Build-operate-transfer (BOT) in Lisbon: how to launch a tech hub with a partner like Aubay Portugal

The Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model is a strategic partnership framework where a specialized provider sets up and runs a nearshore tech operation for a client, and later transfers that operation back to the client once it is stable and mature.

In the context of a tech hub in Lisbon, BOT typically follows three phases:

1. Once the tech hub is stable and delivering consistent value, the partner transfers the operation to you.
2. The team, knowledge, processes, and assets are moved into your own legal entity or captive center.
3. You end up with a fully owned Lisbon tech hub, without the typical pains of building everything alone.

This model is particularly attractive for companies that want to scale engineering capacity in Europe while keeping long-term ownership and control.

Before looking at the advantages of BOT, it is important to understand why Lisbon is one of the most attractive locations in Europe for a Build-Operate-Transfer tech hub.

Key advantages of Lisbon as a nearshore tech hub include:

Strong tech talent pool: Lisbon concentrates top universities and engineering schools, producing skilled software engineers, DevOps, QA, data, and cloud specialists every year. The city has become a magnet for international tech talent as well.

Nearshore location and time zone: Lisbon’s WET / CET±1 time zone is ideal for collaboration with Western and Central Europe, and still workable with North America. Real-time communication is easy, which is crucial for agile development and DevOps.

Mature IT services ecosystem: Portugal has a well-established nearshore and managed services ecosystem, with players like Aubay Portugal that have years of experience building teams for global clients across sectors like banking, telecom, energy, retail, and technology.

Attractive cost-to-quality ratio: Compared to other Western European capitals, Lisbon offers a very competitive cost structure while maintaining high quality in engineering, management, and infrastructure.

Lifestyle and employer branding: Lisbon is known for its quality of life, safety, and international vibe. This helps with talent attraction and retention, a critical success factor for any BOT tech hub.

During the Build phase, the partner focuses on speed and fit:

- Talent strategy and hiring Definition of roles, stacks, and profiles aligned with your product roadmap and technology strategy. The partner uses local recruiting expertise and employer brand to attract the right people.

- Team structure and governance Designing squads, delivery models (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe), reporting lines, and interfaces with your existing teams in HQ or other regions.

- Infrastructure and tooling Setting up the work environment, collaboration tools, security practices, and access to your systems so that the Lisbon tech hub can integrate seamlessly into your existing landscape.

- Cultural alignment Embedding your company culture, values, and engineering practices from the beginning – especially important for long-term knowledge transfer and future integration.

This stage is about building a foundation that is scalable and compatible with a future transfer to your own entity.

In the Operate phase, the partner assumes full operational responsibility for the Lisbon tech hub:

• End-to-end delivery management The partner manages the teams, delivery commitments, SLAs, and continuous improvement of processes and quality.
  
  
• People management and retention Performance reviews, career development, training, and engagement initiatives are handled locally, leveraging deep knowledge of the Portuguese market and culture.
  
  
• Process optimization and scaling As the tech hub grows, the partner optimizes workflows, DevOps pipelines, QA strategies, and team structure to ensure the operation remains efficient and resilient.
  
  You, as the client, maintain strategic oversight and product ownership, while the partner ensures daily operations and local management run smoothly.

The Transfer phase is where the BOT model delivers its unique long-term value:

Planned transition From the beginning, the partner and client agree on timelines, criteria, and mechanisms for the transfer (e.g., size of team, maturity level, performance KPIs).

Legal and contractual structuring The operation is migrated to your own legal entity or captive center in Portugal, including employment transitions, contracts, and compliance.

Knowledge and process transfer All critical institutional knowledge, documentation, and processes are handed over to your internal leaders, ensuring continuity.

Post-transfer support Often, the partner can remain involved in a hybrid model (staff augmentation, managed services, or project work) to keep supporting growth after the transfer.

At the end, you have a fully owned, high-performing Lisbon tech hub that you can continue to scale under your own brand, governance, and strategy.

Entering a new country typically involves:

1. Local labor laws and regulations
2. Office or workspace setup
3. Employer branding in a new market
4. HR policies, benefits, and compliance
5. Cultural and management adaptation

The BOT model offloads most of this complexity onto the partner during the Build and Operate phases. You reduce:

Operational risk (hiring, retention, compliance)
Financial risk (heavy upfront investment)
Execution risk (delays, misalignment, failed hires)

By the time you reach the Transfer phase, the operation is already proven and stable.

Unlike classic outsourcing, BOT is designed from the start with a clear transfer and ownership path:

1. You ultimately own the team, processes, and local operation.
2. Strategic decisions, architecture, and roadmap remain in your hands.
3. You are not locked into an indefinite vendor dependency for core capabilities.
   This makes BOT particularly attractive for mission-critical platforms, products, and IP where having your own captive center is a long-term objective.

Through a partner like Aubay Portugal, you gain access to:

• Experienced software engineers, DevOps, QA, cloud, and data specialists in Lisbon.
• Local knowledge about talent market dynamics, salary benchmarks, and retention levers.
• Established learning and development programs that keep skills aligned with modern technologies.
  
  

This is essential for companies that struggle to hire or retain top talent in their home markets.

The BOT model enables cost visibility and scalability:

During Build and Operate, you can structure pricing in a transparent and predictable way (for example, per FTE, per squad, or per capacity block).
You can scale teams up or down in the Lisbon hub according to product roadmap, budget cycles, or business priorities.
After Transfer, you fully capture the long-term cost benefits of operating your own tech hub in Portugal.

This makes BOT a strong option for CFOs and CIOs seeking a sustainable, scalable model rather than short-term cost-cutting.

Because the end-state is your captive center, the whole BOT journey is designed to:

• Embed your culture, engineering principles, and practices from the start.
• Avoid the typical disconnect between outsourcing providers and internal teams.
• Ensure a smooth integration between Lisbon and your existing offices (HQ, other hubs).
  
  

This results in better collaboration, clearer ownership, and improved employee engagement over time.

The Build-Operate-Transfer model is especially relevant if:

• You want to establish or expand a nearshore presence in Europe.
• Your roadmap requires significant scaling of engineering, DevOps, or QA capacity.
• You need to accelerate delivery but do not want to remain permanently dependent on a single vendor.
• You see strategic value in having a long-term, owned tech hub in Lisbon.
• You value cultural proximity, overlapping time zones, and strong English-speaking talent.
  In these scenarios, partnering with a seasoned player like Aubay Portugal to set up a BOT tech hub in Lisbon can be a highly effective strategy.

The Build-Operate-Transfer model offers a structured, low-risk way to create a nearshore tech hub in Lisbon with the support of an experienced partner. By combining:

• A mature Portuguese tech ecosystem
• A partner with proven delivery and people management capabilities, such as Aubay Portugal
• A clear roadmap from build to operate to transfer
  
  

Companies can quickly gain new product development capacity, nearshore resilience, and finally a fully owned, high-performing Lisbon tech center.

For organizations looking beyond traditional outsourcing and towards strategic, long-term technology capability in Europe, a BOT Lisbon tech hub is a compelling model to consider.