In this interview, Jacinto Ribeiro, CEO of inCoimbra StartUp HUB and Global CEO of Jota2 Group, shares his vision for positioning Coimbra as a gateway for global innovation.
He discusses the region’s growing startup ecosystem, the importance of connecting talent with international markets, and why partnering with AI-driven platform Stryng represents a strategic step toward scaling innovation from Portugal to the world.
1. Can you tell us about your personal journey into the startup and innovation ecosystem, and what led you to found and lead inCoimbra StartUp HUB?
My journey into the startup ecosystem came naturally through my work building and supporting companies across different sectors at Jota2Group. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with entrepreneurs and innovative businesses expanding internationally.
At some point, it became clear that Coimbra had extraordinary talent and research capacity but needed stronger bridges to global markets and investors. That is what led me to found inCoimbra StartUp HUB — to create a platform where startups can incubate, grow and scale internationally from Portugal.
2. How would you describe the mission and role of inCoimbra in the tech & innovation scene — both in Portugal and globally?
Our mission is to connect talent, innovation, and international markets. At inCoimbra we support startups through incubation, strategic partnerships, and access to investors, while also helping international companies establish a presence in Portugal and Europe. Our ambition is not just local impact — we aim to position Coimbra as a gateway for global innovation.
3. What makes Coimbra an attractive place for innovation, entrepreneurship and startups — and why was it the right home for inCoimbra?
Coimbra has one of Europe’s most powerful combinations: top academic talent, strong research institutions, and an emerging entrepreneurial culture. The University of Coimbra produces world-class engineers and scientists, particularly in areas like AI, engineering and health technologies.
At the same time, startups benefit from lower operational costs and a highly collaborative ecosystem. For an innovation hub like ours, Coimbra offers the perfect balance between talent and opportunity.
4. From your view, what are the biggest strengths and challenges for startups that enter the Portuguese ecosystem through your hub?
I believe Portugal is the gateway to the European Market. Portugal offers a very attractive environment for startups: access to European markets, excellent talent, and competitive operating costs.
The main challenge for many startups is scaling quickly and connecting with global networks and capital, here the connection of the incubator with the family office, opens doors and markets all across the world, giving instant access to the international markets. This is precisely where hubs like inCoimbra can add value — helping startups accelerate their international growth.
5. What initially caught your attention about Stryng and made inCoimbra decide to partner with them?
Stryng stood out for two reasons: the strength of its technology and the ambition of its team. Their AI-driven marketing automation platform addresses a real challenge for modern companies — managing complex digital marketing operations efficiently. From the beginning, we saw strong potential for international scaling, which fits perfectly with our incubation strategy.
6. How does an AI‑driven marketing automation platform like Stryng fit into the strategic vision of inCoimbra and the companies you support?
As everyone knows now, AI is becoming central to business efficiency and growth. SME´s and many startups struggle to scale marketing operations while maintaining performance and data-driven decision making. Stryng’s technology helps solve that by automating and optimizing marketing processes through AI. Platforms like this empower startups to grow faster and compete globally.
7. Portugal — and particularly Coimbra — is not traditionally seen as a massive market for deep tech yet. How does Stryng’s entry position both the hub and the region in broader European tech innovation?
Portugal is quickly emerging as an important innovation hub in Europe. The unicorns based or connect with this market tell us a success story. Companies like Stryng help demonstrate that advanced technology businesses can grow from ecosystems like Coimbra and scale internationally. Their presence reinforces the region’s credibility as a place where innovation is not only created but also scaled globally.
8. From your perspective, what unique value does Stryng bring to companies looking to scale their digital marketing with AI?
Stryng simplifies complexity. Instead of relying on multiple fragmented tools, companies can use a single AI-powered platform to automate campaigns, optimize performance and generate actionable insights. This allows businesses to scale their marketing in a much more strategic and efficient way.
9. What goals or milestones do you see as most important for Stryng during its incubation at inCoimbra and throughout its expansion in Europe?
Key milestones will include strengthening the platform, expanding its client base across Europe, and forming strategic partnerships with companies and agencies. Demonstrating measurable impact for clients will be essential as the company scales internationally.
10. Looking forward, how do you see Stryng contributing to the innovation ecosystem here — both as part of inCoimbra and beyond?
Successful startups play a key role in strengthening ecosystems. As Stryng grows, it can contribute by sharing expertise, collaborating with other startups, and helping position Coimbra as a growing center for technology and innovation.
Ultimately, we hope companies incubated at inCoimbra become global ambassadors of innovation.
