Startup Portimão, a ‘business incubator’ created to help budding businesses flourish, celebrated its third anniversary on Monday (August 10) with the launch of two guides, in Portuguese and English, to provide support to entrepreneurs interested in investing in Portimão.
The event was attended by Portimão Mayor Isilda Gomes and Secretary of State for Commerce, Services and Consumer Protection, João Torres.
“I hope StartUp Portimão will continue to be a place where opportunities are built for those who want to open their own businesses,” said the mayor.
Meanwhile, the secretary of state praised Portimão Council for promoting an “entrepreneurial ecosystem” and said that we must all “continue believing in the future” despite the struggles we are facing due to the pandemic.
Also attending the event was Vítor Neto, president of regional business association NERA, who highlighted the “very positive work that has been carried out at StartUp Portimão”, which he said has already made an impact on many sectors and areas of the Algarve.
StartUp Portimão is located on the grounds of the local international racetrack and is currently home to 20 startups, most of which operate in the Smart Cities segment.
In a statement to the press, the local council says it hopes the business incubator will “diversify” in future and assist companies from other sectors outside of tourism.
Meantime, StartUp Portimão has joined Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), described as the largest network of entrepreneurship in the world.
Says the council, it is looking to attract more foreign startup companies. In fact, 25% of its entrepreneurs are foreigners, it adds.
