BUILD UP LABS
STARTUP INCUBATOR
A thriving ecosystem, helping kickstart your business to the fullest from sunny Lisbon.
We empower you and your team on the different stages of your startup's development and growth.You are welcome join us in our collaborative office space or a in virtual remote setting.
ABOUT US
As founders, we've made every possible mistake and faced many difficulties. This experience has taught us countless lessons, and most importantly - inspired us to help other founders.That's why, in 2020, we founded our Incubator with the mission to help founders build and grow their businesses. Our team includes serial business experts ready to guide you through a bumpy but promising entrepreneurial journey.Our Startup Incubation Program provides mentorship, networking & partnership opportunities, special perks and a like-minded startup founders community.Build Up Labs is a certified incubator for the Startup Visa program from Startup Portugal and IAPMEI.
OUR SUPPORT
Advisory & Guidance
Regular meetings to help advance your company goals and growth
Support Network
Full range of networking opportunities, including warm intros with investors, mentors, corporates and tech talents
Perks & Services
Access to discounts and special perks on software, platforms or service providers
Community & Events
Real-time benefits as well as guidance from our supportive community of like-minded founders
Co-working
Opportunity to develop your startup in the modern co-working space - HOOD, just a few minutes away from the river. Use of our postal address for headquarters or mail reception
OUR PROGRAMS
Choose the best program for your project stage
Incubation Program
Designed to equip startups to validate their idea, go to market and make their first sales.
Personalized incubation roadmap
Unlimited 1-1 Advisory & guidance
Wide network of mentors
Community Access
Perfect for those who want to be a part of a like-minded community of startup founders.
In-person events & webinars
1 hour mentorship per quarter
Global community of founders
OUR STARTUPS
Startups from idea to growth, these are the true heroes you'll get to hang out with
Intuitivo
DIG-IN
The Newsroom
Sway
Raiz
DeepNeuronic
Jupiter app
build.ing
Zumer
CourtMaster
The Starter
Synexis
Blanched
Keeptip
Dimpulse
Inkspot
Portreed
Ninetales
Polygod
Life Trace
Micapass
Unandi
Insurion
Flair
vamos! (alumni)
Volup (alumni)
FairPay (alumni)
Jumble (alumni)
Farah Trading CO (alumni)
BotsEver (alumni)
Hints (alumni)
Timetag (alumni)
Parla (alumni)
Moonlit (alumni)
Healply (alumni)
MIGHTY (alumni)
CarWashDelivery (alumni)
DigitiUP (alumni)
Fretx (alumni)
Skincare Co. (alumni)
The Equal Food Co. (alumni)
Medial (alumni)
Anachron Tech (alumni)
Tech Labs Studio (alumni)
Testimonials
Build Up Labs has been a huge help for us since the very beginning. Their team is really what makes the difference, and they take the time to focus on us with 1-on-1 sessions, helping with our specific needs instead of having a one-size-fits-all approach.
João Guimarães, Intuitivo
BUL is a real aid for beginners in the entrepreneurial world. They help you navigate and guide you through your journey. They have helped us avoid pitfalls and common mistakes of most startups, and even got us back on track when we felt a bit lost."
Elodie Pagaud, Inkspot
BUL has been with us since the very beginning! The team has been of great help all the way from getting a Startup Visa for incorporating the company to launching and growing the business. The team at BUL has always been welcoming and supportive throughout our journey! Highly recommend.
Emiliano, Raiz
Our experience with BUL has been very positive. We have here a support network, resources, and mentors that indeed made a difference in our journey so far.
