Build Up Labs
Build Up Labs is a Lisbon-based venture studio and startup incubator (founded 2014) that uses an AI-native methodology to internally build and spin off startups while supporting external founders through subscription advisory, a 120+ mentor network, and Startup Visa certification via IAPMEI. It serves 300+ early-stage founders across 24 nationalities and monetizes via monthly program fees without taking equity.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLisbon, Portugal
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Build Up Labs does
Build Up Labs is a Lisbon-based venture studio and startup incubator operating since 2014 under the legal entity Associação Studios PT – ASPT, a private non-profit association registered in Portugal. The company runs a dual model: a Venture Studio that internally generates and validates AI-native business ideas, builds MVPs, and spins off independent companies (with five reported exits including Tap My Back's 2023 acquisition by a Texas-based buyer and 'NVY Life's exit to L'Oréal); and a Startup Incubator that supports external founders through subscription-based advisory, mentorship, and network access. Build Up Labs explicitly does not take equity in incubated startups, monetizing instead through monthly program fees (e.g., a €75/month Community Program with a 3-month minimum) and personalized support tiers, while facilitating — but not funding — portfolio fundraising through its 180+ investor network.
The company's core technology is an applied, AI-assisted methodology rather than proprietary model development. It produces a suite of six free web-based Startup Tools (Equity Split Calculator, Fundraising Simulator, SaaS Funnel Simulator, Idea Validation Framework, AI Marketing Assistant "Cory", Founder Opportunities Database) that serve as top-of-funnel lead generation, and uses generative AI internally to compress idea-to-MVP cycles. The startup serves early-stage founders (24 nationalities, 300+ supported), expat investors and entrepreneurs through a dedicated Expat Softlanding Program, and corporates/universities seeking innovation pipelines — operating from HOOD co-working space in Lisbon with a remote-first delivery model.
Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The company is bootstrapped with no institutional funding rounds identified and operates with a three-person core team (Rui Gouveia, CEO; João Pereira, CTO; Leon Kappner, Operations Manager), supplemented by a 120+ mentor network and 200+ partner ecosystem including Microsoft for Startups, Google for Startups, Startup Portugal, Portugal Ventures, and PwC. The Startup Visa certification via IAPMEI creates a regulated, scarce on-ramp for non-EU founders that functions as a quasi-regulatory moat around the Portugal-anchored offering.
Build Up Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Build Up Labs
- Legal name
- Associação Studios PT – ASPT
- Website
- https://builduplabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Build Up Labs is a Lisbon-based venture studio and startup incubator (founded 2014) that uses an AI-native methodology to internally build and spin off startups while supporting external founders through subscription advisory, a 120+ mentor network, and Startup Visa certification via IAPMEI. It serves 300+ early-stage founders across 24 nationalities and monetizes via monthly program fees without taking equity.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Build Up Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Incubator and Venture Studio
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
Keywords
Where Build Up Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisbon
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Build Up Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Incubator Program Fees: Monthly subscription fees for personalized advisory, mentorship, and access to network and resources. Community program provides flexible access at lower price point.
- Venture Studio: Internal innovation engine that creates, builds, and scales ventures from scratch, spinning off independent companies or finding acquirers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Personalized Support Program with hands-on advisory, mentorship, and full network access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Community Program for €75/month with flexible access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Build Up Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Build Up Labs operates as a dual-model organization: a Venture Studio that internally generates, validates, and builds startups using an AI-Native approach (spinning off independent companies or selling them) and a Startup Incubator that supports external founders through personalized advisory, mentorship from 80+ experts, access to 180+ investors, co-working space, and certified Startup Visa support. The company also distributes a suite of free Startup Tools (equity calculator, fundraising simulator, SaaS funnel simulator, idea validation framework, AI marketing assistant, founder opportunities database) and an Expat Softlanding Program for international entrepreneurs.
Product overview
Build Up Labs operates a dual-model offering: a Venture Studio that internally generates and validates AI-powered startup ideas, builds MVPs, and spins off companies; and a Startup Incubator that supports external founders through personalized advisory, mentorship, investor access, and co-working. The company also provides a suite of six free Startup Tools at startuptools.builduplabs.com — the Cofounder Equity Calculator, Fundraising Simulator, SaaS Funnel Simulator, Idea Validation Framework, AI Marketing Assistant (Cory/AskCory.ai), and Founder Opportunities Database — which serve both incubator participants and the wider founder community. An Expat Softlanding Program extends the incubator's services to non-EU founders seeking Portugal ecosystem access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ask Cory: AI marketing co-founder tool that generates tailored marketing strategies and 12-week tactical execution plans for early-stage startups.
- Startup Tools
- Build Up Labs Venture Studio
- Build Up Labs Incubator
Products and services
- Venture Studio An internal innovation engine that uses AI tools to identify market opportunities, build MVPs in days or weeks, launch ventures with go-to-market strategies, and either spin them off as independent entities or find acquirers. Operates a four-stage model: idea validation, build, launch, and scale or exit.
- Startup Incubator A Lisbon-based startup incubator with a remote-friendly model that supports founders at every stage through personalized advisory programs, community membership, mentorship from 80+ experts, investor network access (180+ investors), co-working space, and Startup Visa certification through IAPMEI.
- Expat Softlanding Program A softlanding program for expat investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals navigating Portugal's startup ecosystem. Includes ecosystem mapping, warm introductions to key individuals, community recommendations, local business insights, access to certified startups, and tax benefit guidance (IFICI/NHR 2.0).
