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Spain's startup ecosystem is growing, with Barcelona and Madrid being major hubs for innovation. As of 2023, Spain is home to around 10,000 startups. The Spanish government supports innovation through initiatives like the Spanish Startup Law, which provides tax incentives and funding for startups. In 2022, Spanish startups raised approximately €2.5 billion in venture capital. These factors collectively highlight Spain's dynamic and evolving startup landscape.
As of 2023, Spain's startup ecosystem includes around 10,000 startups. In 2022, these startups attracted approximately €2.5 billion in venture capital funding. This substantial investment underscores the ecosystem's growth potential and robust nature. The market's size and financial backing reflect its capacity to foster innovation and sustain a competitive edge within Europe and beyond.
Spain's startup ecosystem is characterized by several key strengths, including a favorable climate for business, a high quality of life, and a strategic location in Europe. The country excels in sectors such as travel tech, fintech, and healthtech. These strengths are bolstered by Spain's robust industrial base and government support, positioning it as a leader in the European startup scene.
Barcelona and Madrid are the primary hubs of Spain’s startup ecosystem. Barcelona is renowned for its strengths in travel tech, fintech, and healthtech, attracting entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. Notable startups like Glovo and Wallapop have emerged from this vibrant city. Madrid, on the other hand, is a financial hub with a growing tech scene, particularly in fintech and enterprise software. These cities are instrumental in driving Spain's economic growth and technological advancements.
In addition to Barcelona and Madrid, emerging hubs like Valencia, Bilbao, and Malaga are gaining prominence in Spain’s startup ecosystem. Valencia is known for its strengths in agtech and biotech, Bilbao for its industrial tech and engineering sectors, and Malaga for its focus on digital technology and smart cities. These emerging hubs are expanding the reach and diversity of Spain’s entrepreneurial landscape, offering new opportunities for innovation and growth.
Spain’s startup ecosystem benefits from a strong network of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces that provide essential support and resources for entrepreneurs. Initiatives like Barcelona Activa and Wayra have significantly boosted the ecosystem by offering mentorship, resources, and international exposure. This supportive infrastructure is crucial for nurturing early-stage companies and fostering a collaborative entrepreneurial environment.
Despite its strengths, the Spanish startup ecosystem faces challenges such as high unemployment rates, bureaucratic hurdles, and limited access to late-stage funding. Navigating these hurdles can be time-consuming and complex for startups. Addressing these issues requires strategic efforts and supportive policies to sustain growth and competitiveness in the global market.
Spain has significant opportunities for growth in sectors like travel tech, fintech, and cleantech. The country's strong focus on sustainability and green technology drives innovation in renewable energy and environmental technologies. Spain's strategic location in Europe provides startups with opportunities for international expansion, particularly within the European Union. With continued investment and innovation, Spain's startup ecosystem is poised for further growth, contributing significantly to the European and global markets.
Spain's startup ecosystem demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability. The country's commitment to innovation, coupled with strong government and institutional support, enables startups to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities. The diverse talent pool and vibrant culture attract entrepreneurs and investors alike, ensuring sustained growth and success in the face of global economic shifts and market dynamics.
Spain's startup ecosystem benefits significantly from the support of influential angel investors who provide crucial early-stage funding and mentorship. Notable figures include Carlos Blanco, founder of Encomenda Smart Capital, and Javier Faus, founder of Meridia Capital. These investors typically contribute between €25,000 and €500,000 per deal, offering not only capital but also strategic guidance and industry expertise. Their involvement is vital for the growth and development of early-stage companies, helping them navigate initial challenges and scale effectively.
Spain's venture capital landscape is driven by leading firms that provide substantial investments into high-growth startups. Firms such as Seaya Ventures, Kibo Ventures, and Nauta Capital are at the forefront, funding sectors including technology, health, and fintech. Seaya Ventures, for instance, has a diverse portfolio that includes companies like Glovo and Cabify. These firms typically engage in Series A to Series C funding rounds, with investment sizes ranging from €1 million to €50 million, facilitating significant scaling opportunities for startups.
The size and scope of investments in Spain's startup ecosystem vary, catering to different stages of business growth. Early-stage investments, often provided by angel investors, range from €25,000 to €2 million. For growth-stage companies, venture capital firms offer larger funding rounds, typically between €5 million and €50 million. The scope of these investments spans various sectors, including AI, biotechnology, fintech, and cleantech, reflecting the diverse and dynamic nature of Spain's entrepreneurial landscape.
