DNA Cascais: price, who can join and alternatives
DNA Cascais is the Cascais municipal agency that supports entrepreneurs, with incubation at Hub Cascais in Alcabideche and networking meetings for local business owners. Each year it runs the Concurso de Ideias e Negócios de Cascais, now in its 19th edition. Most pages are in Portuguese.
DNA Cascais at a glance
| What | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and early-stage companies | dnacascais.pt |
| Mission | Supports entrepreneurs and works with strategic partners | dnacascais.pt |
| Where | Hub Cascais in Cruz de Popa, Alcabideche, Cascais | dnacascais.pt |
| Recent activity | 19th ideas and business contest took applications 1 September to 15 October 2026 | dnacascais.pt |
| Edition | 19th edition of the Cascais ideas and business contest | dnacascais.pt |
| Prize | €10,000 and a year of virtual incubation for the winner | dnacascais.pt |
| Incubation | Physical, shared desk and virtual incubation | dnacascais.pt |
| Hub purpose | Supports innovative business projects at early and startup stage | dnacascais.pt |
| Networking | Networking meetings between entrepreneurs and business owners | dnacascais.pt |
Who it suits
- Founders living in Cascais, Estoril or Alcabideche
- First-time founders with an idea to test in a local contest
- Early-stage companies wanting affordable incubation outside central Lisbon
Who it doesn't suit
- English-only founders, as most content is in Portuguese
- Founders based in central Lisbon
- Anyone wanting a casual social meetup
Alternatives to DNA Cascais
| Community | Price | Entry rule |
|---|---|---|
| 351 Portuguese Startup Association | Free; €47 a year individual; €97 a year startup membership | Join online; register for Coworking Thursdays on its website |
| AI Builders Lisbon | Pay what you like; student ticket €7, free tickets on request | Get a ticket on Luma |
| Casa do Impacto | Not published | Apply through its open calls for incubation or acceleration |
| Female Founders Breakfast Lisbon | Not published | Request a ticket on Luma; some editions need host approval |
| Founders Running Club Lisbon | Not published | RSVP on Meetup, then join the WhatsApp group |
| IndieBeers Lisboa | Not published | Open; attend a meetup to join the WhatsApp group |
| Lisbon Innovators and Entrepreneurs | Not published | RSVP on Meetup and join the WhatsApp group |
| Open Coffee Lisbon | Free | RSVP on Meetup |
Compare all 471 founder communities, each row dated.
Questions about DNA Cascais
- What is DNA Cascais?
- The Cascais municipal agency that supports entrepreneurs, with incubation at Hub Cascais.
- What is the ideas and business contest?
- A yearly contest for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies; the 19th edition offers €10,000 and a year of virtual incubation to the winner.
- What incubation options are there?
- Physical incubation, a shared desk or virtual incubation.
- Website
- dnacascais.pt
- Price
- Not published
- Entry rule
- Apply for incubation or the yearly ideas and business contest
- Format
- Municipal startup agency with Hub Cascais incubation, business networking and an ideas contest
- Checked
DNA Cascais isn't connected to Remote Builders. Prices and entry rules change, so check dnacascais.pt before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the members' chat.