What is Call Leiria Recuperar?
- Call Leiria Recuperar is an initiative aimed at innovative companies in the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region (CIMRL), whose ability to develop their projects has been compromised as a result of the recent storms that affected the Central Region;
- Companies in the following stages: seed, start-up, later stage venture – series A, B and C;
- Single ticket of €250,000 per company.
- Applications are open until 23 March 2026.
Scope
In 2024, Portugal Ventures, in partnership with the Intermunicipal Community of the Region of Leiria, the Business Association of the Region of Leiria / Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nerlei CCI), Startup Leiria, the Polytechnic of Leiria and private investors, established the Leiria Region Growth Fund, to promote access to venture capital financing for innovative companies and projects focused on exports and/or reducing external dependence, advancing value chains and increasing productive potential, green transition and digital transformation.
The storms that recently ravaged the country were unusually violent in the Central Region and, in particular, in the geographical area covered by the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region (CIMRL). Aware of the impact on the national and regional economy and, in particular, on the business ecosystem in the Leiria Region, Portugal Ventures will launch a call for projects, called Call Leiria Recuperar, specifically aimed at companies in the region affected by the storms.
The Call is aimed at affected companies that are developing innovative projects with high growth and value potential in areas and sectors that are strategic for the geographical region covered by CIMRL. These companies must be based in that territory or have a significant presence and operations there, and must have seen their ability to develop such projects diminished as a result of the storms.
Objectives
As part of this edition, Portugal Ventures is offering a single ticket of €250,000 for projects based and operating mainly in the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region (CIMRL) that demonstrate execution capacity, economic viability and potential for appreciation in the global market, in line with the usual evaluation criteria — which include the quality of the management team, the degree of innovation of the solution, competitive positioning and business model.
Given the exceptional circumstances, Call Leiria Recuperar has a specific framework: it is aimed at companies based or with significant activity in the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region, which, despite presenting innovative solutions and ambitions for growth, have seen the development of their projects temporarily compromised or delayed as a result of recent climatic events.
This initiative is not a support line intended for repairing damage to infrastructure or replacing assets. It is a venture capital investment instrument aimed at strengthening the financial liquidity of companies and enabling them to resume their growth trajectories in a sustainable manner.
Elegibilidade
1. Companies that, following the storms that devastated the Leiria region, have demonstrably suffered a significant, measurable impact on their ability to develop their projects are eligible (mandatory condition).
2. General conditions of the projects:
- Innovative projects resulting from original ideas from the promoters;
- A multidisciplinary team led by founder(s) to ensure management needs are met;
- Projects with evidence about the product and market (at least MVP);
- Projects with a clear strategy for protecting and enhancing intellectual property, if applicable;
- Significant potential for growth in the global market;
- Projects that present assumptions for their economic viability.
Activities and sectors identified on the basis of the DNSH (no significant harm) principles are excluded.
3. General conditions for companies:
- Companies headquartered and/or with significant activity in the CIMRL, and which have a relevant economic impact there;
- Be an SME or a Mid Cap;
- Companies that have not yet been invested in by other Venture Capital operators;
- Not be considered ‘companies in difficulty’ within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 of 16 June;
- That they comply with the legal conditions necessary to carry out their activity, namely that they are duly licensed for this purpose;
- That they have organised accounting, a balanced economic and financial situation and are in good standing with the Tax Authorities, Social Security and in terms of repayments, within the scope of European Fund financing;
- Natural and legal persons must demonstrate compliance with the legal and regulatory provisions relating to money laundering and terrorist financing;
- Agree to sign the Final Beneficiary’s Declaration of Commitment.
4. Investment stages: seed, start-up, later stage venture – series A, B and C.
5. 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.
Applications
- Applications must be submitted directly on the Portugal Ventures website;
- The application form available on the Portugal Ventures website must be duly completed in Portuguese or English;
- The application deadlines and relevant dates for the process can be found on the Portugal Ventures website;
- Any questions or requests for additional information should be sent by email to: submissions@portugalventures.pt;
- The application form must be accompanied by all the documentation requested in the ‘Attachments’ section of the form.
Selection criteria
The projects submitted will be subject to an initial screening to assess their suitability and eligibility, based on the information provided in the application, taking into account, in particular, the following criteria:
- Severity (demonstrated and quantified) of the impact of storms on the development of the company’s/project’s activity;
- Planning for the recovery project: project development plan, identifying (i) the objectives to be achieved and (ii) the main steps for overcoming the difficulties caused by the storms, until the proposed objectives are met; Risk Analysis: how the main risks are mitigated in the project.
- Current financial situation of the company and current and subsequent financing needs: quantification of current and subsequent financing needs, the form of financing and how these will be secured;
- Management team: technical skills and management capacity of the team;
- Value Proposition: degree of innovation of the product/solution;
- Competitive advantages: competitive advantages and differentiation of the technology or product in relation to those already on the market;
- Business model: revenue generation model and commercial strategy;
- Traction: (indicators: sales; users/customers, among others).
Supporting documents for Call Leiria Recuperar
Contact Application
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