For a few years, Spain's startup environment has gone unnoticed; however, the entrepreneurial environment is fastly gaining pace, particularly for innovation and disruptive company models. A solid cohort of scaleups is growing competitive locally and globally, with household name unicorns such TravelPerk, Glovo, and Cabify garnering attention. Coupled with the new Startups Law, establishes a new framework of tax and labor incentives that encourage increased investment and talent acquisition in Spain's burgeoning startups.
Startup accelerators and incubators have been crucial in providing support for early-stage startups to gain traction within the country. As such, in this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of all incubator and accelerator programs in Spain that can assist you in launching and growing your startup. The incubators and accelerators in this list have been subdivided into applicability for startups in their 'ideation', 'launch', or 'growth' stages.
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FULL LIST OF STARTUP INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS IN SPAIN
Ideation Stage Startup Incubators in Spain
Full list of ideation-stage startup incubators in Spain:
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
TecnoCampus is a program co-organized by the UPF and the TecnoCampus Mataró-Maresme to encourage the formation of innovative businesses. The program is primarily intended for students of UPF as well as graduates of any UPF course taken in the previous four academic years. The program will assist participants in creating new businesses, which is conducted in three phases: 1) Business Model Canvas, 2) Training and 3) Establishment and Initial Steps. Best projects may receive funding of up to EUR 6,000.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Gaming
GameBCN is a public and private-sector-funded initiative that is completely free for gaming startups to participate in. They run an incubation program that assists video game developers in professionalizing their production pipeline and expanding their economic potential. They also organize the GameBCN Video Game Studies Acceleration Program which provides specialized help to promising video game companies to improve their business projects. GameBCN's program is organized around four major pillars: talent development, business development, production training, and networking events; which entails 60 hours of training, 26 hours of mentoring, weekly production follow-up, and more.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs without an idea / Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: No
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Demium was established with the purpose of supporting experts in launching successful projects with a strong digital and technical component. They run incubation programs in 4 cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Malaga. The program will assist you with starting a company from the ground up; building a startup that answers to an existing challenge and aligns with your passions, prior employment, and experience, as well as finding your co-founding team and validating your business concept.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Information Technology and Communications
The UPCT's Cloud Incubator HUB is targeted to all entrepreneurs who have an idea and wish to develop it into a business, as well as for existing startups to who want to expand their firms. Aside from infrastructure and training, the Cloud Incubator HUB ecosystem also involves technological and business mentors from the University as well as other partner organizations to host innovative events for startups. Cloud Incubator HUB gathers all of the experience and network of connections from various programs and allows enterprises at various stages of development to collaborate and apply their knowledge together. As such, they have built an environment in which the idea, creation, and acceleration of high-tech businesses are supported in an organic manner.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Ufounders is a unique entrepreneurship marketplace where they work with startups throughout their lifecycle and provide them with resources and techniques to transform your company concept into a startup. Through mentorship, you can gain advice to strengthen the fundamentals of your company creation. They will also help you to find investors for your funding rounds. Finally, you can join the community to stay in touch with successful entrepreneurs and mentors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
BIC Araba has been offering support services to entrepreneurs and businesses since its inception in 1988. They help startups with innovative concept and technology-based business ideas with high-level training to nurture their growth in Alava. They can assist you through technical, production, and financial guidance by providing resources, as well as help in acquiring any necessary feasibility studies or government funding.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology
BIC GIPUZKOA is Gipuzkoa's Business Innovation Centre (BIC), which provides incubation, training programs, and assistance you need to establish a business. Since its inception in 1993, it has become an important engine in regional development that answers to the concrete needs of new entrepreneurs and businesses. Working closely with technology centers, private and public Institutions, and universities; BIC GIPUZKOA operates as a facilitator in the process of developing new, creative enterprises.
