various sectors. More on his observations can be found on his LinkedIn (via João Ferrão dos Santos).

◉ According to No Code Portugal, many individuals and businesses are not fully leveraging their technological potential. Their latest initiative aims to demystify technology usage and encourage more widespread adoption of no-code solutions to enhance productivity and innovation. Learn more about their programs and workshops (via No Code Portugal).

◉ Shilling, a Portuguese VC firm, has launched a €50M opportunity fund aimed at boosting the startup ecosystem in the region, as reported by Techcrunch.

◉ KPMG Portugal announced the launch of the fourth edition of its competition to recognize and award the most promising technological innovation startup in the national market. This initiative was covered by Executive Digest 🇵🇹.

◉ The Secretary of State for the Economy highlighted the importance of innovation for economic growth at a recent conference. The event was covered by Diario Coimbra.

◉ Indico Capital co-led a funding round for the British insurtech company Eleos, demonstrating its commitment to investing in innovative solutions within the sector. This investment was reported by ECO 🇵🇹.

⏩ What else? In brief

• US chip design company Synopsys will invest EUR 25 million in Portugal over the next three to four years (Telecom Paper)
• Resourcly has won the EU-Startups Summit 2024 Pitch Competition, impressing with its AI-driven shared inventory network for supply chain management. Congratulations to all participants, especially the top 15 finalists selected from over 1,500 applications. (EU Startups)
• Norrsken VC has announced the final close of its second fund, reaching €320 million, surpassing its original €250 million target. The fund, aimed at supporting entrepreneurs tackling global challenges, is backed by major European institutional investors, including Folksam, AP1, and the European Investment Fund (EIF). (EU Startups)
• Pitchdrive, an early-stage VC, has announced the raise of its third fund of €40 million to invest in early-stage startups in Europe. Due to overwhelming interest from LPs, they exceeded their initial target by over 30%, accepting contributions exclusively from entrepreneurs and family offices. (EU Startups)
• Silo AI has released Viking 7B, a significant milestone in bridging the gap for low-resource languages. Viking 7B is part of the journey toward creating a state-of-the-art LLM family for all European languages (Tech.eu)
• April's early-stage funding wrap-up highlights a big month for healthtech, with the UK maintaining its lead. Although slightly slower than March, VCs invested €1.4bn across 312 pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds in April, compared to March's €1.5bn across 381 rounds, according to Sifted dat (Sifted)

🛠️ Useful Tools For Startups

• microlaunch.net: The concept of Growth Platform (like Product Hunt but about growth)
• Traction Board: Open investors directory
• GPT-4o: A new generation of OpenAI the most recent LLM
• Claude.ai: Now Claude is in EU with browser chat and app both for iOS and Android
• Zero Risk Startup: New book by Paulo Andrez — a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker, author

Let us know what tools help you run your startup: hi@startupt.co.

That's all for today! See you next week. And don't forget to check your email on Monday — you'll find "7 questions for 1 startup".