Startup Portugal opens office in Porto
Startup Portugal, a non-profit public benefit organization that aims to promote Portuguese entrepreneurship, opened its office in Porto this Wednesday. The ceremony was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the organization and Porto City Council.
Among the
various commitments set out in the memorandum is the possibility of exemption
from the municipal surcharge for companies recognized as startups and scaleups
based in the Municipality of Porto. Other complementary tax benefits for
startups and scaleups are also planned.
Following the signing of the memorandum, Porto becomes the seventh Portuguese municipality to commit to applying a municipal tax exemption to companies recognized by Startup Portugal.
The office
and the memorandum are the result of the various initiatives that Startup
Portugal has been promoting in Porto for the community in the northern region.
Recent examples of these initiatives include Hangouts, the organization's
monthly meetings with the entrepreneurial community that take place in both
Lisbon and Porto, and the first edition of the SIM Conference, held in May 2024.
"This
step represents not only the physical expansion of Startup Portugal to Porto,
but also a renewed commitment to decentralizing and strengthening the
entrepreneurial community in a region with a strong industrial and business
tradition, opening doors to strengthen the connection between startups and
these companies," said Startup Portugal's executive director, António Dias
Martins.
The
session, which focused on the ecosystem in the north of the country, was also
attended by Fernando Fraga, Head of Growth & Acceleration at Startup
Portugal and head of the Porto office.
