Tec Labs participated in the Scale Up Now Programme on January 19 and 20, an internationalization-focused initiative promoted by Startup Portugal in partnership with Plug and Play.
Scale Up Now was designed to support the internationalization of the Portuguese innovation ecosystem, targeting incubators, accelerators, investors, and companies. Its main goal was to equip teams with new tools and methodologies to support startup internationalization, while fostering strong connections with U.S. investors, incubators, and innovation hubs.
Throughout the programme, participants engaged in strategic sessions focused on preparing startups and scaleups to expand into the U.S. market. Discussions addressed key aspects such as ecosystem dynamics between Europe and the United States, the roles of different support actors in international scaling, access to funding, fundraising trends, and the main differences between the European and U.S. markets.
Credits: Startup Portugal
A strong emphasis was placed on the U.S. business mindset, highlighting the importance of direct and concise communication, fast decision-making, and the ability to capture investors’ attention in the very first minutes. Participants were encouraged to adopt a pragmatic approach to growth, where being first is often more valuable than being perfect, and where resilience and persistence are essential traits for long-term success.
Credits: Startup Portugal
Another key takeaway was the importance of having a solid track record in the home market before pursuing international expansion. The programme reinforced the idea that startups are expected to demonstrate concrete evidence of traction, such as sales, customer validation, or market interest, as a foundation for attracting attention and credibility abroad.
Credits: Startup Portugal
Networking also emerged as a central pillar of the U.S. ecosystem, consistently highlighted as a top priority for founders and ecosystem players alike. Building and maintaining strong relationships was presented as a critical factor for accessing opportunities, partnerships, and investment.
Credits: Startup Portugal
Beyond internationalization itself, the programme also provided a valuable opportunity to connect with other Portuguese ecosystem players, fostering new relationships and opening channels for future collaboration between organizations supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.
Credits: Startup Portugal
Tec Labs’ participation in Scale Up Now reflects its commitment to strengthening its international perspective and continuously enhancing the support it provides to startups, particularly in areas related to global scaling, investor readiness, and access to international networks. At the same time, it reinforces Tec Labs’ active role within the Portuguese innovation ecosystem and its alignment with national efforts to position Portugal as a globally connected hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
As highlighted during the programme:
“The future of innovation won’t be won by isolated hubs – but by ecosystems that know how to connect. Europe and the U.S. are not competitors. They are co-builders of the next global innovation wave.”
Tec Labs will continue to engage in initiatives that promote international collaboration, ecosystem connectivity, and excellence in startup support, contributing to the development of a more globally integrated innovation ecosystem.
