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Characterization of the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in the Region

“Reversing the scale-up gap will be effective if all stakeholders are invited to participate and engage in a dedicated monitoring and open self-assessment process.”

from the ScaleUp Porto Manifesto

Understanding the entrepreneurship ecosystem is essential to be able to monitor its evolution and act accordingly. The evolution towards a data-based culture ensures a greater understanding of the needs and the impact of the decisions taken.

After a collaborative effort to collect and evaluate information, we are sharing the results this study that aimed at characterizing the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region of Porto. Besides an analytical and objective assessment, this study also sought to assess the perception of the stakeholders such as incubators, investors, technology transfer entities, researchers, startups, and others.

ScaleUp Porto hereby presents the result of this process in a perspective of self-assessment and creation of a basis for continuous monitoring of the ecosystem. Also, this work aims at becoming a tool for the stakeholders that collaborate in the development of the innovation ecosystem in the city.

Main Conclusions

350+ Startups

A mapping of the ecosystem presents more than 350 startups in the region. 168 were deeply studied in this work.

+55% Startups in ICT

The startup sample that was studied, operates mainly in the ICT sector.

~80% B2B

Their main Business Model is B2B.

7018 Jobs created

Number of jobs created between 2015 and 2018. The job creation rate was above the national average.

In the same period, the total turnover tended to grow. ICT gave the most significant contribution.

€126M Turnover

The total turnover in 2018 was approximately 126 million euros and the average turnover had an annual growth of 13% per startup.

28% Growth rate

Annual growth rate of turnover, mainly due to the increase in the number of companies.

+26% Exports

Total annual growth in the value of exports, representing 60-70% of turnover in this period.

Early-stage is the phase that attracts the largest number of investments.

24% Domestic investment

Domestic investment has been increasing, representing 24% of the investments in 2019.

27% Public investment

Public investment corresponds to an average of 27% of the investments in this period.
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Activities developed

#1 Mapping

Data gathering and publication of an ecosystem map.

#2 perception Analysis

Workshops and interviews with communities, incubators, academia, researchers, investors, corporates and startups.

#3 Analytical Study

Questionnaires, data collection and analysis.

#4 Benchmarking

Benchmarking with other ecosystems, cities and regions.

More content

  • Ecosystem Mapping
    • Startups Profile
    • Founders Profile
    • Employees and Salaries
    • Sales and Internationalization
    • Investment
    • Exits
    • General Characterization of Incubators and Accelerators
  • Benchmarking
    • Dynamics of the Territory
    • Business Friendliness
    • Innovation and Maturity of the Ecosystem
    • Infrastructures and Mobility
    • Economic Potential
    • Technological Infrastructure and Connectivity
    • Society and Lifestyle
  • The challenges in the ecosystem by the stakeholders

Full Version [PT]

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