Portugal Acceleration Program by Ocean Capital is a 6-month investment acceleration initiative designed exclusively for EIC-funded startups seeking to access Portugal’s growing R&D venture capital ecosystem. The program connects innovative European companies with SIFIDE funds, a €3.1 billion investment vehicle supported by the Portuguese government that enables corporations to invest in R&D-driven ventures while benefiting from tax incentives. The program is structured into three phases: Investor Readiness and Business Development (10 weeks) – Ocean Capital’s team works closely with each startup to refine their investment narrative, business plan, R&D roadmap, and financial projections. Participants also receive business development support to secure commercial partnerships and revenue opportunities in Portugal, Spain and Brazil. Investor Introductions (2 weeks) – Participating startups are matched with pre-briefed Portuguese venture capital funds. Ocean Capital arranges 1:1 in-person meetings in Lisbon with investors who have been following each company’s progress during the program. Investment Execution (12 weeks) – Ocean Capital supports the selected companies in setting up a Portuguese subsidiary, obtaining ANI certification, structuring investment terms, and closing financing rounds, including potential Banco de Fomento matching investments at a 2x ratio. The program fee is €60,000 per company plus a success fee (4% for EIC companies compared to our standard 5%). Each cohort includes 20 startups, with two editions per year, enabling Europe’s top innovators to establish operations, secure funding, and scale within Portugal’s R&D ecosystem.
The Portugal Acceleration Program is offered on a fee-based model. The total cost per participating company is €60,000 for the full 6-month program, covering investor readiness, investor introductions, business development services and investment execution support. In addition, a success fee is applied only upon successful fundraising from Portuguese investors introduced through the program. For EIC beneficiaries, the success fee is 4% of the funds raised (discounted from the standard 5%). No equity is requested upfront, and all fees are directly tied to measurable fundraising and market entry outcomes.
The Portugal Acceleration Program is a 6-month initiative launched twice per year. Each edition welcomes up to 20 EIC-backed startups. The next cohort is scheduled to start in January/February, with exact dates confirmed upon participant selection. Timelines for each phase (Investor Readiness, Investor Introductions, and Investment Execution) may be adjusted slightly to align with investor availability and company readiness.
Acceleration, Incubation & Venture building
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