Vânia Fortes Pinheiro, Jupiter
OUR PARTNERS
Ready to meet you and help your business skyrocket
Microsoft for Startups
Technology
Google for Startups
Technology
AGPC Investments
Law, Taxes, Soft-landing
Here Partners
Investment
SRS Legal
Legal
Portugal Ventures
Investment
vogal
Branding
Startup Grind Lisbon
Community
Shilling
Investment
CCA LAW
Legal
Draper Ventures
Investment
Savvy Capital Partners
Investment
Core Angels
Investment
Bynd
Investment
Armilar
Investment
PROFounders
Investment
APX
Investment
Investors.PT
Investment
Big Start Ventures
Investment
351 Portuguese Startup Association
Community
Cohort Business
Strategy, Marketing & Sales
The Square
Public Relations
COMON
Marketing
PwC
Ecosystem
Simplify Factor
Accounting
RHJ Accountants
Accounting
Untile
Product Management
Creative Start-Up Academy
Marketing and Coaching
Teamfounder
Recruitment
SetGo
Funding
Gastão C. F.
Intelectual Property
Alter State
Community
BlackWood Capital Partners
3WX
Marketing
#MoveToFundão
Incubation
BRIDGE IN
Soft-landing
Investment
1450 Factory
Product Management
mettaCOaching
Life & Business Coaching
ambi.careers
Recruitment
Ubi
Brand, Marketing and Communication
OUR PERKS
Get exclusive discounts and free usage
Miro
Stripe
OVHcloud
Notion
Dropbox for Startups
Bubble
Segment
Digital Ocean
Zendesk
Hubspot for Startups
Carrd
Webflow
mongoDB for Startups
Utrust
Supabase
Freshworks
Customer.io
Cryptr
Vonage
Tally
Uploadcare
Linode
PitchSavior
Amplemarket
Softr
Firstbase
GrowthDrive
Beenia
Promyze
Logology
SeedLegals
Handprint
Scaleway
Fibery
Jet Brains
99Hunters
Creative Start-Up Academy
OUR MENTORS
Long-year experts who can shed light on specific obstacles your team may face
Ricardo Pereira
Team Management, Personal Growth
Rui Gouveia
Business Strategy, Digital, Investment
Filipe Macedo
Branding, Marketing, Web3
Pedro Cerdeira
Business Models, Value Propositions, Business Dev.
Anna Magiera
Investment, Fundraising, Finance
Luis Rochartre Álvares
Impact, Sustainability
Romain Diaz
Impact, Sustainability
Tocha
Investment,
Business Development
João Ribeiro
Entrepreneurship, Product Management, Technology
João Duarte
Marketing
Rafaela Gaspar
Marketing, Culture & Hiring
Sofia Pitta
E-commerce, Go-to-market, Pitching, Fundraising
Sónia Frazão
Design thinking,
UX, UI
Marta Palmeiro
Investment, Finance
Carolina Rocha
Marketing & Communication
Vítor Soares
Entrepreneurship, Business Development
Pedro Monteiro de Barros
Finance, Investment
Raquel Santos
Entrepreneurship, Community
Miguel Muñoz Duarte
Business Strategy,
Business Development
Irina Leca
Investment, Marketing
Frederico Santos
Product Management,
Pitching, Investment
Alexandre Vaz
Team Management,
Culture & Hiring
José Faria Machado
Health, Marketing, Company Culture
André Santiago Silva
Health, Management, Marketing
João Pereira
Fullstack Development
Filipe Almeida
Marketing
Diogo Castro
Data Analytics, Marketing
Zé Maria Alarcão
Marketing
Hugo Silva
Biomedical systems,
IoT, Wearables
Jonas Alves
A/B Testing,
Experimentation
Christine Michaelis
Marketing, Health & Wellbeing
THE OFFICE SPACE (OPTIONAL)
Feel free to participate in our Startup Incubation Program fully remote. Also, you can join us in the HOOD, a Lisbon-based co-working and events space with a neighborhood atmosphere, where creative minds come together to pursue exceptional work.
Private offices for up to 8 people & open-space desks
Gym, regular yoga, crossfit & basketball
Organize events in the auditorium fitting up to 90 people
Work whenever, we offer 24/7 access to the office & FREE Wi-fi
Fully equipped collaborative kitchen & dining area
Leisure area to enjoy ping-pong, bar & lounge
JOIN OUR STARTUP COMMUNITY
The next level of your project starts here.
Either remote or in our co-working space.
