10 Best VC Investors In Portugal: Key Players To Know
Are you a founder looking for financial support or VC investors in Portugal? You are in the right place to solve your problems.
In 2023, there were 150 investment rounds and a 19% increase in Portuguese venture capital investment to €1.1 billion. Companies are supported by more investors, but still most business owners struggle with funding. But VC investors are there to help you. They provide connections, advice, and invest in your company..
However this article provides a list of venture capitals in Portugal as well as the VC businesses .Continue reading to learn how to get venture capital for your business!
Let’s Get Started…
What Is Venture Capital (VC)?
Venture capital (VC) is private equity funding for startups and emerging firms that investors anticipate will grow. Venture capital investment also means the firm invests in the company’s stock rather than lending money. Instead of cash, investors obtain business shares. Late-stage enterprises without loans need investment.
Features of VC
- Higher Risk, Higher Return: Startups are unpredictable. Thus, VC investments are always risky. It offers the chance to make substantial money if the company succeeds.
- Active Involvement: VC investors mentor, guide, and connect their portfolio companies’ businesses.
- Focus on Innovation: VCs like high-growth IT, healthcare, and renewable energy industries.
What are VC Investors in Portugal?
VC investors in Portugal fund new or emerging businesses with high growth potential. They buy organizational capital interests in such enterprises.
Portugal’s venture capitalists (VCs) are essential because they generate new technology, health, and energy ideas. In addition to funding, they often offer business advice and permission to leverage their contacts.These investors choose emerging companies with scalable business ideas that can make money.
However, Indico Capital Partners, Faber Ventures, and Portugal Ventures are some of the ventures in Portugal. These ventures help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses.
Why Portugal Needs More Venture Capitalist
Portugal needs additional VCs to help businesses grow and improve statistically in a competitive innovation market. The reasons are:
- Help young entrepreneurs expand their enterprises.
- The government should fund R&D and support new economy enterprises.
- Increase industry sector production and employment.
- Improve Portuguese startups’ global competitiveness.
- Tell Portugal’s startup and innovation narrative.
- Recruit worldwide investors, partners, and networks.
- Economic growth in challenging markets is essential for businesses.
- Encourage new-growth businesses and startups.
- Promote regional economic growth and balance.
- Introduce expertise and investment to Portugal.
Venture capitalists would propose new ideas faster, the economy would grow, and Portugal would be more favourable to entrepreneurs.
Top 10 VC Investors in Portugal
The venture capital market in Portugal is rapidly developing and several companies are crucial for startup funding and development. These are some of the best VCs in Portugal:
1. Portugal Ventures
- Year Founded: 2012
- Investment Range: €100,000 to €5 million
- Focus Areas: Telecommunication, health, travel and hospitality, manufacturing, and mechanics.
- Notable Investments: Defined.ai, Zaask, Biosurfit.
- Why It’s Good: Portugal Ventures is a government-backed venture capital firm focused on localizing startups while targeting their international expansion. Because of its large operating sectors and sound financial base, it is suitable for firms with an aggressive global strategy.
2. Armilar Venture Partners
- Year Founded: 1999
- Investment Range: €1 to €10 million
- Focus Areas: Deep tech, software, and biopharma.
- Notable Investments: Feedzai, OutSystems, Codacy.
- Why It’s Good: Founded over 20 years ago, Armilar has experience funding different companies, especially technology startups wishing to disrupt industries through funding.
3. Indico Capital Partners
- Year Founded: 2017
- Investment Range: €250,000 to €5 million
- Focus Areas: AI, fintech, SaaS, and marketplace.
- Notable Investments: Unbabel, Anchorage Digital, Sword Health.
- Why It’s Good: This global strategy, emphasizing early-stage investments, enables Indico to unlock additional resources and a network to help such startups compete in challenging domains.
4. Caixa Capital
- Year Founded: 1992
- Investment Range: €1 to €20 million
- Focus Areas: Unfortunately, Australia lacks world-class startup sectors like health and clean technology.
- Notable Investments: Outsystems, DefinedCrowd, and Talkdesk.
- Why It’s Good: It is supported by Caixa Geral de Depósitos, has a large amount of funds and can provide balance and reliability to beginners in promising fields.
5. Shilling VC
- Year Founded: 2010
- Investment Range: €100,000 to €2 million
- Focus Areas: B2B SaaS, consumer electronics, and health technology solutions enterprises.
- Notable Investments: Barkyn, Uniplaces, Kitch.
- Why It’s Good: Shilling also works with innovative technologies and tech start-ups, and its scalable differentiating model focuses on early-stage investments.
6. Faber Ventures
- Year Founded: 2013
- Investment Range: €500,000 to €2 million
- Focus Areas: We are currently working on AI startups, deep tech startups, and climate tech startups.
- Notable Investments: James, Codacy, Unbabel.
- Why It’s Good: It has a more narrow specialization on disruptive industries, where Faber Ventures is interested in IT and AI and sustainability as the global markets’ future trends.
6. Bynd Venture Capital
- Year Founded: 2010 (formerly Busy Angels)
- Investment Range: €250,000 to €1 million
- Focus Areas: SaaS, fintech companies, and marketplaces of new-technology companies.
