Europe’s tech center is now home to over 128.000 companies. The last decade has seen unprecedented growth in funding, jobs, and valuations. So why exactly are startups and established giants coming to Europe?

• The US Is still where most deals happen for startups but that might change as Europe’s tech center gains momentum.
• The European startup ecosystem has seen an unprecedented inflow of capital in the past years. Cash and talent are now more widely available than ever before.
• Portugal, in particular, is regarded as a case study in developing startups from an early stage but also in attracting large…

A thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem together with constant promotion of technological development and innovation are just some of the reasons why Portugal has been distinguished by international institutions in the past few years. Lisbon, its capital, stands out at a European level for being home to a vibrant startup community. Many are the traits that Lisbon shares with San Francisco — from the cable cars and the suspension bridge to being home to disruptive tech companies. Some say Lisbon is set to become the European Silicon Valley, but do we really need another one?

City’s local governments around the world have…

A young ecosystem, a vibrant tech community, an amazing lifestyle, and a world-class talent: these are the key factors attracting foreign companies to Portugal. Many are the players promoting our country as the perfect tech destination; a major one is AICEP, an independent public entity of the Government of Portugal, with the goal of attracting foreign investment to Portugal and supporting the internationalization of Portuguese companies into the global economy.

We spoke with AICEP Director in San Francisco, Teresa Fernandes, and asked her about AICEP’s upcoming initiatives.

BRIDGE IN — According to Atomico’s 2019 and 2020 reports “State of European…

No matter what expansion strategy you put into place, BRIDGE IN can help you register a company in Portugal, or simply hire skilled talent through its Employer of Record services.

Setting up a business in Portugal means you will have a strategic geographical position: while allowing you to enter the European single market, Portugal is also the natural gateway between EU and other major world markets in North and South America. For historical reasons, Portugal also holds strong ties with the largest African markets as well as with many Asian countries.

Companies such as Cloudflare, Salsify, Uber and Dashlane have…

Wendy van Leeuwen, Co-Founder of Secret City Trails, tells us why she picked Lisbon to build her tourism startup.

BRIDGE IN — Let’s start from the beginning: tell me a little bit about your background, where have you been, what companies have you worked for and what did you learn that made you realize you were ready to start your own project.

Wendy — I did part of my Bachelor's in Madrid and at a certain point I thought “I love Southern Europe! Where can I do my MSc?”. Since Lisbon is nearby I literally came here for 24 hours…

Everything began on a hopeful note — as all new years do. Very soon, however, it transformed into the year that introduced a “new normal” to the world and gave a whole new meaning to the phrase “unprecedented times”. A lot of bizarre things have already happened in 2020:

• The first prize goes to the coronavirus pandemic
• Australia’s devastating bushfires
• Death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash
• The massive explosion in Beirut
• American rapper Kanye West announced his presidential bid
• The shocking killing of George Floyd
• Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals and moved…

• Professional employer organizations (PEOs) are significantly different from traditional staff outsourcers, with transparency and financial incentives alignment being critical advantages.
• Through co-employment, the PEO becomes the employer of record of your team for tax purposes, through filing payroll taxes under its own local legal entity.
• PEO offering includes payroll processing, employer tax and social security payments, regulatory and health compliance, human resource consulting, benefits management, mandatory insurances and risk mitigation services.

If you’re looking to expand your business to Portugal using a lower-risk model, engage the services of a PEO and contact us today.

As a successful business owner, it…

Companies are looking into relocation as a way to mitigate the risks of a hard Brexit. As Amsterdam and Frankfurt grab headlines, Portugal has been quietly preparing. Here’s why companies should consider it for their next move.

Relocations, closures, layoffs, stockpiling, staff relocation and plans put on hold — firms bracing for Brexit have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on contingency planning. According to the UK’s own National Audit Office, as of 2020, even for UK Government Departments,

• The UK has now exited the EU and is currently in a transition period until the 31st of December 2020. …