FRAMEWORK
Got the seed of a new startup idea planted in your mind?Our framework helps entrepreneurs differentiate good and bad ideas and avoid wasting time and money.As a startup studio and incubator, our mission is to improve startups success rate by leveraging our year long experience.The framework has been tested for over 8 years with dozens of startups.Our tool is public and free of charge for everyone to use!
FAQ
BUILD UP LABS
STARTUP INCUBATOR
Are you eager to learn and grow alongside the companies of the future?
ABOUT US
We are a business incubator that was born from our experience as a startup studio that builds, launches and grows new digital businesses since 2014.Throughout these years we have built a broad community made up of strategic and service partners, mentors and startups.
new opportunities for your members
We offer a wide range of internships in areas such as management, design, software development, marketing and finance.Allow your members to benefit from a flexible professional experience in a fast-paced environment in our bootcamp program.
Get to know the ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM
At Build Up Labs, you are welcomed to get to know and learn from our emerging businesses.
You can be a part of our bootcamp program or even be a co-founder of one of our startups.
Curious?
Because we are!
We are always looking for young people with an interest in technology and an entrepreneurial spirit.
6 REASONS TO BUILD YOUR STARTUP IN LISBON
Lisbon holds its title as one of the most loved and visited European cities for a long time. Even though Lisbon offers nothing less than a rich culture, fabulous sunny weather and low-cost living benefits, the city has constantly been emerging with its startup ecosystem. Lisbon's growing startup scene and founder community creates a comprehensive environment as well as welcomes foreign entrepreneurs to build and develop their startups into unicorns.In the following article, find the reasons why you should consider Lisbon as your startup's entrepreneurial birth and growth place. Learn more about the Portuguese startup ecosystem, its immigration processes, incubators and even co-working spaces.The article is powered by Build Up Labs, startup studio & incubator. Read more to acknowledge the growth opportunities to your startup by Build Up Labs in the startup city - Lisbon!
1. Booming Startup Ecosystem in Portugal
Without a doubt, the Portuguese startup ecosystem shows its high-striking potential for innovative business founders. In 2020, Portugal was considered the 12th most innovative country in the EU, according to the European Innovation Scoreboard. Portugal has already witnessed the successful journeys of the country's 5 unicorns, such as Farfetch, OutSystems, Talkdesk, Feedzai and newly welcomed - Remote with many others lining up from almost 2,100 verified startups in the country.Moreover, the yearly Portugal startup scene report shows that throughout 2020, Portugal-based startups closed 146 financing rounds of €365 million worth. To add up, Portugal is also a home for the biggest tech conference in the world - Web Summit, offering incredible learning and network expansion opportunities.From a quick glance, Portugal has to offer nothing less than an encouraging tech talent environment, promising investment opportunities, a networking landscape, and an entrepreneurial community to build and grow startups of various industries.
2. Lisbon - a Perfect Birthplace for Your Startup
Although Portugal has a thriving startup ecosystem, loved by investors, one of the Portuguese cities presents a true entrepreneurship dream for current and future startup founders: Lisbon.When analyzing the most attractive startup hubs for founders in Europe 2020, Lisbon takes its grateful 6th place out of the top 50 European cities, according to the annual Startup & Place survey. In this survey, attractiveness represents the multiple city's factors, including processes of starting and developing a different-industry business. Also, regarding the Expat Insider, Lisbon was ranked as the 3rd Best Cities for Expats in 2020.Even though these are just numbers, Lisbon proves its flexible environment by presenting multiple opportunities to start your business. Check the most usual ways to begin your entrepreneurial journey below.
3. Ambitious Lisbon Startup and Entrepreneurs Communities
Without a surprise, Lisbon ranks as the first city choice by digital nomads, according to the Nomadlist. The ranking of the heaven for digital nomads included criteria, such as internet access, places to work from, weather, LGBTQ+ and female friendliness, living costs, freedom of speech, walkability and many more.Digital nomads are also welcomed in the special Lisbon Digital Nomads Facebook group. Of course, if you are still only planning on becoming a digital nomad and deciding on the proper city to work from, feel free to read a guide to Lisbon for digital nomads to learn more!Moreover, Lisbon presents multiple startup communities that are ready to welcome starting and ambitious entrepreneurs. One of them is the internal Build Up Labs Incubator's startup community, including different-stage startup founders. By having regular growth sessions, special community events, and an interactive communication platform, Build Up Labs Incubator's founders share their successes and mistakes, helping each other skyrocket their businesses. If you are interested in joining an exciting growth journey with passionate entrepreneurs, apply to join Build Up Labs Incubator right now!Lisbon is also home to many startup-related communities, such as Startup Portugal, Made of Lisboa, Startup Lisboa, and more! Learn more about Lisbon and its vibrant startup communities.
