Startup Portugal

Road 2 Web Summit 2026: your shortcut to the Web Summit stage

Web Summit returns to Lisbon from 9 to 12 November 2026, and Road 2 Web Summit (R2WS) is how Portugal-based early-stage startups get there ready to make it count. R2WS is a joint initiative by Startup Portugal and Web Summit that selects promising young startups to represent Portugal at one of the world’s largest tech events, with a 50% discount on the ALPHA or BETA exhibitor package and a preparation bootcamp built around the event itself.

Now in its eleventh year, the program has supported more than 1,000 startups. Applications for the 2026 edition are open, with spots assessed first-come, first-served.

What the program gives you

R2WS is designed to help you arrive at Web Summit with a plan, not just a badge. Selected startups get:

50% off Web Summit’s ALPHA or BETA startup package for 2026.
A preparation bootcamp covering how the event works, how to use the app, how to approach investors, which goals to set, and how to pitch.
Exclusive sessions and resources to help you make the most of your days on the ground.
Access to the community: ecosystem leaders, mentors, and fellow founders preparing for the same event.
Visibility for your startup before Web Summit even begins.

The ALPHA/BETA package itself includes tickets for the team, an exhibition booth with a printed board, the chance to apply for activations such as PITCH, Startup Showcase and Mentor Hours, access to the Web Summit app and the Startup Lounge, and a dedicated Startup Success team.

Two prizes on the table

Beyond that support, R2WS recognises standout participants. With the support of Galp, the program awards:

Most Promising Startup: €15,000, based on pitch sessions held at the Portugal x Lisboa stand.
Best Performance in the Bootcamp and Conference: €5,000, based on engagement, exhibition presence, community spirit, and participation across R2WS initiatives.

Only startups registered on Portugal’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Mapping Platform are eligible for the prizes.

Who can apply

R2WS is open to Portugal-based, technology-focused startups from any vertical. To be eligible, your startup should, at a minimum:

Be launched and live, with its own working website.
Be a Portugal-based legal entity with a valid Portuguese VAT (NIPC) number.
Have its own software product or connected hardware, and a developed brand with a vector logo.
Be recognised as a startup or scaleup under Law No. 21/2023, or, if incubated in a certified RNI incubator, have started the recognition process.
Have less than ten years of activity and not be controlled by a large company.

Consultancies, agencies, and public companies are not eligible, and startups that have already bought ALPHA or BETA access for Web Summit 2026 cannot apply. The full criteria are set out in the program’s Terms & Conditions.

Bring your questions to the AMA

Want to know more before applying? Join our Ask Me Anything session on 10 September at 3:00 PM (Lisbon time). We will walk through how the program works, what to expect at Web Summit, and answer your questions live.

Register for the AMA

How to apply

Applying is free and happens through the official form. Applications close on 30 September 2026, or earlier if all spots are filled, so it pays to apply early.