On January 23, 2025, Lisbon became a hub for fintech innovation as the Visa Innovation Program Europe Portugal Edition Summit brought together startups, industry leaders, and key players from the ecosystem. The event celebrated Portugal’s vibrant fintech landscape and its growing role in shaping the future of financial services across Europe.
Visa’s ongoing commitment to empowering fintech innovation was on full display throughout the summit. By connecting startups with corporates, investors, and thought leaders, Visa fosters collaboration and supports fintechs in tackling challenges in payments, compliance, and sustainability while driving growth through impactful partnerships.
Portugal’s Fintech Milestones in 2024
The 2024 Spain Edition of the Visa Innovation Program delivered impressive results that highlight the country’s potential as a fintech hub:
- 42 applications from fintech startups aiming to redefine the financial ecosystem
- 3 standout fintechs selected to participate in the program
- 25 hours of tailored mentorship were provided to accelerate growth
- Over 30 hours of tailored mentorship provided to accelerate growth
- 49 strategic introductions between fintechs and industry leaders
- 3 impactful collaborations formed, delivering real-world results
These milestones highlight Visa’s dedication to building a strong fintech community in Portugal and solidifying the country’s position as a fintech hub in Europe.
The summit was packed with engaging panels, practical insights, and inspiring discussions that demonstrated the strength of Portugal’s fintech ecosystem.
Rita Mendes Coelho, Visa Portugal Country Manager, opened the day with an inspiring keynote address. She underscored Visa’s role in fostering collaboration and innovation, emphasizing the importance of startups in driving meaningful change and advancing Portugal’s fintech landscape. Her words set the stage for a day of shared learnings and bold ideas.
Moderated by Monserrat Lerena, this panel focused on positioning strategies for fintechs. Featuring José Figueiredo (Data4Deals) and Lucía Clifford (Sharpei), the discussion explored how fintechs adapt to market shifts. José highlighted Data4Deals’ innovative loyalty solutions, while Lucía emphasized Sharpei’s commitment to promoting sustainability through flexible payment options like rentals and subscriptions.
Moderated by Mariana Bernardes, the session on startup journeys brought insights into scaling and innovation. Nuno Pereira (Paynest) discussed how their employee engagement tools, including salary-on-demand services, are reshaping workplace benefits. Catarina Nunes (Starkdata) shared how AI-powered compliance solutions are helping businesses turn customer insights into strategies for long-term success.
Moderated by Eva Ruiz, this panel highlighted success stories in employee benefits. Nuno Pinto (Coverflex) shared Coverflex’s journey in disrupting the employee benefits space, including strategic milestones achieved through partnerships with Visa.
Moderated by Sabina Babayeva from Tenity, the final panel explored trends and opportunities in fintech. João Freire de Andrade (Portugal Fintech) discussed emerging sectors like AI and embedded finance, stressing the importance of collaboration and cross-border partnerships to drive growth and innovation in fintech.
Meet the Fintechs
The summit also shone a spotlight on the fintech startups shaping the future of the financial ecosystem:
- Data4Deals
Data4Deals is a company that helps financial institutions improve their customer experience by delivering a personalized card-based rewards product (promotions in hundreds of brands offered as cash-back) to its clients while monetizing on its transactional data. - Lemonero
AI-driven digital lending platform for SMEs, embedded in PSPs and banks, enhancing revenue and growth. It drives higher profitability through improved merchant performance and financial health, generating new and recurring revenue streams. - Orama
Orama is a cash flow forecasting and control SaaS platform that integrates with various banks. It provides detailed, 12-month forecasts divided by categories and items, enabling automatic control and data-driven decision-making. - Paynest
Paynest is an all-in-one solution empowering business focused on cost efficiency and employee engagement. It offers features like salary on demand, expense management, and financial coaching, allowing businesses to tailor a package to their specific needs, resulting in both improved employee engagement and reduced overall costs. - Shakers
Shakers breaks down technological barriers for businesses by connecting them with a vast pool of skilled freelance IT professionals. Their intelligent matching system simplifies the process, ensuring a quick and accurate connection to the right talent. This allows companies to interview potential candidates within just 48 hours, significantly speeding up project timelines. - Sharpei
Sharpei’s software makes it simple for retailers to offer flexible options like rentals, subscriptions, and lease-to-own at checkout, promoting circular commerce. - Starkdata
Starkdata leverages AI and machine learning to transform customer interactions throughout their lifecycle into actionable insights, becoming a strategic advantage for businesses in sales, marketing, and customer service. This empowers them to attract new customers, cultivate deeper customer relationships, and foster long-term loyalty, ultimately driving increased revenue. - Uelz
Uelz streamlines the implementation process for billing infrastructure, allowing for the integration of multiple payment gateways through its user-friendly API. This approach reduces implementation costs and facilitates the adaptation of pricing to any billing scenario in seconds.
Looking Ahead
The Visa Innovation Program Europe Portugal Edition Summit underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and community in advancing the fintech ecosystem. From inspiring keynotes to actionable insights, the event reflected Visa’s unwavering commitment to empowering startups and fostering meaningful connections. Stay tuned for updates on the next edition of the Visa Innovation Program Europe Summit!