Lisbon Challenge

The Lisbon Challenge is an international startup acceleration program, inspired by MassChallenge, which will run over the course of 4 months in Lisbon from June 18^th until the end of October, 2013.

The program will admit 75 teams who will have access to more than 200 international mentors and investors to advance their projects and assist them in competing for the grand prize.

The Lisbon Challenge is powered by Beta-i in association with the Lisbon City Council.

Beta-i is a non-profit association, founded in 2010 and dedicated to innovating entrepreneurship in Portugal.

The primary mission of Beta-i is to help startups with global ambitions launch faster and increase their chances for success. 

The program is open to all startups from any sector, anywhere in the world with a focus on certain areas such as, ICT, Energy, Tourism, Creative Industries and Sea Industries.

The acceleration program is specifically designed for startups with a product, service or functioning prototype in the growth stage wanting to internationalize.

All team applications must be submitted in full no later than May 31^st, 2013.

If you only have an idea, we recommend that first you apply to our pre-acceleration program, Beta-start. To get oriented, take a look at our website.

The criteria are as follows:

1. Team
2. Quality of the application
3. Ambition and project scalability

We are looking for hard working, committed and collaborative people, characteristics that should be consistent throughout the application.

The accelerator program will accept startups of any size, but only 1 to 3 members can officially participate in the Challenge. 

In the beginning of August, 10 selected teams will have the opportunity to participate in the MassChallenge in Boston, meet the local startup community and engage with local mentors and investors.

In mid-August the MassChallenge team will travel to Lisbon to share their knowledge with the Lisbon Challenge startups.

Also, the final winners of the Lisbon Challenge (10 teams) will pitch their product, service or prototype at Investor Days in Lisbon, London and São Paulo.

No, we will not take any equity.

The program is based in Lisbon and requires the presence of team members. We understand that you have to work on ongoing projects during your time here, so part of the day you will be able to dedicate to your own projects utilizing the office space we provide for you here in Lisbon.

Activities will take place at our offices in CENTRAL STATION, the new Beta-i space in Cais do Sodré where a new entrepreneurial community is being born.

All activities will be conducted in English.

There are no costs associated with applying for the Lisbon Challenge. If you are accepted, there will be a registration fee of 149€. 

The top 10 best teams (winners) will receive a cash prize with no strings attached.

Plus, all participating teams in the Lisbon Challenge will get plenty of perks from our sponsors.

Yes, we will provide free office space and internet at our prime location in the center of Lisbon. 

No. However, teams will have privileged access to low cost living arrangements negotiated by Beta-i.

We can help with visa procedures if needed.

Yes. Come by our offices if you can, or subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook to learn about upcoming events.