Road 2 Web Summit
Start your journey to the Web Summit!
Road 2 Web Summit is a joint initiative by Startup Portugal and Web Summit to select the best young startups to represent Portugal at one of the biggest tech events in the world, Web Summit, scheduled for November 10th to 13th in Lisbon.
Why should you join the Road 2 Web Summit program?
Or equivalent value discounted from different startup packs, with access to:
- Three (ALPHA) or four (BETA) tickets to Web Summit, giving you and your team access to the full event;
- Exhibition space for one day at the event, complete with a printed exhibition board;
- Access to Web Summit startup activations;
- Opportunity to apply for startup activations, including Web Summit’s PITCH competition, Startup Showcase, Mentor Hours, and 40 words;
- Company branding and profile feature on the website, and within the mobile application;
- Access to the Web Summit mobile and web apps to build connections prior to (and during) the event and to curate your own schedule;
- Company branding and a feature on Web Summit’s website and within the networking app;
- Access to the dedicated Startup Lounge;
- Startup success team to help with preparations pre-event.
Access to an exclusive in-person bootcamp in Lisboa and Porto, featuring inspiring guests — including top investors, experienced founders, a pitch trainer to help you perfect your pitch, and Web Summit representatives sharing insider tips to help you make the most of the conference experience!
Be part of the Portuguese Delegation at Web Summit, maximizing exposure to international investors, other delegations, and media.
Be part of a vibrant community of founders — from first-time entrepreneurs to seasoned startup leaders. Connect with other startups, build valuable partnerships, and maximise your opportunities. You’ll also join an exclusive WhatsApp group — the perfect space to exchange ideas, share stories, and grow together.
Extra exhibition slot at the Portugal x Lisboa stand at Web Summit, in addition to the startup package.
If you are one of the 15 finalists, you’ll be pitching your startup on the Startup Portugal stage, during the Pitch Sessions at the Portugal x Lisboa stand at Web Summit.
Join the celebration after party!
It’s not all work – Road 2 Web Summit wouldn’t be a great program without a great party!
If you are looking to expand your startup internationally, our Business Abroad 2026 program can help you unlock new geographies and new markets, by supporting the presence of Portuguese startups in major international events and creating a more significant impact on representations abroad.
Note: If eligibility criteria are met.
What do I need to apply?
- Information about the startup (business information, financials, social responsibility, access to public funds, and internationalization);
- Information about the founder(s) and the startup’s human resources (such as number of employees, % of women and ethnic minorities, etc.);
- Startup website link;
- Startup logo (in vector format file, up to 10Mb);
- Be legally recognized as a startup or a scaleup in Portugal (under Portuguese Law No. 21/2023). Startups that are incubated in a certified incubator from the RNi – Portugal Incubators network and have started the legal recognition process as a startup will also be considered.
Applications will be assessed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Apply early to secure your spot!
Before submitting your application, please read the Terms & Conditions that apply to this program.
1. The Road 2 Web Summit program aims to support Portuguese technology-focused startups and entrepreneurs who develop projects with high growth potential, and who bet on innovative and unique products or services.
2. Candidates must be Portugal-based legal entities that are developing technology-focused projects. Please note that Web Summit reserves the right to reject applications at their sole discretion based on their own selection criteria (maximum 5 years).
3. There is no limit to the area, vertical or field of presentation of the project.
4. Persons related to the staff of the promoters or partners of the initiative are excluded.
Disclaimer: Startup Portugal and Web Summit are unable to refund companies that have already acquired ALPHA or BETA program access for Web Summit 2025. Such companies can, however, still join the program and gain all other benefits, besides the discount.
1. The startup must, at a minimum, be launched and live with its own working website.
2. The startup must have a developed brand – at minimum, a logo in vectorial format, which must be submitted in the application form and will be used in the showcase booth.
3. The startup must have its own unique software product or solutions, or must be working on its own connected hardware devices, or have an innovative business model, easily scalable, and digitally-based.
4. Consultancies, agencies, developers, marketing/advertising agencies and public companies are not eligible to apply.
5. Startups must be an independent company and not a subsidiary of a larger organization.
6. The startup must have a valid Portuguese VAT (NIPC) number.
7. Be legally recognized as a startup or a scaleup in Portugal. Startups that are incubated in a certified incubator from the RNi – Portugal Incubators network and have started the legal recognition process as a startup can also be considered.
8. Priority will be given to startups that have never participated in the Road 2 Web Summit program.
1. Applications should be submitted through our Application Form.
2. Applications will be evaluated by a joint team from Startup Portugal and Web Summit’s startup team, that will check your compliance with the Eligibility Criteria mentioned in our Terms & Conditions.
3. If accepted, the startup should proceed to the payment.
4. After payment confirmation, you’ll be officially accepted in the Road 2 Web Summit Program.
Please note that: startups will need to undergo a video interview as part of the selection process. It will assess numerous criteria, including the team, product, traction, investment and roadmap, and the startup’s expectations for the event.
About Web Summit
In the words of Inc Magazine, “Web Summit is the largest technology conference in the world”. Forbes says Web Summit is “the best tech conference on the planet”, Bloomberg calls it “Davos for geeks”, Politico “the Olympics of tech”, and the Guardian “Glastonbury for geeks”.
More about Web Summit at websummit.com
We spent one year developing the product for drones, namely location, and then at the end of that time we realized that we had to pivot and try to figure out where we could apply our technology. And that is where Web Summit helped us a lot. Receiving all that feedback was very important for us to shift to the product we have now.
José Valente
Azitek
The Road 2 Web Summit program helped us meet people with different ideas and that was great. In terms of scalability, participating in the Web Summit is always beneficial for any new company as it helps them reach new markets and customers. From this point of view, it helped us a lot.
Hélder Loio
Buildtoo
Unlike other startups whose goal was to raise investment, for us, Road 2 Web Summit was very useful for marketing and notoriety purposes. We had the opportunity to appear on the news, and I think this had a strong influence from the press office of Startup Portugal. This opened the door for strategic partnerships, some of which we are deepening right now, and that may lead to larger projects or perhaps new shareholders.
Carlos Magalhães
Wegho
Vawlt participated in Road 2 Web Summit, promoted by Startup Portugal, which allowed us to access the Web Summit at a reduced cost. Sometimes, it seems like an insignificant detail, but in fact, in the life of a startup, it makes a big difference.
But, above all, the major advantage we found in attending Road to Web Summit was that we could share it with other national startups and exchange synergies, challenges, different stages, and conversations between us all.
Bruno Santos Amaro
Vawlt Technologies
Startup Portugal, namely through Road 2 Web Summit, helped us get in touch with international contacts, which led to many crucial opportunities we wouldn’t have reached otherwise. In that sense, it undoubtedly helped us.
Joana Pinto & Gonçalo Chambel
Clynx