The announcement was made this Wednesday at the Web Summit by Carlos Moedas, the Mayor of Lisbon (CML) and Upwork's CEO, Hayden Brown. The technology company, which connects artificial intelligence, companies and professionals from all over the world, will open its first international hub in the second half of 2026.
"We're confident that Lisbon is an incredible place to build a team," said Hayden Brown. "Our focus is on recruiting locally. We really want to have Portuguese people in the office. We know that the talent here is incredible and that was a determining factor in our decision," he stressed.
For Carlos Moedas, president of CML, the arrival of the 17th unicorn symbolizes the success of the city's strategy. "Today we have the 17th unicorn arriving in Lisbon. This isn't just about unicorns, it's about everything they bring: jobs, talent and opportunities," he said.
Unicorn Factory Lisboa, launched in 2022, has transformed Lisbon into an internationally recognized innovation hub, added Carlos Moedas: "Since the start of this project, 82 technology companies have set up in Lisbon, creating more than 16,000 jobs."
