Euronext’s ELITE launches WTC Lisboa academy to promote Portuguese companies
“The launch of this project helps shape our aligned objective of supporting entrepreneurs and executives in upskilling and empowering their strategies and business opportunities. For WTC Lisboa, this represents a milestone in its strategy of promoting the internationalisation of the Portuguese economy.”
Euronext has announced the launch of the World Trade Center (WTC) Lisboa International Academy by ELITE, the Euronext network dedicated to fast-growing private companies, in Portugal, as a part of Euronext’s commitment to SMEs.
WTC Lisboa International Academy by ELITE is a programme leveraging over ten years of international experience in supporting private small and medium-sized companies to access skills, network and capital.
The launch paves the way for the first group of Portuguese companies to join the ELITE community in H1 2023.
Promoting the internationalization of the Portuguese economy
The WTC Lisboa International Academy by ELITE will be delivered through:
- Three core modules (two days each, making a total of six days) run in Portuguese at the NOVA Business School premises and with a faculty based on academics and professionals. These will be supported by the Strategy in Action tool to help the companies build a real and detailed strategic plan over the course of the three modules;
- A calendar of four international workshops, one per quarter, supported by ELITE partners across Europe, deep-diving into different topics. In 2023, the planned workshops will cover Internationalisation (Lisbon, March), Entrepreneurship (Amsterdam, June), Sustainability (Paris, September), and Capital Markets (Milan, November). These workshops are open to the entire ELITE community and aim to train companies on the topics above, while providing a forum for international networking across Europe;
- Mentoring: high-touch regular contact to assess and debate on each company’s priorities while supporting them to develop an action plan to implement the key actions defined.
- Funding options: support on choosing best funding strategies based on each company characteristics
- The launch of the WTC Lisboa International Academy by ELITE is the first step of the broader expansion of ELITE in Portugal and across Europe. The international expansion of ELITE is part of Euronext’s “Growth for Impact 2024” strategic plan.
Marta Testi, CEO of ELITE, a Euronext company, said: “The launch of the WTC Lisboa International Academy by ELITE materialises the implementation of ELITE in Portugal. It will be an important tool to allow participating companies to access skillsets and expertise. Together with WTC Lisboa and with the support of BBVA and Portuguese Family Businesses, we will help a group of Portuguese SMEs to increase their size, profitability, and impact, while supporting them to grow and leverage on the funding options offered by the market today. This new development will launch officially the ELITE programme in Portugal and paves the way for the first group of Portuguese companies to join ELITE in H1 2023. These companies will join a community of over 1,300 companies in 23 European countries and a large range of advisors and partners.”
Luciano Montenegro Menezes, CEO of the World Trade Center Lisboa, said: “We are thrilled to launch this Academy. The World Trade Center Lisboa shares ELITE’s commitment to supporting private Portuguese companies to grow internationally. The launch of this project helps shape our aligned objective of supporting entrepreneurs and executives in upskilling and empowering their strategies and business opportunities. For WTC Lisboa, this represents a milestone in its strategy of promoting the internationalisation of the Portuguese economy.”
Luís Castro e Almeida, CEO of BBVA Portugal, said: “The launch of this initiative aligns with BBVA’s purpose of supporting private companies in financing their internationalisation and growth. Associating with this project shapes our responsible banking model which aspires to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society. Therefore, providing companies with knowledge to make better management decisions towards their growth and internationalisation, is an action we are definitely excited to be part of.”
ELITE welcomes companies of all sizes and sectors looking to scale up their business and explore funding options. Since ELITE’s launch, more than 2,000 companies have been part of the ELITE network, which today counts 1,300 companies with aggregate revenue of €115 billion, representing 36 sectors and employing over 700,000 people.
€920 million has been raised with direct support from ELITE for over 250 companies, 58 companies have been listed, raising €3.7 billion; 134 companies have issued 191 bonds, raising €2.8 billion; and 328 companies have managed over 1,050 M&A deals.
Euronext acquired ELITE as part of the acquisition of the Borsa Italiana Group in 2021, and since then has been strongly committed to expanding ELITE in the Euronext countries. Portugal is the first step in this expansion strategy.
The first group of ELITE network partners to join the initiative include Associação Empresarial de Portugal (AEP), Banco Santander, Deloitte, Vieira de Almeida (VdA), and World Trade Center Lisboa (supported by BBVA and Family Businesses Association).
