Confidential · For Assessed Investors Only · Not For Public Distribution
Minimum Commitment
50,000 · Year 1
IFICI Window
10-Year Benefit
Flat Tax Rate
20% Qualifying Income
Lisbon Venture Studio · Private Investor Brief

The Case for Investing
in Lisbon's AI Frontier
— and Keeping More of It.

A decade of preferential tax treatment. Direct equity in AI-native ventures. The full weight of LVS infrastructure behind your IFICI journey.

What is IFICI — and why does it matter for your returns?

Portugal's most compelling tax regime for international founders and investors — delivering structured benefits for an entire decade.

20%
Flat Rate on Qualifying Income
Applied to Portuguese-sourced professional and investment income, vs. standard progressive rates reaching 48%+
10
Year Benefit Window
IFICI status is locked in for a full decade from registration — providing long-horizon certainty for investment planning
0%*
Foreign Rental Income
Qualifying foreign-source rental income is exempt under IFICI. (*Subject to eligibility, DTA provisions, individual assessment)

Important: IFICI is not a blanket exemption on all income categories. Pension income is taxed under standard progressive rates (~35% blended). We strongly recommend independent Portuguese tax advice to model your specific position before proceeding.

How IFICI compares across European regimes

Country / RegimeCapital Gains RateDurationKey ExemptionsResidency Req.
Portugal — IFICI ★ 20% flat 10 years Foreign rental, dividend (DTA-dependent) 183+ days/yr
UK — Standard20–28%OngoingISA wrapper onlyDomicile-based
Germany — Standard25% + SoliOngoingNoneResidence-based
France — Standard30% PFUOngoingPEA wrapperResidence-based
Italy — Forfait€100k flat15 yearsForeign income flat-feeNew resident only
Malta — HNWI15% minOngoingForeign source exemptPhysical presence

Illustrative only. Tax positions vary by individual circumstances, DTA treaties, and income type. Not tax advice.

How investing in LVS unlocks IFICI.

IFICI requires qualifying investment in certified Portuguese entities. LVS is purpose-built to satisfy those requirements — so you don't have to navigate it alone.

Qualifying Investment Vehicle

Our SUP-certified portfolio companies are structured to qualify as eligible IFICI investment targets — satisfying the active investment criteria required for annual re-qualification.

  • Direct equity stake in individual portfolio companies
  • SUP-certified entities across the portfolio
  • Formal shareholders' agreement with governance rights
  • Annual reporting package for IFICI compliance

End-to-End Structuring

LVS coordinates your full IFICI journey — connecting you with our retained Lisbon legal counsel who own and execute all personal tax structuring, filings, and compliance on your behalf.

  • IFICI application prepared & filed by our Portuguese legal counsel
  • NIF registration handled by retained legal partners
  • Personal tax document setup owned by our lawyers, not LVS
  • Company formation for active founders via legal counsel

Why this matters: Investing through LVS removes the single biggest barrier to IFICI participation — the complexity of Portuguese business law. We've already done the structural work. You benefit from Day 1.

Important — who owns your legal work: All personal tax document setup, IFICI applications, NIF registration, and annual compliance filings are prepared and owned by our retained Portuguese legal counsel — qualified lawyers acting on your behalf. LVS coordinates access and the process; we do not provide legal or tax services directly and are not responsible for personal tax advice or filings.

The structural advantage over going it alone

Going it alone
Self-incorporating in Portugal typically takes 6–12 months. Requires Portuguese tax advisors, legal counsel, NIF registration, bank account setup, social security enrolment, and SUP certification — all managed independently in a foreign jurisdiction.
Via Lisbon Venture Studio
Connect to an existing, certified, legally structured venture studio. Your personal tax structuring, IFICI filing, and compliance documents are owned and managed by our retained Portuguese legal counsel — not LVS. Timeline: 4–8 weeks from signed agreement to active IFICI status.

Commitment tiers — the longer you stay, the better the terms.

Designed around the IFICI 10-year window. Multi-year commitments unlock escalating discounts aligned to the full benefit horizon.

