Portuguese startups and the legacy that is fulfilled: Infraspeak wins entrepreneurship award from Fábrica de Unicórnios

Portugal continues to assert itself as one of the most vibrant ecosystems in Europe in the field of startups and innovation. Infraspeak's victory in the Unicorn Factory Entrepreneur of the Year award is more than the recognition of a successful company. It is a sign of maturity, continuity and a legacy that began with João Vasconcelos, the former Secretary of State for Industry who boosted the new generation of Portuguese entrepreneurs.
The João Vasconcelos award, awarded at the Entrepreneurship Awards 2025, consecrates the vision and path of Felipe Ávila da Costa, founder of Infraspeak, a startup that develops intelligent software for maintenance and operations management in buildings and facilities. Since its creation, the company has raised 36 million euros in investment and today has more than 1,100 customers spread across 40 countries, with a team of 225 employees in six markets.
The distinction comes at a time when Infraspeak consolidates its status as an international reference. The latest investment round, of €18 million, strengthened the global presence and allowed to accelerate the expansion of the platform. The recognition is also a symbol of how the Portuguese ecosystem has matured: it is no longer just about creating startups, but about making them scale and compete on an equal footing on international stages.
Felipe Ávila da Costa underlined, at the time of the award ceremony, that the success of a startup is inseparable from the environment in which it is born. Unicorn Factory Lisboa, like other national incubators and accelerators, has played a crucial role in creating a fertile space for entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors. This network, supported by talent and collaboration, is what has allowed Portugal to become a true European innovation laboratory.
The award also brings an additional symbolism: the opportunity to present the project on the Web Summit stage. It is there, in front of investors, technology leaders and entrepreneurs from all over the world, that the work done in Portugal gains new visibility. What a few years ago seemed just an effort at national affirmation, is today a solid presence on one of the biggest stages of world technology.
But Infraspeak was not the only one to shine. Other startups and founders have been recognized for their impact and vision. Isabel Carapeta, founder of Simplifyer, received the Rising Female Award, highlighting the essential role of women in technology leadership. The International Personality award was given to Veronica Orvalho, from Didimo, one of the most promising national deeptechs, with 16 million euros already raised in investment.
Lampsy, in turn, was distinguished as the most promising startup, with its innovative solution based on artificial intelligence that helps monitor epileptic seizures through a smart lamp. The company has already raised 230 thousand euros and is preparing to expand the product to Europe.
The social impact award went to Ubbu, which teaches programming and computational thinking to primary school children. The startup is already present in several countries and wants to reach more than 20 by next year. ROOTkey, awarded as a university startup, also represents the talent that is born from universities and transformed into cybersecurity solutions with an international reach.
All this confirms an unavoidable reality: the Portuguese ecosystem is no longer a promise and has become a case study. Startups are gaining size, investors are starting to look with greater confidence and Lisbon, with events such as the Web Summit and Atlantic Convergence, positions itself as a technological center of gravity between Europe, Africa and the Americas.
The creative energy that is felt in these meetings is a reflection of a country that has learned to look to the future with ambition. João Vasconcelos believed that Portugal could compete with the best, as long as it created an environment where talent flourished. Today, this legacy is alive in every award, in every investment, in every startup that grows and takes the country's name further.
The Portuguese innovation ecosystem is no longer a dream. It is a movement on the march, with real results, faces and stories. And if the recent past has taught us anything, it is that Portugal's future will inevitably be technological, collaborative and global.