Lisbon further cemented its reputation as one of Europe’s fastest-growing technology hubs as Upwork, the world’s largest work marketplace, announced the opening of its first international operational hub in the Portuguese capital.
The announcement came during a press conference held today (November 12) at 10:00 AM as part of the Web Summit Lisbon 2025, featuring Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas and Upwork President and CEO Hayden Brown. The event highlighted Lisbon’s transformation into a global magnet for innovation and talent—and the city’s growing appeal to multinational tech companies.
Upwork’s First Global Expansion Beyond the U.S.
Upwork revealed plans to establish its new Lisbon office in the Alcântara district, known for its blend of business, art, and innovation. The new hub will focus on scaling AI innovation and expanding Upwork’s global technical team, with operations expected to be fully launched by Q4 2026. Hiring has already begun.
This marks a major step in Upwork’s international growth strategy. The company reported a 53% year-over-year increase in gross services volume (GSV) from AI-related work in Q3 2025, underscoring strong global demand for highly skilled professionals.
Lisbon Welcomes Its 17th Unicorn
Mayor Carlos Moedas hailed the move as another milestone in Lisbon’s ambitious drive to attract global technology leaders. “Upwork is the 17th unicorn company to set up an office in Lisbon since we launched Unicorn Factory,” Moedas said. “Our distinctive innovation strategy and strong positioning are clearly paying off, creating more and more job opportunities across the city – especially for young talent. Upwork is a dynamic and disruptive company, and we are thrilled to welcome them to Lisbon.”
The Unicorn Factory Lisbon initiative has positioned the city as a European hotspot for startups and fast-growing tech firms, with a focus on job creation and sustainable urban innovation.
A Strategic Move for the Future of Work
Upwork CEO Hayden Brown emphasized Lisbon’s talent, innovation culture, and supportive business environment as key reasons for choosing the city.
“Lisbon is a natural choice for our first home outside the U.S.,” Brown said. “As the world’s human and AI-powered work marketplace, we believe that great talent can come from anywhere, and the city and region offer an exceptional pool of innovative, entrepreneurial, and forward-thinking professionals to contribute to our next phase of growth.”
She praised the Portuguese government’s pro-investment policies, noting that they make Portugal one of the most attractive destinations for technology and R&D investment within the European Union.
AI Innovation at the Core
Joining the discussion, Andrew Rabinovich, Upwork’s CTO and Head of AI/ML, said the Lisbon hub would play a pivotal role in advancing the company’s AI capabilities.
“Lisbon gives us a powerful advantage as we scale the Upwork Marketplace,” he noted. “This hub will play a central role in further advancing our AI infrastructure—one of the strongest drivers for Upwork’s next chapter of growth. I’m thrilled to build in a city that shares our energy, creativity, and belief in what’s possible.”
A City Rising on the Global Tech Stage
The conference underscored Lisbon’s growing importance as a European innovation capital, blending its vibrant startup ecosystem with a strong commitment to technological advancement. With Web Summit 2025 continuing through November 13, Lisbon is once again at the center of global attention for its role in shaping the future of tech, talent, and AI-driven growth.