IAPMEI (Institute for Support to Small and Medium Enterprises and Innovation) is a public strategic partner supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the industrial, commercial, service and construction sectors. This institute, created in 1975, promotes business growth through various initiatives and strategies for growth and internationalization.
About us
WE CONNECT THE ECOSYSTEM.
For 10 years, we’ve connected founders, investors, incubators and policymakers.
We are Portugal’s national reference for entrepreneurship. Since 2016, we’ve bridged the public and private sectors, connecting founders, investors, incubators, companies and policymakers to build a stronger, more cohesive and more international ecosystem.
What
we do
We support the Government in shaping and implementing public policy for entrepreneurship, and we promote Portuguese startups in Portugal and abroad. Our work is organised around three pillars:
Ignite: we support those taking their first steps, through programs such as Start from Knowledge, Empreende XXI and Tech Foundry Portugal, and through the National Incubator Network (RNi).
Support: we manage Startup and Scaleup status recognition, the One Stop Shop, and support instruments such as the StartUP Vouchers and the Incubator Vouchers.
Connect: we bring startups, investors and companies together through SIM Conference, the Above & Beyond Hangouts, Startup Matchbox, Road 2 Web Summit and Business Abroad.
We work alongside the Ministry of Economy, IAPMEI, ANI, AICEP, Portugal Ventures and Banco Português de Fomento. We are a founding member of ESNA (European Startup Nations Alliance) and Startups for Europe.
Startup Portugal is a public-interest organisation, funded through a programme contract with IAPMEI, European funds such as the PRR, and its own revenue, including sponsorships.
Our Associates
Created in June 2012, Portugal Ventures plays an active and fundamental role in financing and growing the national entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting national projects and propelling their sustainable development.
ANJE is a private law association of public utility that represents young Portuguese entrepreneurs and supports them in their business activities.
ANI — Agência Nacional de Inovação S. A., aims to develop actions designed to support technological and business innovation in Portugal, contributing to the consolidation of the National Innovation System (SNI) and to strengthening the competitiveness of the national economy in global markets.
CEiiA is an Engineering and Product Development Center that designs, develops, and operates new products and services for technologically advanced industries.
Aptoide is a startup that developed an online marketplace for applications on the Android operating system.
