Startup Genome and Lisboa City Council are proud to release the Lisboa Startup Ecosystem Report 2025, a data-driven exploration of the city’s innovation landscape, benchmarking it against leading European peers and charting its evolution toward global competitiveness.
A Rising Global Hub for Innovation
“Lisboa’s entrepreneurial energy is vibrant — a city combining creativity, community spirit, and global ambition,” said Marc Penzel, Founder and President of Startup Genome. “Through our collaboration with Lisboa City Council, this report offers data-driven understanding of Lisboa’s startup ecosystem; benchmarking it against leading European peers, examining its evolution over time, and identifying future opportunities for growth.”
The report reveals that Lisboa has entered the Early-Globalization phase of ecosystem maturity — a stage where local startups are scaling internationally while maintaining strong community roots. Ranked among the Top 30 Emerging Global Startup Ecosystems in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, the city is recognized for its creativity, international connectedness, and growing strength in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data.
Lisboa’s Ecosystem Value has grown 13% since 2022, and despite a recent contraction in early-stage deal volume, 2024 marked a rebound in Series A funding, with investment rising from $23 million to $38 million. In 2025, momentum continued with Tekever’s landmark $578 million Series C round, propelling Lisboa’s lead in late-stage funding.
Talent, Knowledge, and Global Reach
Lisboa’s tech talent pool and university base outperform smaller European hubs, underscoring its strong foundation in talent. The city now hosts five active unicorns, a billion-dollar exit, and has attracted significant inbound activity from global firms.
“Our ambition is to make Lisboa a city where innovation serves people, where creativity meets purpose, and growth goes hand in hand with inclusion,” said Margarida Figueiredo,
Lisboa City Council Municipal Director of Economy and Innovation. “What truly defines our ecosystem is not only the number of startups or investments, but the culture of collaboration that connects entrepreneurs, researchers, and citizens around shared challenges.”
Explore the Full Report
The full Lisboa Startup Ecosystem Report 2025 provides deep insights into performance metrics, investment dynamics, and sub-sector opportunities. This collaboration reinforces both organizations’ shared commitment to accelerating innovation through evidence-based insights and ecosystem partnerships worldwide.
Explore the report on the Lisboa Innovation website to discover how the city’s collaborative ecosystem is turning creativity into global impact.