CommitmentPAYG TotalBundled PriceSavingDiscountEffective Annual
1 Year€50,000€50,0000%€50,000
2 Years€70,000€67,900€2,1003%€33,950
3 Years€90,000€85,500€4,5005%€28,500
4 Years€110,000€102,300€7,7007%€25,575
5 Years€130,000€118,300€11,7009%€23,660
6 Years€150,000€135,000€15,00010%€22,500
7 Years€170,000€151,300€18,70011%€21,614
8 Years€190,000€168,150€21,85011.5%€21,019
9 Years€210,000€184,800€25,20012%€20,533
10 Years Best value€230,000€200,000€30,000~13%€20,000 / yr

The 10-year logic: The IFICI regime grants exactly 10 years of benefits. A full-term commitment matches this window perfectly — locking in costs at €20k/yr effective while maximising the duration of IFICI tax advantages. The financially optimal path for investors planning a long-term Lisbon base.

What the fees cover

Year 1 — €50,000

Covers the full cost of onboarding into the LVS ecosystem and IFICI regime.

  • IFICI application prepared & filed by our Portuguese legal counsel
  • NIF registration — handled by our retained lawyers
  • HoldCo direct equity participation
  • Legal setup fees — Portuguese counsel costs included
  • Shareholders' agreement drafted by legal counsel
  • Studio onboarding and platform access
  • First-year management fee allocation

Annual Renewal — €20,000/yr

Maintains active IFICI qualification and ongoing studio participation from Year 2 onwards.

  • IFICI annual re-qualification — managed by legal counsel
  • Ongoing portfolio monitoring and reporting
  • Studio platform and community access
  • Annual investor update and performance review
  • Legal and administrative maintenance via retained counsel
  • Priority access to new portfolio ventures

Everything you need to participate fully.

LVS investment is not a passive instrument. You are joining an active venture studio with infrastructure, expertise, and ecosystem access.

01
IFICI Structuring
Your personal IFICI application, NIF registration, and annual re-qualification are prepared and owned by our retained Portuguese legal counsel — not LVS. We coordinate; they execute.
02
Direct Portfolio Equity
Direct equity stakes in LVS portfolio companies — not pooled fund units. Full shareholders' agreement with governance rights included.
03
Studio Access
Full access to LVS's venture studio infrastructure — deal flow, network introductions, co-founder access, and advisory resources.
04
Legal Framework
Shareholders' agreement and company formation documents are drafted by our retained Portuguese counsel. All personal legal and tax documents are owned by your lawyer — not LVS.
05
Quarterly Reporting
Quarterly investor updates covering portfolio performance, financial position, new venture pipeline, and IFICI compliance status.
06
LinkedUp Community
Priority access to LinkedUp — our AI-powered global expat platform — connecting you with the Lisbon international founder community.
07
Tax Reference Docs
Annual investment confirmation letters are prepared by our legal counsel and provided directly to your tax advisor. All personal tax documentation is owned and issued by qualified lawyers, not LVS.
08
New Venture Priority
First right of participation in new ventures launched within the studio. Existing investors receive preferred terms on new LVS portfolio companies.

The companies your investment builds and backs.

Internally originated, AI-native ventures addressing structural market gaps. Direct equity access from the earliest stages.

Community · AI Platform · SUP Certified

LinkedUp

An AI-powered community platform built for the global expat and relocation market. Signal, Compass, and Vault — three intelligent layers powering connection, guidance, and knowledge.

Seed Stage
Music Industry · AI Diagnostics

Artist X-Ray

A diagnostic intelligence platform for the music industry — data-driven analysis for artist managers, labels, publishers, and rights holders navigating streaming fragmentation.

Pre-Seed Stage
B2B SaaS · Rapid Deployment

FastForge

A rapid B2B SaaS deployment platform compressing zero-to-revenue timelines. Product infrastructure, go-to-market frameworks, and enterprise sales tooling — from concept to customers in weeks.

Pre-Seed Stage

From first conversation to active IFICI status.

