Call for founders - Build With... STUDIOS.PT

LISBON, Portugal - July 20, 2026 - PRLog -- STUDIOS.pt, the Portuguese Association for Venture Studios, is launching a national call for startup founders who want to build their company with a venture studio as an operational co-founder.

A venture studio is effectively "a company that builds companies". Unlike traditional models that primarily provide capital or mentorship, a venture studio operates as a co-founder, providing an experienced team and a systematic approach to company creation.

The program aims at the effective co-creation of new startups, where selected entrepreneurs will collaborate with a venture studio that will support them in opportunity validation, product building, business launch, investment readiness, and growth.

The initiative brings together eight participating venture studios:

• Build Up Labs
• CRON STUDIO
• Dengun
• Driven Venture Builders
• Here Partners Venture Studio
• LX Launch
• Phira Ventures
• Untile

Together, they are opening a shared entry point for entrepreneurs with a clear problem, market evidence, domain insight, and a differentiated angle, even if they do not yet have a product.

"Portugal has strong founders, experienced operators, and a growing venture studio ecosystem. Build With is about bringing those pieces together in a more structured way," said Rui Gouveia, President of STUDIOS.PT.

"For founders, this is a chance to build with experienced teams from day one. For studios, it is a coordinated way to discover high-potential opportunities and help create the next generation of Portuguese startups."

The process is founder-first. Entrepreneurs choose which studios they want to apply to, and each studio reviews applications independently. If more than one studio selects the same project, the founder decides which studio to work with.

Applications are open until July 31st. From August to September, studios and founders will run interviews, due diligence, and collaboration discussions. Selected projects may pitch to early-stage investors around Web Summit Lisbon in November.

The program is supported by Semapa Venture Studio, Nova Legal, and Microsoft for Startups.

Founders can apply at:
https://studios.pt/buildwith/

About STUDIOS.pt

STUDIOS.pt is the Portuguese Association for Venture Studios. Its mission is to strengthen the venture studio industry in Portugal and make the model a logical option for entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, and investors seeking to create innovative businesses in a more efficient, structured, and reduced-risk way.