- AI Marketing Assistant (Cory / AskCory.ai) An AI marketing co-founder that onboards startups through chat, generates tailored marketing strategy and 12-week tactical execution plans, and produces draft content including blog posts, emails, ad copy, and social posts. Targets early-stage founders without a dedicated marketing team. Available with free tier and paid plans.
- Cofounder Equity Calculator Free interactive web tool for calculating fair co-founder equity distribution. Part of the Startup Tools suite.
- Fundraising Simulator Free interactive web tool for simulating cap table impact of funding rounds. Part of the Startup Tools suite.
- SaaS Funnel Simulator Free interactive web tool for analyzing B2B SaaS unit economics and conversion rates, calculating CAC, LTV, and LTV:CAC ratios against industry benchmarks. Part of the Startup Tools suite.
- Idea Validation Framework Free interactive framework for testing whether real customers want a product before building. Guides users through specifying ICP, defining value propositions, crafting elevator pitches, and designing experiments to validate assumptions. Can crawl public landing pages to extract text content and pre-fill ICP candidates.
- Founder Opportunities Database Curated database of open programs, grants, accelerators, pilots, events, perks, and visibility channels for startup founders. Includes 45+ opportunities filtered by type, sector, location, and deadline.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5 successful exits including Tap My Back acquisition by Texas-based company in 2023
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Build Up Labs
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Build Up Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature2 records
Build Up Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Microsoft for StartupscoreTechnology partnership providing startups access to Microsoft cloud services, development tools, and startup ecosystem benefits
- Google for StartupscoreTechnology partnership offering startups access to Google cloud credits, tools, and startup programs
- Startup PortugalflagshipOfficial recognition and certification as startup incubator; access to national startup ecosystem programs and visibility
- NOVA LegalminorLegal services partner providing legal support for startups
- BoardiominorAdvisory and board member services for startups
- VogalminorBranding services partner for startups
- AGPCminorLegal services partner specializing in investment structures
- LexidyminorLegal services partner for startups
- PwCcoreProfessional services firm providing accounting, tax, and consulting support
- 351 CommunityminorPortuguese startup ecosystem community partner
- HOOD Co-workingcoreCo-working space partner providing physical office facilities for startups in Lisbon; Build Up Labs operates from HOOD location
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Build Up Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Antler: Global venture studio and early-stage investor running cohort-based residencies across multiple continents. Directly comparable to Build Up Labs' dual studio + incubator model and similar target customer of pre-seed founders.
- Beta-i: Lisbon-based startup accelerator and innovation hub running accelerator programs and corporate innovation projects. Most direct geographic peer to Build Up Labs within Portugal's startup ecosystem.
- Founders Factory: Global venture studio and accelerator that builds and backs startups alongside corporate partners. Closely comparable venture studio model with structured ideation, build, and scale stages similar to Build Up Labs.
- Idealab: Pioneer US-based venture studio that creates and operates internet startups from idea to exit. Comparable as a long-running venture studio applying a repeatable process for spinning off companies, similar to Build Up Labs' Studio model.
- Startup Wise Guys: European B2B-focused accelerator running cohort-based programs with equity investment. Comparable as an early-stage founder accelerator operating across Europe, overlapping with Build Up Labs' target founder profile.
- Seedcamp: European seed fund combining early investment with a 'First Round' program offering mentorship and network access. Comparable as a European early-stage founder support platform with similar target customers.
- Bynd Venture Labs: Portuguese venture builder that creates and invests in early-stage startups from ideation through launch. Closely comparable as a Portuguese venture studio using structured processes to build companies, in the same geographic ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Techstars: One of the world's largest accelerator operators with equity-taking cohort programs. Comparable as a global accelerator/incubator serving early-stage founders, though larger and equity-based vs Build Up Labs' subscription model.
- Y Combinator: The benchmark startup accelerator globally, serving thousands of early-stage founders. Relevant as a global incumbent in the same founder-incubation category, despite a fundamentally different equity-based funding model.
- Station F: Paris-based startup campus hosting dozens of accelerator and incubator programs. Comparable as a hub for early-stage founders with on-site co-working, mentorship, and partner programs similar to Build Up Labs' HOOD-based offering.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Build Up Labs social profiles
Digital presenceBuild Up Labs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Build Up Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Build Up Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Build Up Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Build Up Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Build Up Labs
What does Build Up Labs do?
Build Up Labs operates as a dual-model organization: a Venture Studio that internally generates, validates, and builds startups using an AI-Native approach (spinning off independent companies or selling them) and a Startup Incubator that supports external founders through personalized advisory, mentorship from 80+ experts, access to 180+ investors, co-working space, and certified Startup Visa support. The company also distributes a suite of free Startup Tools (equity calculator, fundraising simulator, SaaS funnel simulator, idea validation framework, AI marketing assistant, founder opportunities database) and an Expat Softlanding Program for international entrepreneurs.
Is Build Up Labs a public or private company?
Build Up Labs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Build Up Labs founded?
Build Up Labs was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Build Up Labs based?
Build Up Labs is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Build Up Labs make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Incubator Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are venture Studio.
Who are Build Up Labs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Antler, Beta-i, Founders Factory, Idealab, Startup Wise Guys, Seedcamp and Bynd Venture Labs. Broad incumbents are Techstars, Y Combinator and Station F.
Does Build Up Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Build Up Labs.
What industry is Build Up Labs in?
Build Up Labs's product category is Startup Incubator and Venture Studio. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAH, Venture Studios / Company Builders, with a secondary code of EDAMAHAA, Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics. Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 8742.