It is not just a report on startups or financial innovation. It is a vibrant portrait of a Portugal that has decided to grow, open horizons and reinvent itself. Portugal is quietly becoming one of the most promising fintech ecosystems in Europe.

As you dive into the report, an almost emotional feeling arises. We realize how far we have come in a few years and we also realize that this path of evolution is just beginning. For a long time, we got used to seeing Portugal recognized for its hospitality, quality of life and climate. Today we are beginning to be known for talent, technology, and strategic vision. Almost a third of the fintechs highlighted were born in the last two years alone. They are young, ambitious companies created by teams that do not just want to keep up with global change; they want to be part of it.

What is most impressive at this moment in the country are not only the numbers or the graphs. It is the attitude. It is the mentality. It is trust. There is a new generation that thinks of Portugal as a global platform and not as a peripheral market. A generation that believes that Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Faro, or Leiria can be houses of innovation with international impact. And that belief is taking real shape.

Artificial Intelligence, which is so often viewed with fear, appears in the Portuguese ecosystem as a catalyst for creativity and efficiency. Our fintechs demonstrate that it is possible to incorporate cutting-edge technology without losing what defines us as a country. Ethics, proximity, responsibility, and a deep respect for the user continue to be central elements in the development of innovative financial products.

Another sign of maturity is the collaboration that is finally happening naturally. Startups and large companies are working together like never before. Banks, insurance companies, universities, and investors are now sitting at the same table to build solutions. A country that for decades has operated in silos is beginning to function in a network, and this is felt in the speed with which new partnerships, new ideas and new results emerge.

This movement is only possible because Portugal has something that no technology replaces: talent. A talent that is born in universities, that is perfected in companies and that is renewed through continuous training. A talent that attracts people from abroad and gives confidence to international companies that choose Portugal to grow.

But perhaps most exciting of all is what is yet to come. The advance of Open Finance, regulatory consolidation, increased investment, and the arrival of new international companies point to a decade in which Portugal could make a historic leap. The energy is real, the ambition is growing and the conviction shared by many is clear: we are finally taking our place.

Portugal is transforming before our eyes. And the most inspiring thing is to realize that we are not just following the future. We are helping it happen.

This is the time to believe. This is the time to create. This is Portugal's moment.