Portugal’s Angel Investment Opportunities In Technology Sectors Grow

Sept. 28, 2009 - PRLog -- Portugal has taken significant steps toward increasing its presence as a global business centre.  With a documented history of exploration and discovery, the Portuguese are hoping to add to their already stellar reputation as innovators by creating an environment that encourages development in the knowledge and technology sectors in hopes of luring investors from around the world.  Portugal has an open economy meaning that foreign investment companies are granted the same rights as domestic companies and enjoy the same incentives and exemptions when starting new businesses.  These policies were introduced to create jobs and cultivate competition in the domestic and foreign markets.

In recent years, Portugal has become more adept at developing new technologies at home. Major electronics companies such as Apple, Nokia, Siemens and Cisco have been lured over because of the budding technology sector and Portugal’s excellent entry point for foreign firms to establish access into the European market. In 2007 the Portuguese government initiated the interaction between the research and private sectors by initiating a partnership between Portuguese universities and world renowned institutions such as Carnegie-Melon University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  The agreement with MIT offers a long-term collaboration to expand research and education in the emerging field of engineering systems; hoping for a strong social and economic impact in areas such as energy, transportation, information systems and telecommunications.  These initiatives are designed to open the door to a new wave of ambitious young entrepreneurs who are looking for investors who can help them showcase their new ideas.

The quickest and easiest way to enter the Portuguese market is to work with a local partner.  While many entrepreneurs may look for government assistance or venture capital, those options may be unsuccessful as both have been affected by the global recession.   However, while nobody has been unaffected by the current economic situation, angel investors (established affluent individuals who are able to put up the capital from their own resources) still provide a great opportunity for start-ups.  Not only do they get the investment that they need without going through complex bureaucracies or facing the pressures of corporate expectations, they also gain valuable knowledge of the market and how it works from someone who has been there.

The Portuguese branch of the Angel Investment Network makes these partnerships possible by providing a platform where entrepreneurs can post their ideas for potential investors to evaluate.    

More information is available at http://www.ainportugal.com

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The Angel Investment Network currently includes a wide range of International investors looking for investment opportunities, along with entrepreneurs in Portugal looking to get their business off the ground.