Unicorn Factory Lisboa and Técnico Venture Lab launch new innovation program for the construction sector
Digital Built Accelerator is part of the European consortium DIGITALbuilt
[Applications are open until April 24]
Lisbon, April 14, 2026 – Applications are now open for the Digital Built Accelerator, the new innovation program from Técnico Venture Lab, supported by Unicorn Factory Lisboa and integrated into the European DIGITALBuilt consortium. The initiative, which starts on May 4, aims to support and accelerate the development of technological solutions or new materials for the construction sector, contributing to its digitalization and sustainability. Applications are open until April 24 and are targeted at startups whose solutions are at least at the minimum viable product (MVP) stage.
Selected startups will gain access to sessions with industry experts and specialized mentorship, enabling alignment of their solutions with real industry needs and facilitating market validation in real-world contexts.
“The Digital Built Accelerator reinforces our commitment to the construction sector, which is highly relevant at the national level, with Portuguese companies leading internationally. We see significant talent and technical solutions with strong growth potential. This program aims to build bridges between startups, industry, and European networks, scaling innovation to make the sector more digital, efficient, and sustainable,” said Gil Azevedo, Executive Director of Unicorn Factory Lisboa.
According to João Borga, Director of Técnico Venture Lab, “the importance of this program lies not only in supporting startups that make construction more innovative, but also in ensuring that, through their success, construction can serve more people, improve quality, and become more accessible to all through more digital and efficient processes.”
By promoting startups within the construction innovation ecosystem, the program—supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and the European Commission under the EDIH DIGITALbuilt initiative—also enhances access to strategic partners, investors, and concrete opportunities for collaboration and growth, including access to the Técnico Venture Lab community and the Unicorn Factory Lisboa network.
The initiative comes just a few months after the inauguration of the Engineers Hub, a pioneering space in Portugal dedicated to fostering innovation in the engineering sector, welcoming students, professionals, and companies in early or growth stages, further reinforcing Unicorn Factory Lisboa’s commitment to promoting innovation in engineering.
About Unicorn Factory Lisboa:
Unicorn Factory Lisboa is a platform of programs and hubs aimed at positioning Lisbon as a global innovation capital. Launched in 2022 by the Lisbon City Council, it develops various initiatives and programs to support national and international startups and scaleups. With the goal of strengthening the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and becoming an international reference, Unicorn Factory Lisboa operates across five areas: early-stage startup incubation, growth-stage programs for scaleups, soft-landing support for international startups and scaleups expanding into new markets, youth entrepreneurship, and innovation hubs such as Beato Innovation District, web3hub, gaminghub, greenhub, AIhub, and engineershub. The project contributed to Lisbon being awarded European Capital of Innovation in 2023.
About Técnico Venture Lab:
Técnico Venture Lab is the startup incubator of Instituto Superior Técnico, located at the Oeiras campus (Taguspark). Created as a strategic initiative to strengthen Técnico’s innovation ecosystem, it positions itself as a hub of excellence for the development of science- and technology-based startups. It supports teams from the prototyping and funding stages through to market entry and international scaling, promoting knowledge transfer and the creation of economic and social impact. The incubator offers coworking spaces and offices, as well as access to laboratories, specialized mentorship, and a network of investors and industrial partners.