- Notable Investments: Using the slogans EatTasty, Barkyn, and StudentFinance.
- Why It’s Good: This equity crowdfunding platform’s focus on Spain, Portugal, and early-stage startups makes it suitable for startups looking for a cross-border growth strategy.
8. Bright Pixel Capital
- Year Founded: 2015
- Investment Range: €250,000 to €3 million
- Focus Areas: Security market, retail technology market, and software market.
- Notable Investments: Jscrambler, Sensei, Probely.
- Why It’s Good: Bright Pixel specializes in innovation-focused industries. Its knowledge of unproven markets for retail and digital infrastructure encourages disruptive technology.
9. Mustard Seed MAZE
- Year Founded: 2013
- Investment Range: €200,000 to €1.5 million
- Focus Areas: It will focus on such companies as social entrepreneurs, created to address social and environmental issues.
- Notable Investments: Knok Healthcare; Raize; Impact Hub.
- Why It’s Good: They are mostly tailored for purposeful enterprises, which provides startups with capital and a purpose.
10. Pathena
- Year Founded: 2008
- Investment Range: €500,000 to €5 million
- Focus Areas: IT and digital biomedical solutions.
- Notable Investments: Biotrend, Feedzai, PetaPilot.
- Why It’s Good: For startups in these core areas of IT and health solutions, Pathena has the funding and knowledge of the industry that Pathena can provide.
| VC Investor | Year Founded | Investment Range (€) | Focus Areas | Notable Investments |
| Portugal Ventures | 2012 | 100K–5M | Technology, Life Sciences, and Tourism | Defined.ai, Zaask, Biosurfit |
| Armilar Venture Partners | 1999 | 1M–10M | Deep Tech, Software, Life Sciences | Feedzai, OutSystems, Codacy |
| Indico Capital Partners | 2017 | 250K–5M | AI, Fintech, SaaS, Marketplaces | Unbabel, Anchorage Digital, Sword Health |
| Caixa Capital | 1992 | 1M–20M | IT, Health Tech, Cleantech | Talkdesk, Outsystems, DefinedCrowd |
| Shilling | 2010 | 100K–2M | B2B SaaS, Consumer Tech, Health Tech | Barkyn, Uniplaces, Kitch |
| Faber Ventures | 2013 | 500K–2M | AI, Deep Tech, Climate Tech | James, Codacy, Unbabel |
| Bynd Venture Capital | 2010 | 250K–1M | Tech Startups, SaaS, Fintech | EatTasty, Barkyn, StudentFinance |
| Bright Pixel Capital | 2015 | 250K–3M | Cybersecurity, Retail Tech, Software | Jscrambler, Sensei, Probely |
| Mustard Seed MAZE | 2013 | 200K–1.5M | Social & Environmental Impact | Knok Healthcare, Raize, Impact Hub |
| Pathena | 2008 | 500K–5M | IT, Digital Biomedical Solutions | Biotrend, Feedzai, PetaPilot |
What is the role of VC Investors in Portugal?
Venture capitalists are crucial to Portuguese entrepreneurs since they help develop new concepts. Here are their most significant actions:
- Fund businesses to expand and generate new ideas.
- Contact innovative companies and promote their business and technology practices.
- A wise business consultant mentors entrepreneurs and gives the best advice.
- Facilitate partner, client, and funder connections.
- Promoting the economy through employment and innovation.
- Help people sell their companies through IPOs or acquiring businesses.
VC funders help Portugal become a better place for innovative company ideas.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Venture Capital Investment in Portugal:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Funds growth and innovation heavily. | Control and decision-making are lost. |
| Mentors and advises entrepreneurs. | Pushes for rapid growth and high returns. |
| Connects partners, clients, and investors. | Limits founders’ vision-based strategy. |
| Enhances emerging industry R&D. | Short-term exits hurt long-term goals. |
| Increases economic growth and jobs. | Invests in high-growth industries only. |
| It helps startups compete globally. | Multi-funding reduces ownership. |
| Shares financial risks with entrepreneurs. | Depends on future investments. |
Conclusion
In Portugal, venture capital is a busy and even growing field. Many businesses always look for new ways to spend money in any field. It is helpful because it gives business owners valuable tools to help their companies. Investors in venture capital firms do more than just give money to new businesses. They also help new ideas grow and protect Portuguese startups from competitors worldwide.
But as more work is done to make Portugal a destination for startup investors, these investors will become even more critical. They provide core funds essential to the country’s overall economic growth. However, if you want to explore more about business ideas and helpful tips, check out our business ideas page.
FAQs About Best VC Investors in Portugal
What is venture capital?
Venture capital is raised from investors to finance high-growth potential businesses, mainly new or young, growing companies.
What role do VC investors play for startups?
They are a significant source of capital that early-stage companies require for their development, and they provide support regarding direction and connections.
Where can I get a Portuguese VC investor?
It is advisable to research existing social networks for Portuguese startups on the Internet or directly contact the VCs in Portugal.
Which industries have Portuguese VC investors?
They usually pertain to industries such as technology, health, renewable energy, and customer goods and services.
How much do VCs usually invest in Portugal?
The worth of the investment stake varies but ranges from €50K to €10M, depending on the stage and sector of the startup company.
