The 2025 edition of the “Ranking of Entrepreneurial Universities in Portugal” awarded the University of Lisbon (ULisboa) first place in the table of higher education institutions most active in the development of new businesses. The 2025 ranking was announced this Tuesday by Startup Portugal at a ceremony held during the Web Summit innovation event in Lisbon.
“This recognition reflects ULisboa's commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and the transfer of knowledge to society. It is a result that belongs to our entire academic community,” emphasizes Francisco Correia dos Santos, Vice-Rector of ULisboa, quoted on the University's institutional website.
The ranking is based on “entrepreneurship metrics and the innovation capacity of Higher Education Institutions,” informs the University, while also mentioning the results obtained in the recent “ULisboa Startup Impact Report 2025”. According to this most recent study, more than a thousand startups have already been launched by students and alumni of ULisboa. Today, these companies are worth a total of €24 billion and are present in 40 countries. Also noteworthy in terms of business figures is the €850 million in venture capital raised by these companies during 2024.
The ULisboa website also reveals other advantages that help illustrate the commitment to entrepreneurship. In addition to Tec Labs, the Técnico Innovation Center, and the Centre for Technology Transfer and Knowledge Valorization, ULisboa also has acceleration programs, open innovation initiatives, and Interdisciplinary Networks aimed at facilitating entry into the business world. It was also from ULisboa that the mentors and leaders of four of the six companies that achieved national unicorn status (Talkdesk, Tekever, Outsystems, and Anchorage Digital) emerged, having valuations above US$1 billion (€863 million). ULisboa also highlights the potential of startups such as Cambrian, Unbabel, Distalmotion, and Amboss, as well as Bhout, Stake, Bloq.it, Indie Campers, and Busup, which also have alumni among their founders.