Unicorn Factory Lisboa: price, who can join and alternatives
Unicorn Factory Lisboa is the Lisbon City Council's startup platform, with incubation and scaleup programmes, sector hubs and coworking across the city. It runs CASA Startup Lisboa, a short-stay house for entrepreneurs arriving in Lisbon, and regular events such as the Expats in Tech Lunch and an International Pitch Night. Its main campus is the Beato Innovation District.
Unicorn Factory Lisboa at a glance
| What | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Founders starting and scaling companies from Lisbon | unicornfactorylisboa.com |
| Backing | Set up by Lisbon City Council to grow the city's startup ecosystem | luma.com |
| Where | Beato Innovation District, Avenida Infante Dom Henrique 141, Lisbon | luma.com |
| Upcoming event | International Pitch Night on Monday 9 November 2026 | luma.com |
| International founders | Expats in Tech Lunch for international entrepreneurs in Lisbon | luma.com |
| Price | €35 per person for the Expats in Tech Lunch, lunch included | luma.com |
| Incubation | Says it has incubated 950+ startups since 2012 | unicornfactorylisboa.com |
| Founder housing | CASA Startup Lisboa is a house for entrepreneurs | unicornfactorylisboa.com |
| Stay length | Short-term accommodation for up to six months | unicornfactorylisboa.com |
| Coworking | Coworking desks among other founders | unicornfactorylisboa.com |
Who it suits
- Founders relocating to Lisbon who need a soft landing
- Pre-seed to Series A startups wanting incubation
- International founders wanting to meet the local ecosystem
Who it doesn't suit
- Solo freelancers without a startup
- Anyone wanting an informal peer-only group
- Founders who don't want an application process
Alternatives to Unicorn Factory Lisboa
| 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 |
| DNA Cascais | Not published | Apply for incubation or the yearly ideas and business contest |
| 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 |
Compare all 471 founder communities, each row dated.
Questions about Unicorn Factory Lisboa
- Who runs Unicorn Factory Lisboa?
- It was set up by Lisbon City Council to grow the city's startup ecosystem.
- Does it offer founder housing?
- Yes. CASA Startup Lisboa offers short stays of up to six months for entrepreneurs arriving in Lisbon.
- Can international founders join events?
- Yes. The Expats in Tech Lunch is aimed at expats and international entrepreneurs, at €35 including lunch.
- Where is it?
- Its main campus is the Beato Innovation District, with other hubs around Lisbon.
- Website
- unicornfactorylisboa.com
- Price
- €35 for the Expats in Tech Lunch; programme and desk prices not published
- Entry rule
- Apply to programmes or desks online; events through its Luma page
- Format
- City-backed hub with incubation, coworking, founder housing and events
- Checked
Unicorn Factory Lisboa isn't connected to Remote Builders. Prices and entry rules change, so check unicornfactorylisboa.com before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the members' chat.