Spain's venture capital and angel investment activity are robust, with a significant number of deals annually. In 2022, over 300 venture capital deals were recorded, amounting to approximately €2.5 billion in investments. This high level of activity underscores the vibrancy of the Spanish startup ecosystem, with both angel investors and venture capital firms actively seeking out and funding promising startups across a broad spectrum of industries.
The future outlook for Spain's investment market is highly optimistic. With a continued emphasis on innovation and technology, sectors such as AI, biotechnology, and clean technology are expected to drive substantial growth. Government support through initiatives like the Spanish Startup Law further bolsters the ecosystem. As global interest in sustainable and innovative solutions increases, Spain's startups are well-positioned to attract significant international investments, fostering an environment ripe for continued expansion and success.
Support and mentorship are critical components of Spain's startup ecosystem. Angel investors and venture capitalists often provide more than just financial backing; they offer strategic advice, industry connections, and operational support. Programs like Barcelona Activa and Wayra enhance this support, offering structured mentorship, resources, and access to capital. This comprehensive support system helps startups navigate early challenges and scale effectively.
The Spanish government and various institutions play a pivotal role in nurturing the startup ecosystem. Initiatives such as the Spanish Startup Law and support from entities like ENISA provide substantial financial support and incentives. Additionally, organizations like ICEX offer grants, loans, and advisory services. This extensive support infrastructure is vital for fostering innovation, reducing financial barriers, and promoting sustainable growth within the startup community.
Spain's startup ecosystem is bolstered by top angel investors, leading venture capital firms, and extensive support systems. With a diverse range of investment sizes and scopes, the market is poised for significant growth. The future outlook remains positive, driven by innovation, government support, and a collaborative environment. As Spain continues to attract global investments and foster entrepreneurial talent, it stands to become a key player in the global startup landscape, contributing to advancements across various high-growth sectors.
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London, U.K. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Future Of Work • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Mobility
Partner at Index Ventures
Martin Mignot serves as a Partner at Index Ventures. He also serves as Advisory Board Member at TheFamily. He specialises in SaaS, marketplaces, bitcoin and mobile. He worked on 50+ transactions to date, including Assistly, Auxmoney, BaseCRM, Cloud.com, Codecademy, DimDim, Factual, Farfetch, Flipboard, Funding Circle, Gluster, HouseTrip, Just Eat, Lookout, Nasty Gal, Notonthehighstreet, onefinestay, PeoplePerHour, TrustPilot, Soluto and SoundCloud. He is actively looking after Index's investments in Algolia, Capitaine Train, Drivy, Rad and Swiftkey. Prior to joining Index, Martin was in the TMT team at UBS Investment Bank and cofounded the beauty subscription business Boudoir Prive (acquired by Joliebox/Birchbox) and a student web radio service.
London - New York - Sao Paulo - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - U.K. - Spain - Brazil - Mexico
FinTech (& Financials services) • Payments • Woman Focused
Early stage fintech investor
Financial services investor and operator.
General Partner @ propel.vc. Veteran in financial services industry in both start-ups and large corporations.
, U.S.A. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
CleanTech • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Music
Founder & CEO Salto Network * Angel investor * Co-founder Pipedrive CRM
Co-founder & CEO Salto X
Menlo Park - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Israel - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Icelan
BioTech • Businesses Solutions • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • IoT (& Wearables) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Autonomous vehicles (& Cars) • Robotics
Riverwood Capital is a globally-focused private equity firm that invests in high-growth businesses in the technology and services industries, across a variety of verticals and geographies. Riverwood has offices in Menlo Park, CA and New York, NY and currently has more than 20 investments in North America, Latin America and Asia. The firm's current fund has $780 million of committed capital. The final fund close was in April 2011. Riverwood invests in mid-market technology and technology enabled products and services. The firm defines mid-market as approximately $100-$500 million in revenue for product companies, and approximately $25-$150 million in revenue for software and services. Riverwood occasionally invests outside these ranges. Riverwood invests on a global basis, having already invested in the U.S., Israel, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. The firm's normal investment size ranges from $25-75 million.
Los Angeles - California, U.S.A. - Germany - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Icela
Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Energy • IoT (& Wearables) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • GovTech • Robotics • Aerospace (& Defense) • DeepTech • Woman Focused
Most Interested In
We're interested in teams re-imagining cities in 3 areas - GHG reduction, climate adaptation and solving problems associated with high density (like traffic or public safety). Cities are complex, so founders continue inspire and amaze us by identifying new systemic issues and solutions. If you're re-imagining city life, we'd love to hear from you.
Not Interested In
We don't invest in edtech or healthtech. Certainly not a vote on whether we want to see these categories succeed, we just think they need additional focus/skills which we don't have. That said public health is a growing area of interesting.
