MIT €100K Portugal:
Entrepreneurship Competition
€10.000 in prizes and the opportunity to pitch at the MIT international competition in Boston, USA
Apply here until 11:59 PM on March 16, 2026
Final: April 11, 2026, at the Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), em Coimbra
WHAT IS MIT €100K PORTUGAL?
The 100K Entrepreneurship Competition is one of the world's most prestigious entrepreneurship contests, created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 1989/1990 academic year. For over three decades, it has driven the transformation of innovative ideas into high-impact projects, bridging the gap between academia, research, and the market.
In 2026, the competition marks a historic milestone as it expands outside the United States for the first time, arriving in Portugal and establishing the country as a new strategic stage in the global innovation ecosystem.
This inaugural edition is led by Portuguese higher education students through Académica Start UC, in close institutional collaboration with MIT Portugal, the University of Coimbra, and Instituto Pedro Nunes. While respecting the values and spirit of the original competition, MIT €100K Portugal is an autonomous adaptation aiming to select the most promising technology-based projects in our country.
The goal is clear: to empower national talent and offer the winning project the unique opportunity to pitch in Boston, USA, before the global MIT community.
Conceived in Portugal. Designed for the world.
Student Requirement: Each team must include at least one student currently enrolled in a Portuguese higher education institution (Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD).
Applications: Submissions can be made by individuals (provided the applicant is a student in Portugal) or as a team.
Mixed Teams: Teams may include professors, researchers, alumni, or external professionals, as long as the mandatory student requirement is met.
Official Language: All application materials and the pitch presentation must be delivered exclusively in English.
Exclusivity: Each participant may only be part of one project submission for this edition.
1st Place: €5,000 + Pitch at the MIT international competition in Boston, USA.
2nd Place: €3,000.
3rd Place: €2,000.
Project evaluation at MIT €100K Portugal is conducted by an outstanding panel of judges, bringing together renowned experts and thought leaders in the fields of technology, management, and innovation.
MIT €100K Portugal is the result of a shared vision and close institutional collaboration. This initiative is only made possible thanks to the commitment and essential support of our partners, who join forces to drive the innovation ecosystem and national talent.
From academic and scientific support to entrepreneurship infrastructure, we thank all the entities that make this bridge between Portugal and MIT a reality.
