Application for startup recognition

Startup status is granted to companies that meet all of the following criteria:

• Have been active for less than 10 years
• Employ fewer than 250 people
• Have an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million
• Are not the result of a transformation or demerger of a large company and do not have any majority shareholding (direct or indirect) by a large company
• Have their headquarters or a permanent establishment in Portugal, or at least 25 employees in Portugal

In addition, startups must meet at least one of the following conditions:

• Be recognised as a Technology Sector Company, as defined in Ordinance no. 195/2018 of 5 July, or deemed suitable by ANI – National Innovation Agency, S.A.
• Have completed at least one round of venture capital funding from an entity legally authorised to invest in venture capital and supervised by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) or an equivalent international authority;
• Or have received equity or quasi-equity investment from investors who are not founding shareholders of the company, such as business angels certified by IAPMEI – Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, I.P.
• Have received investment from Banco Português de Fomento, S.A., or from funds managed by it, its subsidiaries, or through one of its equity or quasi-equity instruments

Startup status may also be granted to companies that meet the age and size requirements for startups, provided they fulfil the remaining criteria and hold a valid Tech Visa certification, in accordance with Ordinance no. 328/2018 of 19 December.

The digital certificate of recognition for startup or scale-up status is made available through the Gov.pt portal and is valid for all legal purposes.

A list of entities recognised as startups and scale-ups is available on the Startup Portugal website and at dados.gov.pt.