RedBridge Lisbon, in collaboration with Unicorn Factory Lisbon and Startup Portugal — supported by the Consulate General of Portugal in San Francisco and AICEP San Francisco and with the ecosystem partner THV — is launching the first edition of Portugal at SF Tech Week: a curated Silicon Valley access program for Portuguese startups ready to move into the US market.
This is not a roadshow. It is direct access to Silicon Valley.
Selected founders don't just show up in San Francisco. They arrive prepared.
September 8-9 — Preparation, Lisbon
Before the trip, each cohort startup goes through a focused preparation sprint designed specifically for the US market:
- —Positioning and storytelling for US investors
- —Fundraising mechanics — Delaware flips, SAFE structures, how VCs actually decide
- —Go-to-market strategy for the US
- —What not to do — candid lessons from founders who have been there
- —Pitch and presence coaching
October 5–7 — Immersion, San Francisco
A tightly curated week for a cohort of 5 to 10 startups:
- —Visits to top-tier accelerators, VC firms, and technology companies
- —Private sessions with founders, operators, and investors
- —1:1 bilateral meetings and curated introductions
- —US expansion and GTM workshop at JP Morgan
- —RedBridge SF Demo & Connect — the flagship event bringing together Silicon Valley investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders to meet the Portuguese cohort
After — follow-up that means something
Warm introductions, access to the RedBridge community network, and a post-program debrief to map next steps for each founder.
Startups that are past validation and thinking seriously about the US — capital, partnerships, or expansion
You have a product that works and a team that's ready to move.
More specifically:
- +Early-growth or scale-ready
- +Globally relevant product with validated traction
- +Clear ambition for international expansion
- +Committed to building a US presence through fundraising, partnerships and customers
A selection committee of investors and operators with direct Silicon Valley experience will review all applications. 5 to 10 startups will be selected.
Most delegation trips optimize for volume — more meetings, more business cards, more stages. This one doesn't.
The cohort is small by design. The preparation is built for this specific market. The relationships behind the program are real. And the objective isn't visibility — it's the kind of access that only comes through people who are already inside the room.
Part of the broader Lisbon–San Francisco Innovation Bridge, this initiative is one piece of a longer-term strategic relationship between two ecosystems that have more in common than geography separates.
Key Dates
June–July 15 2026
Applications open and selection process
August 2026
Cohort announced
September 8-9 2026
Preparation sessions, Lisbon
October 5–7, 2026
San Francisco program
Apply
Applications are now open.
Founder application
A short application to tell us about you, your company, and what you want to get out of SF Tech Week.
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Participation
The program is fully funded for selected startups. Travel and accommodation are the responsibility of participants.