4. Thriving Startup Incubation Opportunities in Lisbon
Lisbon's startup landscape has the right environment to not only start your business but skyrocket it to the fullest. Before becoming a unicorn, your startup will most likely benefit from being incubated.Here, we offer to start reaching the stars at the Build Up Labs Incubator that help early-stage startups grow while providing mentorship, strategic partnerships, access to investment, co-working spaces, networking activities. Build Up Labs Incubator is managed by real, long-year entrepreneurs and has a proactive startup founders' community that shares their successes and failures. Use the chance to grow your startup by applying for the Build Up Labs Incubator.You also can find startup incubation opportunities in other Lisbon startup incubators in the Startup Hub Portugal database.
5. Diversity of Lisbon's Co-working Spaces to Develop Your Startup
Every fast-moving startup environment includes needed startup hubs and co-working spaces to successfully develop your business. Lisbon is not an exception. By offering almost 130 various spaces for entrepreneurs and their teams to skyrocket startup business ideas in an inspiring atmosphere.One of the co-working hubs catches many startup founders for its modern approach to working environment design and generally creative vibe - the HOOD, which is also a home for Build Up Labs. Feel free to enjoy golden light, great food, or even go to your meeting with your partners or clients by the river. HOOD is the hub that helps your business emerge, offers you the like-minded people's company, and, indeed - a welcoming work culture. Check the office space of the HOOD!Have a glance at the list of other Lisbon hubs and co-working spaces to find your perfect place for you and your team.
6. Lisbon Combines Entrepreneurship and Creativity to its Fullest
Portugal, in general, provides a peaceful environment for your work and life balance. In 2021, Global Peace Index introduced the results, where Portugal is classified as the fourth most peaceful country to work and live globally.
DIVERSITY
Being Portugal's capital, Lisbon represents nothing less than a safe and friendly atmosphere to combine your living and business activities. The city offers its unique art, rich culture, and food to have your whole living experience.
HEAVEN FOR ENGLISH SPEAKERS
Even if you don't know Portuguese, you can easily fit into the international Lisbon environment with only English in your pocket. Most Portuguese people have a high level of English understanding, even though there might be an old lady who doesn't speak English that much. Still, in a day-to-day living context, you can definitely communicate in English.
GREAT LOCATION AND TIME ZONE
Lisbon offers not only excellent mobility and transport infrastructure inside the city but also a possibility to enjoy multiple travels with its international airport with flights to almost anywhere in the world. Moreover, Portugal is in the GMT time zone during the winter and in GMT+1 throughout the summer season, making it easy to communicate with people from the rest of Europe and the world.
ENJOY NEVER-ENDING WAVES BY SURFING
One of Lisbon's unique highlights is surfing activities on endless and sunny beaches. People in Lisbon are lucky to have nearly all year-round, only 30-40 minutes away from the city center. Lisbon offers many waves and surf spots all around the city, even the world-famous place Carcavelos surf beach. Choose the best surf sport in Lisbon for you and enjoy the never-ending waves!
RICH CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
Here in Lisbon, you definitely don't lack any options of what to see or do. Discover unique places, meet super friendly people and taste mouth-watering food within one city! Find the best life activities, events and must-visit list that fits your needs here.
WINE AND WI-FI ACCESS EVERYWHERE
It is well-known that finding and enjoying great wine is easier in Lisbon than in the rest of the world. The same goes for fantastic internet access. Including cafes and co-working spaces, you can use the internet everywhere in Lisbon.
