Fábrica de Startups

What Fábrica de Startups does

Fábrica de Startups is a private, founder-led innovation accelerator and ecosystem operator headquartered in Lisbon (operating entity FabStart-Fábrica de Startups S.A., founded 2012) with a Brazilian subsidiary headquartered in Gramado since March 2023. The company's core offering is a portfolio of services that connect early- and growth-stage startups, large corporations, government entities, and investors through four service lines: (i) training, acceleration and incubation programs for entrepreneurs; (ii) customized corporate innovation and open-innovation programs that match internal corporate challenges to startup solutions; (iii) corporate venture-building and open-innovation challenge management; and (iv) international expansion support for startups, including strategy, legal, logistics, and investor access. The company has codified its approach into proprietary methodologies — FastIdea, FastStart, and FastGrowth — and into flagship programs: Tourism Explorers (developed with Turismo de Portugal since 2017, with 250+ solutions implemented), Startup Smart Stage (a curated stage at Smart City Expo Curitiba launched in March 2025), and Starting.pt (a European market-validation accelerator). Management reports that more than 4,000 startups have been supported and more than 50 large corporate partners engaged across markets including Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Angola, and Macau.

The underlying 'technology' is the proprietary methodology stack plus a curated partner and event platform rather than a single software product; programs are delivered through hybrid workshops, mentorship cohorts, live events, and bespoke corporate engagements, and there is no public SaaS, app, or API surface. The brand, methodology names, and selected domains are registered intellectual property in Portugal, and the company has filed no patents on the technology side. GTM is multi-modal: a community-led and event-driven motion that funnels startups from the website and partner network into programs, paired with a sales-led/enterprise-field motion to sell corporate innovation engagements and government programs (such as Tourism Explorers) to large clients.

The revenue model is fee-based and project-based across four streams: acceleration program fees (treated as recurring subscriptions), corporate innovation program fees (professional services), international expansion services (professional services), and event/platform services (professional services). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based, customized per client. Currently operating at 11-50 employees with no disclosed institutional funding and no disclosed revenue figure.

Name

Fábrica de Startups

Legal name

FabStart-Fábrica de Startups S.A.

Website

https://fabricadestartups.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fábrica de Startups is a Lisbon-headquartered, private innovation accelerator and ecosystem operator that runs proprietary training, acceleration, corporate open-innovation, and international-expansion programs to connect startups, large corporations, governments, and investors across Portuguese-speaking markets in Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Acceleration and Innovation Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration programs
• Corporate innovation consulting
• Open innovation services
• Innovation ecosystem curation
• International expansion support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Acceleration Program Fees: Revenue from startup acceleration programs providing mentorship, networking, and strategic support for transforming startups into scalable businesses.
2. Corporate Innovation Programs: Fees from customized corporate innovation programs that help large companies connect internal challenges to startup solutions through open innovation.
3. International Expansion Services: Fees for assisting startups with market expansion including strategic, legal, logistical support and investor access.
4. Event and Platform Services: Revenue from organizing and curating innovation events like Startup Smart Stage, connecting startups with investors and corporate partners.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fábrica de Startups is an innovation ecosystem operator and acceleration platform that runs proprietary programs and service lines: (1) Training, Acceleration & Incubation for entrepreneurs and startups; (2) Corporate Innovation Programs that link large company internal challenges to startup solutions; (3) Open Innovation & Corporate Venture, which sources solutions globally and manages portfolio development; and (4) International Expansion support for startups entering new markets. These are anchored by proprietary methodologies (FastIdea, FastStart, FastGrowth) and branded programs such as Startup Smart Stage (curated smart city stage at Smart City Expo Curitiba 2025) and Tourism Explorers (a national tourism innovation program with Turismo de Portugal, 250+ solutions implemented since 2017).

Product overview

Fábrica de Startups operates as an innovation ecosystem and acceleration platform — not a single software product, but a portfolio of proprietary programs and corporate innovation services. The core service suite includes: (1) Formação, Aceleração & Incubação — training and mentorship programs for entrepreneurs; (2) Programas Corporativos de Inovação — tailored corporate innovation programs linking internal company challenges to startup solutions; (3) Inovação Aberta & Corporate Venture — open innovation calls that source solutions globally and manage portfolio development; and (4) Expansão Internacional — market-entry support for startups expanding abroad. Complementing these are proprietary programs: Startup Smart Stage (a curated smart city innovation stage at Smart City Expo Curitiba) and Tourism Explorers (a national tourism innovation program developed with Turismo de Portugal, now expanding to Brazil). Together these programs have accelerated over 4,000 startups and facilitated connections with over 50 large corporate partners across multiple markets including Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Angola, and Macau.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tourism Explorers: The largest innovation program for the tourism sector in Portugal, developed in partnership with Turismo de Portugal. Since 2017, it has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs validate and structure ideas to transform tourism, with over 250 solutions implemented.
• Startup Smart Stage
• Starting.pt
• Smart Verticals

