Partnering on Innovation in Portugal

Empowered Startups and VOID Software Join Forces to Accelerate Innovation in Portugal  

Empowered Startups and VOID Software are pleased to announce a strategic partnership focused on supporting high-impact startups and fostering innovation within Portugal’s growing tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem. This latest partnership expands Empowered’s partner network and reaffirms the commitment to increasing investment and entrepreneurship across the country.

Increasing Collaboration and Growth in Portugal  

Through Empowered’s uniquely designed HQA® Program, which encourages both foreign investment and innovation in Portugal, the partnership with VOID Software aims to support international founders and strengthen the technology landscape within the country.  

With shared values around innovation, creativity, and supporting entrepreneurship, the partnership between Empowered and VOID is a natural fit. Both companies are dedicated to helping startups scale and succeed in global markets.   

“We are excited to officially announce this partnership with VOID Software,” stated Chris Lennon, President of Empowered Startups. “We’ve already been collaborating informally on a number of innovation projects in Portugal but have also realized that we can do much more by focusing on growing our collaboration. Partnering with VOID represents an important relationship for the entrepreneurs we work with and the companies they service. By coupling our ability to attract highly qualified foreign founders and foreign direct investment to Portugal with VOID Software’s deep roots in the innovation and technology space, we’re creating a partnership for innovation to thrive. The support VOID has shown in forging this partnership gives us confidence that this is just the beginning of several collaborative ventures that will accelerate the impact of our HQA® Program”. 

According to João Mota, Executive Director of VOID Software, “this partnership perfectly aligns with VOID’s mission to positively impact society through innovation. Empowered’s ability to connect top talent and qualified investors with the Portuguese innovation ecosystems supported by VOID, has the power to leverage exciting new ventures. “We believe that providing professional support and ensuring a seamless integration for newcomers is key to foster the diversity and energy we need in our economy — and it’s also a path for social cohesion and sustainable growth.” 

About Empowered Startups  

Empowered Startups is an innovative startup incubator and foundry focused on innovation and transnational migration, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with offices in Canada, the US, and Portugal. Our mission is to accelerate the journey from lab to marketplace while fostering the growth of breakthrough technologies that drive real-world impact and simultaneously stimulate local economies and innovative ecosystems. Our uniquely designed HQA® Program pairs entrepreneurs with Portuguese universities and polytechnics to collaborate on innovative research and development projects.  

About VOID Software  

VOID Software is a software & consulting company based in Portugal. With extensive experience in the development of innovative software solutions based on emerging technologies, such as AI, Machine Learning, Embedded Systems & Blockchain, we serve private and public organizations across Europe and the USA. We develop custom technology in the fields of Engineering, Quality Assurance, Infrastructure Management, Cybersecurity, UI/UX Design — often collaborating with R&D departments and universities. We contribute to different startup ecosystems by acting as venture builders for high-potential young companies, supporting them in their product and business development. We are an ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified company.  

Investing in Portugal’s Future

We look forward to collaborating on several initiatives and supporting new founders and entrepreneurs within Portugal.   

As a multinational that facilitates significant foreign direct investment to Portuguese research universities and polytechnics via its HQA® Program, Empowered Startups contributes to sustainable economic development, innovative research and development, and territorial cohesion across the country.  

With an existing presence in Leiria, at the Polytechnic University of Leiria (IP Leiria), one of Empowered’s partner universities, the partnership with VOID Software in the same city represents a natural strategic alignment.   

Learn more about Empowered Startups, the HQA® Program, and VOID Software.