UniVerse: Entrepreneurial Academy 2026

Organized annually by the University of Lisbon, UniVerse – Entrepreneurial Academy aims to affirm the strategic role of academia in the country’s economic, scientific, and technological development by promoting academia-based entrepreneurship and strengthening the link between knowledge, innovation, and the market.

Aimed at Web Summit participants, public and private entities within the innovation ecosystem, investors, companies, startups, and entrepreneurs, the initiative serves as a forum for higher education institutions, startups, and various stakeholders in the national innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to meet and exchange ideas.

The 2026 edition brings together nine institutions of higher education—the University of Lisbon, Nova University of Lisbon, University of Aveiro, University of Coimbra, University of Évora, University of Madeira, University of Minho, Universidade of Beira Interior and University of Porto—and showcases talent, innovation, and academia-driven entrepreneurship.

This year’s edition features The Next Big Idea as a media partner and includes the participation of ZABRA, an artistic collective based in Lisbon.

Programme

Congress Centre – Pavilion of Portugal

16:30 | Participant Check-in

Auditorium

17:00 | Welcome Session

17:05 | Jeffthielmusk® Performance and conversation with the public with ZABRA
Informal conversation and artistic performance.

ZABRA is a Lisbon-based artistic collective that develops performance and experimental art projects exploring contemporary themes such as technology, power, digital culture and society. At UniVerse – Academia Empreendedora 2026, they will present Jeffthielmusk®, a performance created in collaboration with artists Carincur and João Pedro Fonseca. The title combines the names of Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel and Elon Musk to explore, through art, the world of global technology moguls. The work premiered at the INDEX Media Arts 2026 biennial and was subsequently presented at ZABRA’s space in Lisbon.

18:00 | Pitch Competition
Startups representing the participating higher education institutions take the stage to present their projects.

Atrium of Multiusos Room A

18:45 | Demo & Exhibition Area
A space showcasing the participating universities, startups and innovative projects.

18:45 | Food, Drinks & Networking
An opportunity for representatives from academia, startups, companies, investors and other stakeholders in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to meet and network (simultaneously with the Demo & Exhibition).

20:00 | Pitch Competition Winner Announcement

Pitch Competition

The 2026 edition will feature a Pitch Competition, giving startups representing the participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) the opportunity to take the stage:

• University of Lisbon
• NOVA University Lisbon
• University of Aveiro
• University of Coimbra
• University of Évora
• University of Madeira
• University of Minho
• Universidade of Beira Interior
• University of Porto

Each participating HEI may nominate one startup to represent its institution. In the case of the University of Lisbon, its 19 Schools will be invited to identify and propose startups from their respective entrepreneurial ecosystems, with one of them being chosen to represent ULisboa.

Eligible startups must have been formally established less than 3 years ago and must not have received investment or may have received only one early-stage investment round, up to a maximum of €250,000.

Each startup will have 3 minutes to present its project to a jury. The evaluation will consider criteria including innovation, team, market, business model, pitch and impact.

Further information about the programme and participation requirements will be announced shortly.

Note: This is an official University of Lisbon event and photographic and video recordings may be made for institutional communication purposes across the University of Lisbon’s various channels.