Products and services

• Programas de Formação, Aceleração & Incubação Training, acceleration, and incubation programs providing mentorship, networking, and strategic support for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups, helping them transform ideas into scalable and sustainable businesses.
• Programas Corporativos de Inovação Customized corporate innovation programs that connect large companies' internal challenges to solutions developed by startups, designed for enterprise buyers seeking open innovation partnerships.
• Inovação Aberta & Corporate Venture Open innovation and corporate venture programs that summon startups globally to deliver innovative solutions and manage the portfolio development process for products, services, and experiences on behalf of large organizations.
• Expansão Internacional International expansion support for startups entering new markets, including strategic guidance, legal and logistical assistance, and access to investors across the company's multi-country footprint.
• Startup Smart Stage Proprietary curated stage at Smart City Expo Curitiba where large companies and government entities launch real challenges for startups to solve, with coverage across Smart Governance, Smart Economy, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment, Smart Living and People, and Smart Infrastructure verticals.
• Tourism Explorers National innovation program developed in partnership with Turismo de Portugal to stimulate new solutions and innovative businesses in the tourism sector; three phases include Ideation workshops, Acceleration with mentorship, and Pilot/MVP/POC/Scale implementation. Since 2017 in Portugal with 250+ solutions implemented, now expanding to Brazil.
• Starting.pt Acceleration program focused on helping entrepreneurs validate and scale their businesses in the European market, currently in its 3rd edition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tourism contribution to Portugal's GDP increased from 6.3% to over 20%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• iCitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2025Partnership for launching and curating the Startup Smart Stage at Smart City Expo Curitiba 2025, one of the main smart city events in Latin America. The partnership aims to drive smart city development through startup innovation.
• VentiurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuration partner for Startup Smart Stage, contributing expertise in startup selection and ecosystem development for the smart city innovation platform.
• Catarina CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuration partner for Startup Smart Stage, providing investment expertise and connections for the startup showcase platform.
• BRDE (Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport partner at Startup Smart Stage that brought 15 investors interested in smart city solutions, facilitating connections between startups and potential investors.
• Liquid Innovation Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean strategic partner connecting the Brazilian smart city ecosystem with the European innovation ecosystem, with co-founder Egon Barbosa also serving as CEO.
• Unicorn Factory LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean strategic partner from Portugal strengthening the bridge between European and Brazilian innovation ecosystems for smart city solutions.
• Abstrato TecnologiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean technology partner contributing to the Startup Smart Stage ecosystem and connections between Europe and Brazil.
• Turismo de PortugalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing national partnership with Portugal's tourism authority for the Tourism Explorers program, contributing to raising tourism from 6.3% to over 20% of Portugal's GDP since 2017 with 250+ solutions implemented.
• Starting.ptcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational acceleration program focused on helping entrepreneurs validate their business in the European market, now in its 3rd edition.
• Gramado ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in Brazil leading expansion to major national hubs and neighboring countries in South America.
• Beyond Expo (Macau)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatform for connecting startups with international investors at the Beyond Expo event in Macau, focusing on Healthcare, Sustainability, and ConsumerTech startups.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Unicorn Factory Lisboa: Lisbon-based public-private initiative supporting scaleups and connecting them to investors, corporates, and government. Directly comparable as a stated strategic partner and as a peer institution running ecosystem programs for startups and corporates in Portugal.
• Startup Wise Guys: European-Baltic accelerator running vertical programs (fintech, sustainability, govtech) with corporate partners and mentor networks. Comparable as a European-rooted accelerator with sector-specialized programs and corporate-driven deal flow.
• Gramado Valley: Brazilian innovation hub in Rio Grande do Sul supporting startups and connecting them to corporates and investors. Directly comparable as a stated regional partner and as a peer ecosystem-builder serving the same Brazilian geography.
• Rockstart: European accelerator running vertical-specific programs (energy, agri-food, health) with corporate partners and follow-on funding. Comparable in accelerator-plus-corporate-innovation model and in running domain-specialized programs in Europe.
• Beta-i: Lisbon-based non-profit innovation hub running startup acceleration, corporate innovation programs, and large-scale events (including Web Summit). Closely comparable as a Portugal-headquartered ecosystem player offering acceleration, corporate open innovation, and event-driven deal flow.
• Socialab: Latin American innovation platform running open innovation challenges and acceleration programs with corporate and government partners. Comparable in operating open innovation calls, corporate venture building, and cross-border LatAm programs.

Broad incumbents

• Wayra (Telefónica Open Innovation): Telefónica's global corporate venture and accelerator arm operating hubs across Europe and Latin America. Directly comparable as a multi-region corporate accelerator connecting startups to large enterprises and government entities — though at much greater scale and with a corporate parent.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running sector- and geography-specific programs with mentor-driven methodology. Comparable in accelerator methodology and corporate partner model, though Techstars operates at vastly larger global scale.

Emerging players

• INSEAD Entrepreneurship and Innovation programs: INSEAD runs entrepreneurship and innovation programs (including the INSEAD-Sorbonne Université Behavioural Lab and startup support initiatives). Comparable as an institutional provider of entrepreneurship education and acceleration, though more academic in orientation than FabStart's applied ecosystem model.

Regional players

• Startup Braga: Portuguese accelerator/innovation hub focused on supporting startups and connecting them to corporates and investors. Comparable as a domestic peer operating acceleration, corporate innovation, and ecosystem-building services within Portugal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fabrica-de-startups
• Xx.com/FabricaStartups

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fábrica de Startups