SIM Conference 2026 | Who It’s For and How to Join

On 14 and 15 May, Porto will host SIM Conference 2026, Startup Portugal’s event built to connect startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem players in a more intentional way.

SIM stands for Startups & Investment Matching. That definition matters because it explains what makes the event different. SIM is not just a conference agenda filled with talks. It is a space designed to help the right people meet, with curated content, structured networking formats, and multiple opportunities for follow-up after the event.

For founders, that can mean investor access, visibility, or partnership conversations. If you are an investor, it means more efficient deal flow and access to promising startups. For corporates, it means a more focused way to scout innovation and explore collaboration opportunities. And for the wider ecosystem, it is a chance to be in the room where relevant conversations are already happening.

What is SIM Conference?

SIM Conference is a startup and investment event designed to create meaningful connections between the people building, funding, and supporting innovation.

Organised by Startup Portugal, the conference brings together national and international participants for two days of content, matchmaking, and business-oriented networking in Porto. The goal is simple: make useful conversations easier to happen.

That is why SIM combines stage content with formats that help people move from introduction to real interaction. Depending on the ticket type and profile, participants can access opportunities such as matchmaking through the event app, connecting circles, workshops, meetups, startup showcasing, and other curated moments designed to reduce randomness and increase relevance.

Who is SIM for?

One of the strengths of SIM is that it is built for different profiles, with different goals. The common point is not job title or company size. It is the intention to connect with the startup ecosystem in a way that can lead somewhere.

Startups

SIM is for startups that want to grow their visibility, meet investors, build partnerships, or strengthen their network.

There are two main ways for startups to join:

• Startup Showcase, for teams with an MVP or beyond that want to present their product, increase exposure, and access more structured opportunities to meet investors, media, and partners.
• Startup Simple, for founders who want to attend, learn, meet the right people, and activate networking without showcasing.

This makes SIM relevant both for startups that are actively fundraising and for founders who are earlier in their journey, exploring partnerships, or simply trying to build the right network before they need it.

Investors

SIM is also built for investors looking for efficient access to startup deal flow and stronger connections with founders, co-investors, and ecosystem players.

Rather than relying only on chance encounters, SIM creates structured opportunities for investors to discover startups, join curated conversations, and make better use of their time on site. For international funds, angels, scouts, and Portugal-based investors alike, the value lies in access, relevance, and efficiency.

Corporates

For corporates, SIM offers a more focused way to connect with the startup ecosystem.

That can mean scouting startups, exploring partnership opportunities, identifying pilot candidates, or understanding what is gaining traction across the market. Instead of attending as spectators, corporate teams can use SIM to turn event participation into something more actionable.

Ecosystem players, future founders, and curious builders

SIM is not limited to startups, investors, and corporates. It is also for incubators, accelerators, public stakeholders, community builders, students, and people who want to better understand how the startup ecosystem works.

For some, the goal is collaboration. For others, it is inspiration, learning, or access to a network that would otherwise take months to build.

Why SIM matters

There are many events around innovation and entrepreneurship. What SIM aims to do differently is create a context where connections are not left entirely to chance.

The conference is built around a simple idea: if you put the right people in the same place, and give them the right formats to interact, the outcome is more likely to be useful.

That matters for a founder trying to shorten the path to investor conversations. It matters for a corporate team trying to scout relevant startups without wasting time. And it matters for investors looking for better signal, stronger access, and more context around the companies they meet.

It also matters that SIM takes place in Porto, one of the most dynamic entrepreneurial hubs in Portugal and in Southern Europe. Hosting SIM there reinforces the connection between the event and the broader momentum of the Portuguese startup ecosystem.

What to expect once you are there

Across the two days, attendees can expect a combination of talks, workshops, networking moments, matchmaking opportunities, and curated formats that help conversations move beyond first contact. Depending on their ticket and profile, participants may also access dedicated areas, side events, startup showcasing opportunities, or business-oriented networking formats through the app and on-site activations.

The result is an event that is not only about attending, but about participating with purpose.

SIM 2026 at a glance

• What: SIM Conference 2026, Startup Portugal’s Startups & Investment Matching event
• When: 14-15 May 2026
• Where: Porto
• Who it is for: Startups, investors, corporates, incubators, ecosystem players, students, and future founders
• Main value: Meaningful connections through curated content and formats

Ready to join?

If you want to understand where the startup ecosystem is moving, meet the people building it, or create the kind of conversations that can lead to business, collaboration, or investment, SIM Conference 2026 is the place to do it.

Explore the event and choose the path that fits your profile at simconf.com.