Shaun Abrahamson is a Founder and serves as Managing Partner at Urban Us. Shaun is a Member of the Investment Committee, and he leads investment selection and communications with portfolio companies, members of the Network, and limited partners in Fund II. Before founding Fund I, Shaun was an active angel investor, investing in more than 20 firms between 2007 and 2013 in his personal capacity. Early-stage investing and advising is informed by his experiences building MediaSentry (acquired by SafeNet in 2005), Starmedia Network (acquired by France Telecom) and Oculus Technologies (MIT CADLab spin-out). In 1999, he was an early employee at govWorks, one of the earliest startups focused on serving local government. govWorks was ahead of the market and failed during the dot-com bust, becoming the subject of the documentary Startup.com in 2001. Shaun has written for organizations such as The Economist Intelligence Unit, The Huffington Post, and CNNMoney. Crowdstorm, published by Wiley, was his first book and is a guide to working with large online crowds to find and evaluate ideas. The book is based on Shaun's experience working with Starbucks, Omnicom Group, $300 House, and Life Edited. Shaun has an MSc from MIT; an MBA from the Berlin School of Creative Leadership; and a BSc from the University of Cape Town. He is also an Angel Investor.
San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Consumer
Early stage investor. Early backer of Loom, Kettle and Fire, Compound Finance, and Board member of Pipefy.
Most Interested In
Entrepreneurs that will stop at nothing to accomplish their goals.
Barcelona, Spain
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • PropTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Sales (& Marketing) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Real Estate (& Construction)
Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Encomenda Smart Capital
Founder of Akamon Entertainment and Grupo ITnet. Cofounder of Conector Startup Accelerator. Founder of First Tuesday Spain and First Tuesday BAN.
San Francisco Bay Area, Germany - U.S.A. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Icela
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • FinTech (& Financials services) • Blockchain (& Cryptos)
Dr. Marek Olszewski is a Co-Founder of Celo. He is a Co-Founder and served as the Chief Technology Officer at Locu. Prior to Locu, Marek was a senior PhD candidate at MIT CSAIL. He is a Facebook Fellow and the recipient of the J. Edgar McAllister Fellowship. He has prior work experience at a number of technology companies including Google, Microsoft (Research) and Sun (Labs). He is also an angel investor.
, U.S.A. - U.K. - Singapore - Israel - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • AgroTech • Entertainment (& Sports) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Gaming (& eSports) • Logistics (& Distribution) • Woman Focused • UrbanTech
Frank Meehan is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at SparkLabs Global Ventures. He also is an Angel Investor. He serves as Partner at SparkLabs. Jimmy is Co-founder and President of N3N, an IoT platform company and Cisco's first global IoT investment. They service numerous Fortune 500 companies and governments, such as Samsung Electronics, POSCO, Port of Singapore, The North Face, and Hyundai Motors. Previously, he co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer at Kuato. He served as Board Member at Spinlist. He previously served as N3N's CEO. He received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, and also an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Jimmy also completed the Stanford University's Graduate School of Business's Executive Management Program.
Latvia, U.S.A. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • PropTech • Education • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Robotics • Real Estate (& Construction) • Woman Focused
Managing Partner @Change Ventures. Kauffman Fellow Class 22. Chairman @TechHub Riga. Co-founder @TechChill.
Backing ambitious Baltic founders from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, building global success stories.
Most Interested In
The best Baltic founders building global businesses.
Not Interested In
Any investments that don't have Baltic founders - sorry, but it is outside our investment scope. Founders who don't have the "grit" (passion and perseverance) to build big, global, scalable businesses.
San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
BioTech • Businesses Solutions • A.I. (& Big Data) • DeepTech
Daniel Gross the founder of Greplin, a search engine. Greplin operated by linking together various online accounts into one search experience. For example, a customer could search their Facebook, Gmail and Dropbox accounts from one unified service without check each individually. In 2011, Greplin raised $4 million in funding from venture capital firm Sequoia Capital. Gross was one of Sequoia's youngest founders at the time. They introduced a premium offering at $5 a month, which allowed customers to link enterprise-facing services like Salesforce. In 2012 the company renamed itself to “Cue” and launched an additional predictive search features. In addition to search, Cue offered customers an automatic and intelligent agenda of their day. This included files, emails, addresses, phone numbers and more that were deemed algorithmically relevant. Cue was a similar product to Google Now. He is Y-Combinator's first Israeli.
, U.S.A. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
Hardware (& Manufacturing) • IoT (& Wearables) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools • Material Science • DeepTech
Principal at Lunar Ventures - DeepTech VC Investor
