Portugal Ventures Leiria Crescimento Call to invest in Innovative Projects

Deadline: 8 September 2025

Call Leiria Crescimento intends to invest in innovative projects, with a high potential for growth and appreciation, preferably in strategic areas and sectors for the geographic region that makes up the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region (CIMRL), embodied by companies headquartered in that territory or that intend to establish themselves there, with a significant presence and operations.

Aims and Focus Areas

Portugal Ventures, in partnership with the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region, the Business Association of the Leiria Region/Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( Nerlei CCI ), Startup Leiria, the Polytechnic of Leiria and private investors, aims to promote access to venture capital financing for innovative companies and projects, oriented towards export and/or the reduction of external dependence, for progression in value chains and increase in productive potential, for the green transition and digital transformation, with a focus on:
- Business projects for the creation of start-up companies (qualified and creative entrepreneurship).
- Growth, expansion and internationalization projects, as well as strengthening the business capacity of mature SMEs for the development of new products and services.
- Promoting investment by mature companies in innovation and research projects, developing links and synergies between companies, R&D centers and higher education.

Funding Information

Investment between €250,000 and €1.5M

Eligibility Criteria

Companies in the following phases are eligible: seed, startup, later stage venture – series A, B and C,
In the verticals : Digital, Industry, Health Technologies and Tourism, focusing on companies operating in the following areas:
- Green economy and energy efficiency; ICT and Smart mobility; Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Other impact projects.
General conditions of the projects:
- Innovative projects, resulting from original ideas of the Promoters;
- With a multidisciplinary team, led by founder(s ), ensuring management needs;
- Early-stage projects with evidence about the product and market (at least MVP);
- Projects with a clear strategy for protecting and valuing intellectual property, if applicable;
- Significant growth potential in the global market;
- That present assumptions for their economic viability;
- Activities and sectors identified based on the DNSH ( do no significant harm ) principles are excluded.
General conditions of companies:
- Companies established or to be established, with registered offices and/or significant activities with a relevant economic impact, in the CIMRL, capable of being measured;
- Be an SME or a Mid-Cap;
- Not be considered “companies in difficulty” within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014, of June 16. Consolidation transactions are included and restructuring transactions are excluded;
- That they meet the legal conditions necessary to carry out their activity, namely being duly licensed for that purpose;
- That they present organized accounting, a balanced economic and financial situation, and a regularized situation with the Tax Administration, Social Security, and regarding reimbursements, within the scope of financing by European Funds;
- Individuals and legal entities must demonstrate compliance with the legal and regulatory provisions regarding money laundering and terrorist financing.
- Agree to sign the Final Beneficiary’s Declaration of Commitment