University of Lisbon Impact Report

A data-driven look at how University of Lisbon alumni are shaping Portugal’s startup ecosystem — mapping founders, sectors, and global impact.

Key findings

• Startups founded by University of Lisbon alumni are worth €24B combined, and the €18B of that based in the city is 75% of Lisbon's startup ecosystem value.
• Startups founded by University of Lisbon alumni took 45% of the €1.8B of VC raised by Lisbon-based startups between 2020 and H1 2025.
• The university has produced more than 170 spinouts, and the 130-plus based in Lisbon account for 75% of all university spinouts in the city.
• More than 550 alumni-founded startups have raised €4B to date, 70% of it in the last five years, and US-based ones raised €1.8B against Portugal's €1.7B.
• Deep tech and life sciences is the largest of the five frontier verticals, with 145+ startups worth €3.5B, ahead of crypto and Web3 at €3.1B.