Portugal has quietly but decisively positioned itself as one of Europe’s most exciting destinations for artificial intelligence innovation. Once known primarily for tourism and renewable energy, the country is now producing AI startups that compete on a global scale attracting major investment, international clients, and top engineering talent. From Lisbon and Porto to Braga and Leiria, Portuguese AI companies are solving real-world problems in finance, healthcare, language, retail, and industrial automation. Below is a closer look at the Top 10 AI startups in Portugal that are shaping the future of technology in 2026.
1. Unbabel – Redefining Global Communication with AI
Unbabel is one of Portugal’s most internationally recognized AI companies. The startup specializes in AI-powered language translation, helping global brands communicate seamlessly with customers in dozens of languages. By combining neural machine translation with human linguistic expertise, Unbabel delivers accuracy at scale — a model that has won clients such as Microsoft, Uber, and Booking.com.
2. Feedzai – Fighting Financial Fraud with Machine Learning
Feedzai is a true Portuguese tech success story. Founded in Coimbra, the company uses advanced machine learning to detect and prevent fraud in real time. Its AI systems analyze billions of transactions for banks and payment providers worldwide, making Feedzai a critical player in the global financial security ecosystem.
3. Sword Health – AI Meets Digital Healthcare
Sword Health is transforming physical therapy through artificial intelligence and wearable technology. The company’s AI-driven platform enables patients to receive personalized rehabilitation programs remotely, reducing recovery times and healthcare costs. With rapid international expansion, Sword Health has become one of Portugal’s fastest-growing health-tech companies.
4. Defined.ai – Powering Ethical and Responsible AI
Based in Lisbon, Defined.ai provides high-quality, ethically sourced training data for artificial intelligence systems. Its marketplace supports AI development across speech recognition, computer vision, and natural language processing. As global demand grows for responsible AI, Defined.ai has positioned itself as a trusted data partner for enterprises worldwide.
5. Brainr – Smart Manufacturing Through AI Automation
Brainr focuses on artificial intelligence for industrial operations. The company develops cloud-based manufacturing execution systems (MES) that help factories monitor, optimize, and automate production in real time. By applying AI to traditional industries, Brainr is helping Portuguese manufacturing become more competitive and future-ready.
6. Sensei – The Future of Autonomous Retail
Sensei is at the forefront of cashier-free retail technology in Europe. Using computer vision and AI, the startup enables fully autonomous stores where customers can shop without scanning or waiting in line. Sensei’s technology is already being deployed across multiple countries, signaling Portugal’s growing influence in retail innovation.
7. Automaise – Making AI Automation Accessible
Automaise specializes in no-code AI automation, allowing companies to streamline workflows without deep technical knowledge. Its platform is widely used for customer support automation and internal process optimization. By lowering the barrier to AI adoption, Automaise is helping businesses of all sizes embrace digital transformation.
8. Loqr – AI-Driven Digital Finance Solutions
Loqr provides AI-based solutions that help banks and financial institutions accelerate their digital services. From onboarding and compliance to personalized customer experiences, Loqr’s technology enables secure and scalable innovation in the highly regulated financial sector.
9. detecH.ai – Practical AI for Business Intelligence
detecH.ai develops custom artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions tailored to business needs. The company works across industries, delivering data-driven insights, predictive models, and intelligent systems that help organizations make smarter decisions.
10. YData – Advancing AI with Synthetic Data
YData focuses on synthetic data generation, a rapidly growing field in AI development. By creating realistic yet privacy-safe datasets, YData allows companies to train powerful AI models while complying with data protection regulations. This makes the startup a key player in the future of secure and ethical AI.
Portugal’s Growing Reputation as an AI Hub
Portugal’s AI success is no accident. Strong university research, government support for innovation, competitive operating costs, and a high quality of life have all contributed to the country’s rise as a tech hub. Increasingly, international investors and founders are choosing Portugal as a base for building globally scalable AI companies. As these startups continue to grow, Portugal is no longer just participating in the AI revolution, it is helping lead it.
