Porto’s Alfândega venue became the European hub for innovation and entrepreneurship during the SIM Conference (Startups & Investment Matching). Amidst a massive event, with over 4,000 participants, 450 startups, 270 investors and 40 partners, INOVAGAIA and the Municipality of Gaia were not just another name on the list. They made a disruptive, energetic and impossible-to-ignore impression.
INOVAGAIA returned to Lisbon for four intense days at Web Summit 2025. Four days of total immersion in innovation, continuous learning, gathering inspiration and fostering the connections that drive the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’ve now returned to Gaia with our bags full of new insights, ideas and contacts that reinforce the path we’ve been building over the last few years. The knowledge we’ve gained and the connections we’ve made are the energy that drives us to continue empowering, accelerating and flying ever higher. This year marked a special moment: for the first time, INOVAGAIA was present with its own stand. And what a stand! The powerful image of the eye – a symbol of vision, focus and the future – stood out and captured the attention of hundreds of visitors. Truly striking!
Have you ever felt like your startup has real potential, but just needs that final push to take off? Well, that push now has a date and a place: June 1st and 2nd, at INOVAGAIA.
Over the next nine weeks, a select group of start-ups will turn their potential into scalability, with a focus on global growth and innovation.
INOVAGAIA has just written a new chapter in its support for national entrepreneurship with the conclusion of the first edition of Scale Up With Us. Over the course of nine intensive weeks, this pioneering acceleration programme has prepared a select group of start-ups for the challenges of global scaling.
The workshop demonstrated how mental health and innovation go hand in hand, creating balanced, productive and creative working environments.