Portugal at Web Summit Qatar: Exploring New Opportunities for Startups and Investment

Portugal at Web Summit Qatar: Exploring New Opportunities for Startups and Investment

Nuno Anahory, Executive Board Member at the Arab Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry

This content is available in Portuguese.

The Arab Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry integrated the Portuguese Delegation  at Web Summit Qatar 2025. Qatar hosted a second Web Summit edition, reaffirming its commitment to becoming a global leader in innovation, startups, and technology. This edition of Web Summit Qatar welcomed twice as many visitors as last year, creating a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere across all presentations and meetings.

In his speech, Qatar’s Prime Minister, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, outlined how the country has strengthened its infrastructure to ensure that the $1 billion allocated in 2024 is accessible to companies establishing operations in Qatar.

The  Startup Qatar Investment Program, provided by Qatar Development Bank, aims to attract tech startups to establish or expand operations in Qatar. The program offers funding for both seed and growth stage companies, alongside incentives and support services in line with the available Startup Qatar-offered incentives and subsidies.
– Up to $500 Thousand for START
– Up to $5 Million to GROW

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has committed nearly half of its $1 billion Fund of Funds program to draw six venture capital firms to establish their regional headquarters in the country. This initiative follows a three-year government study on addressing funding gaps for scaling startups in Qatar. “There is enough capital for early-stage, pre-seed, and seed rounds, but the gap appears in Series A, B, and C funding,” said Mohsin Pirzada, QIA’s head of funds investment, during Web Summit Qatar.

QIA, which manages more than $500 billion, is willing to forgo some of the financial returns it would typically seek from foreign venture capital investments to help create jobs, develop future technologies, and strengthen key sectors such as renewables, artificial intelligence, and food security, Pirzada said. “This is not just a case of throwing capital at the problem. It’s about engaging with both public and private stakeholders to kickstart this ecosystem.”

The Qatar Investment Authority is leveraging its over-$500 billion in assets to attract venture capital firms to the hydrocarbon-rich state. The sovereign wealth fund’s $1-billion fund of funds program — which invests in both international and regional VC funds — is designed to bolster investments in areas such as technology and health care, as Qatar looks to diversify away from its dominant oil and gas industry.

With its growing investment ecosystem, Qatar presents exciting opportunities for Portuguese entrepreneurs looking to expand and secure funding on an international scale.

Congratulations to Startup Portugal, namely to Francisco Poças, for his endless efforts, supporting, preparing and promoting a successful Portuguese Delegation presence in Qatar.