The Startup World Cup Portugal came to a close, and while ROOTKey did not take the ultimate prize, we are proud to announce that we placed among the Top 15 finalists in Portugal’s first edition of this global startup competition. This milestone feels like both a validation of how far we’ve come, and a powerful springboard for where we intend to go.

-Out of over 120 applications from startups across Portugal, 50 were pre-selected to pitch, and then only 15 were chosen for the final round.

-These 15 finalists represented a wide spectrum of innovation - health, education, fintech, logistics, AI, sustainability - all aimed at pushing forward the frontiers of what’s possible in tech and entrepreneurship.

-The grand prize? The chance to represent Portugal in the global finals in Silicon Valley (October 2025) and compete for US$1 million in investment.

Even though we didn’t win, being among the Top 15 is significant in many ways:

Reaching the final 15 shows that our vision, technology, and the unique value we bring to cybersecurity and data authenticity are being noticed. In a competitive field, this kind of recognition confirms that we are building something meaningful.

Competing in this event gave us exposure to investors, industry leaders, and peers. That exposure helps open doors -potential clients, strategic partners, and investors who now see ROOTKey as a credible player in the market.

The experience - refining our pitch, meeting tough questions, seeing what competition is doing - is invaluable. Each pitch, each critique, and each dialogue helps sharpen our strategy. We learn more about what resonates, what needs more clarity, and where we can improve.

For everyone at ROOTKey - from engineering to product, from operations to leadership - this result is a morale booster. It reminds us that even when you don’t take the top spot, the journey matters. The effort, the progress, the resilience. We move forward stronger.

Having "Top 15 in Startup World Cup Portugal" in our narrative helps in many scenarios - funding conversations, recruitment, partnerships. It strengthens our story, and adds credibility when we talk to clients or collaborators.

-The pitch event itself was intense: high stakes, constrained time, high expectations. Standing on the same stage as many innovative projects tested us, inspired us, and gave us new clarity.

-Networking was not an afterthought but one of the major value points. Meeting other founders, investors, mentors — those connections often exist long after the competition ends.

-Feedback and insight: hearing directly from judges and observers about what resonated in our pitch and where we could tighten up or emphasize differently.

Here’s how ROOTKey is using this result to plot what’s ahead:

-Refine messaging and positioning: Based on feedback, adjust how we present our value proposition, competitive differentiation, and go-to-market story.

-Focus on traction: Deepening partnerships, exploring pilot projects, securing case studies that show real world impact.

-Strengthen product & tech: Especially in areas like scalability, security audits, user experience, regulatory compliance — all of which matter more as we aim for larger customers and higher stakes.

-Expand reach: Use the exposure to explore markets beyond Portugal. Start conversations in regions or sectors where data authenticity, traceability, and trust are in high demand.

-Investment readiness: While the prize went to someone else, being in the Top 15 makes us more credible. We’ll continue preparing ourselves for funding rounds with stronger metric tracking, clearer KPIs, and demonstrable momentum.

We want to thank everyone who made this possible:

-Our team, for the effort, creativity, and persistence.

-Our mentors, partners, advisors, and early users, for believing in us, giving feedback, and pushing us.

-The judges and the Startup World Cup Portugal organizers, for creating a platform to challenge and showcase innovation.

-The broader tech and entrepreneurial community in Portugal, for your energy, collaboration, and support.

Competing in Startup World Cup, Portugal has shown us both how far we’ve come, and how much further we can go. We didn’t win, but placing among the Top 15 doesn’t feel like a loss - it feels like confirmation of potential.

We leave the event energized, more focused, and with clearer understanding of our path forward. Because building trust in data, ensuring authenticity, and securing integrity are not just technical challenges - they are strategic imperatives in a world where digital is everywhere.

Here’s to accelerating, refining, and pushing forward. ROOTKey’s journey is just getting started. 🚀