Key Takeaways
- • Portuguese AI startup Granter, co-founded by Bernardo Seixas and Bernardo Tavares, raised €1.6 million in fresh funding, bringing its total funding to €2 million.
- • 3XP Global led the round through its Impact Innovation Fund, which operates under the Venture Capital Programme of Portugal's Capitalisation and Resilience Fund (FdCR), managed by Banco Português de Fomento.
- • Granter will use the capital to expand its AI-powered grant application platform into Spain, Germany and Italy, with plans to more than double its workforce by the end of 2026.
- • Other participants included Celtis Venture Partners, Gateway Ventures and US-based HR technology company Deel.
- • The company reports it has assisted over 140 companies in preparing applications for more than €30 million in public financing, though its time-savings claims are based on its own assessment.
Summary
Portuguese artificial intelligence startup Granter has raised €1.6 million in fresh funding to expand its AI-powered grant application platform into Spain, Germany and Italy. The round brings the company's total funding to €2 million and supports plans to more than double its workforce by the end of 2026, according to the company's announcement as reported in the source article.
3XP Global led the round through its Impact Innovation Fund, which operates under the Venture Capital Programme of Portugal's Capitalisation and Resilience Fund (FdCR), managed by state development bank Banco Português de Fomento. Other participants included Celtis Venture Partners, Gateway Ventures, which has backing from Austrian and German investors, and Deel, a US-based human resources technology company.
Granter develops software that helps startups and small and medium-sized enterprises navigate European public funding programmes. The platform identifies relevant grant opportunities, assists with application preparation and supports project management after funding approval. The company recently relaunched its AI Grant Consultant with a conversational interface that supports funding searches, application preparation and management of approved projects. Granter claims the technology can reduce certain administrative tasks from several weeks to less than an hour, although that figure is based on the company's own assessment. Since winning the PITCH competition for startups at Web Summit in November 2025, the company reports it has assisted over 140 companies in preparing applications for more than €30 million of public financing. Its reported customers include ANA Airports, MC Sonae, energy company Galp, the Portuguese Navy and insurance group Fidelidade.
CEO and co-founder Bernardo Seixas said complicated application procedures keep many businesses from accessing funding despite viable projects. "Today, thousands of companies with solid projects are left out of public funding, not for lack of merit, but because they do not have the time, the team or the knowledge to deal with complex, bureaucratic processes," Seixas said.
Portugal remains Granter's largest market. The company already has investor connections and initial business relationships in Spain, Germany and Italy, and intends to enter the United States over the medium term. The new capital will also fund further AI product development and recruitment.
3XP Global led the round through its Impact Innovation Fund, which operates under the Venture Capital Programme of Portugal's Capitalisation and Resilience Fund (FdCR), managed by state development bank Banco Português de Fomento. Other participants included Celtis Venture Partners, Gateway Ventures, which has backing from Austrian and German investors, and Deel, a US-based human resources technology company.
Granter develops software that helps startups and small and medium-sized enterprises navigate European public funding programmes. The platform identifies relevant grant opportunities, assists with application preparation and supports project management after funding approval. The company recently relaunched its AI Grant Consultant with a conversational interface that supports funding searches, application preparation and management of approved projects. Granter claims the technology can reduce certain administrative tasks from several weeks to less than an hour, although that figure is based on the company's own assessment. Since winning the PITCH competition for startups at Web Summit in November 2025, the company reports it has assisted over 140 companies in preparing applications for more than €30 million of public financing. Its reported customers include ANA Airports, MC Sonae, energy company Galp, the Portuguese Navy and insurance group Fidelidade.
CEO and co-founder Bernardo Seixas said complicated application procedures keep many businesses from accessing funding despite viable projects. "Today, thousands of companies with solid projects are left out of public funding, not for lack of merit, but because they do not have the time, the team or the knowledge to deal with complex, bureaucratic processes," Seixas said.
Portugal remains Granter's largest market. The company already has investor connections and initial business relationships in Spain, Germany and Italy, and intends to enter the United States over the medium term. The new capital will also fund further AI product development and recruitment.
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