Designed to be as frictionless as possible. You provide documentation — our retained Portuguese legal counsel handle all personal tax and legal steps. LVS coordinates the process.

01

Initial Assessment Call

A 45-minute call to review your background, investment objectives, and IFICI eligibility. We assess fit on both sides before proceeding.

Day 1–3
02

Investor Brief Review & NDA

Access to full financial models, portfolio documentation, and legal framework. Non-disclosure agreement executed.

Day 3–7
03

Term Sheet & Commitment Agreement

Investment terms confirmed, commitment period selected, term sheet signed. Tier discount confirmed and documented.

Day 7–14
04

Portuguese Legal Setup

NIF registration, bank account facilitation, and shareholders' agreement preparation are all owned and executed by our retained Lisbon legal partners — not by LVS directly.

Week 2–4
05

IFICI Application Filing

Your personal IFICI application is prepared and filed directly with Portuguese tax authorities by our retained legal counsel. LVS coordinates the process — your lawyer owns it.

Week 3–5
06

Active Status Confirmed

IFICI status confirmed. Portfolio equity documentation executed. Investor onboarded to studio platform and quarterly reporting cycle begins.

Week 4–8

Detailed answers to the right questions.

Common questions from assessed investors, answered honestly and completely.

Do I need to live in Portugal full-time to qualify for IFICI? +
Not full-time in the strict sense, but you must establish Portugal as your habitual place of residence — typically defined as spending at least 183 days per year in Portugal, or maintaining your primary habitual residence there. This is a legal and tax determination that should be confirmed with independent Portuguese tax advice for your specific situation.
What if the IFICI regime changes during my 10-year window? +
IFICI registrants granted status before any legislative change are typically protected under transitional provisions — retaining their regime benefits for the remainder of their 10-year window even if rules change for new applicants. Portugal maintained this principle through the NHR to IFICI transition. Future changes cannot be guaranteed.
Is investment in LVS portfolio companies genuinely IFICI-qualifying? +
Our portfolio companies hold or are in the process of holding Startup Portugal (SUP) certification — one of the recognised qualifying investment categories under the IFICI framework. We structure investments specifically to satisfy IFICI qualifying requirements. Your own tax advisor should confirm the position in the context of your complete tax situation.
What equity percentage do I receive for my investment? +
Equity participation is negotiated individually based on commitment size, period, and strategic value. Year 1 investment provides entry equity in one or more portfolio companies, with LVS HoldCo retaining majority governance. Full equity terms are set out in the shareholders' agreement, provided for review prior to any commitment.
Can I exit my investment before my commitment period ends? +
Exit provisions are included in the shareholders' agreement. Early exit from a bundled commitment would forfeit the remaining unused discount and may be subject to exit terms in the agreement. We structure exits to be fair while protecting the continuity of the studio and its portfolio companies.
Are there additional costs beyond the LVS investment fees? +
There are two layers of legal cost to be aware of. First, LVS's retained Portuguese legal counsel handle all IFICI structuring, NIF registration, and personal tax document setup on your behalf — these costs are included within the LVS fee structure. Second, we strongly recommend engaging your own independent Portuguese tax advisor (~€2–5k/yr) who acts solely in your personal interest, separate from LVS and our counsel. Personal accounting in your home country and living costs if relocating are also additional.
Can founder-investors take an active operational role? +
The studio actively welcomes founder-investors — individuals who want to both invest and take an active operational role within one or more portfolio ventures. IFICI particularly favours this, as qualifying professional activity adds an additional pillar of IFICI eligibility. We discuss founder-investor structures on a case-by-case basis.

Ready to take the next step? Let's talk.

A 45-minute call with the LVS founding team. No pitching, no pressure. A genuine conversation about whether this is the right fit on both sides.

📈

Start the conversation.
Begin your IFICI journey.

We respond to all assessed investor enquiries within 48 hours. All conversations are confidential.

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Already assessed?
Return to the studio.

Access the full portfolio documentation, financial models, and legal framework at the main studio platform.