Launch Stage Startup Incubators and Accelerators in Spain
Full list of launch-stage startup incubators and accelerators in Spain:
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs without an idea / Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: -
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Lanzadera is a business accelerator and incubator run by the power of collective intelligence. They harness the power of their ecosystem comprising startups of all types and degrees of maturity coexist, mentors, project managers, partners, and large corporations to collaborate and drive progress. Their Shuttle acceleration program helps startups to implement a solid business model based on productivity, effort, and leadership.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: eHealth, IoT, Edtech, Cloud, Metaverse, Web 3.0, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Cybersecurity
Wayra is the startup accelerator of Telefonica, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. Wayra operates in 7 centers across Europe and Latin America, with activities in 9 countries for a single goal: to assist companies in expanding on a worldwide scale. In Spain, Wayra is present in the country's two most prominent innovation centers, Barcelona and Madrid. They provide startups with funding, mentoring, and access to Telefonica's global network of business contacts.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Energy
Repsol Foundation (Fundación Repsol) is an initiative by Repsol, a multinational Spanish energy and petrochemical business. Through the Entrepreneurs Fund, the startup accelerator supports entrepreneurship and delivers technology solutions to the challenges of the Energy Transition. The program is suitable for startups that are in the testing phase with real customers or startups who will reach this phase within 1 to 2 years. The program will provide financial help ranging from EUR 60,000 to 100,000, support from a multidisciplinary team of mentors, and the opportunity to conduct pilot testing with Repsol.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: FinTech, InsurTech, RegTech, Cybersecurity
The ABANCA Innova Program enables entrepreneurs to do an equity-free proof of concept program and potentially establish a working relationship with ABANCA, a Spanish bank. They would like to help startups in constructing a proof of concept that allows startups to validate their value offer to ABANCA. You will be assisted by mentors from both ABANCA and key experts in the Spanish banking industry to develop your startup from its inception to its advanced phases.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Food and Beverage, Gastronomy
Barlab Ventures is the open innovation platform of Mahou San Miguel, a Spanish brewing company. They aspire to lead and set the path for innovation in the gastronomic business by providing a platform that acts as a voice for the industry's major concerns and the whole value chain. They are looking for talent to help them improve the gastronomy business at Barlab Ventures, generating new opportunities through open innovation between startups and partners. They open various challenges every year and will support your development, validate your business model, and scale it to attract investment with their team of over 3800 specialists.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Green Construction, Enhanced Productivity, Construction Supply Chain, Construction’s Future is Now
CEMEX Ventures Leaplab is a corporate accelerator program for early-stage entrepreneurs run by CEMEX, a building materials company. They assist global entrepreneurs who want to disrupt the construction industry and accelerate the development of their solutions by using CEMEX's resources and industry experience. They financially support startups in conducting pilot for solution validation and refinement, along with dedicated mentorship sessions with CEMEX specialists and partners.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: InsurTech
Mundi Lab is an acceleration program run in collaboration between Munich Re, a German global insurance business, and Mundi Ventures, a technology-focused venture capital firm. The program help companies with innovative ideas for the insurance and reinsurance sectors get to market faster. The program is divided into 2 phases: Phase 1 is a 5-week rigorous program aimed to provide selected startups with limitless prospects in the insurance business, whilst Phase 2 will provide top-performing firms with the potential to enter a commercial partnership with Munich Re.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sectors
The IMPACT accelerator, sponsored by ISDI and FundingBox, provides entrepreneurs with a rigorous and decentralized acceleration experience. They offer a variety of programs and equity-free investments to companies in various industries. Since their inception in 2014, they have accelerated 102 startups and have consistently been ranked as one of the best accelerators in Spain and Europe.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sectors
Finnovista works with corporations, startups, and entrepreneurs to improve the finance and insurance industry. They provide startup programs to assist you in boosting, consolidating, and expanding your Fintech and Insurtech project based on the Unleash Framework, a comprehensive paradigm of innovation. They harness the power of the innovation ecosystem and allow corporations to uncover new development opportunities, co-create value and solutions with startups, and establish new scalable businesses to produce future growth engines.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Demium Accelerator assists startups in the formation of growth and businesses. They will work with you for 6 months to establish your startup's strategy and action plan through weekly online sprints with specialists. They'll invest EUR150,000 and help them throughout the life of the company, reducing the risks involved with starting a business. They will also assist you in closing a funding round larger than €300,000 through Demo Days, Roadshows, and Investor Networking.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Founded by serial entrepreneurs with multiple exits such as Strands and Polymita, Bcombinator is an incubator, investment fund, and coworking space that produces and invests in high-growth-potential startups. Through their 6-months intensive program, they support startups in getting from concept to a viable business. You will be accompanied by seasoned mentors who are successful entrepreneurs that have founded and sold one or more businesses and access weekly meetings with marketing, product, and technology consultants, as well as other advisors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
BerriUp offers an avenue to interact with entrepreneurs, potential clients, and investors. They offer a 4-month startup acceleration program to help entrepreneurs bring their projects to market. They base their program on Lean Startup methodology to swiftly and efficiently evaluate and validate products with the market. In exchange for 10% equity, the Easo Ventures fund invests €50,000 in projects that participate in the acceleration program.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
ViaGalicia is a sector-agnostic accelerator for creative initiatives in any productive sector, with a program that includes training, mentorship, and finance. They select the finest ideas to move through the pre-acceleration phase supervised by a team of professionals, during which they will test your initial hypothesis and solidify the projects through practical training, lean experiments, and networking. Selected firms will thereafter take part in a 9-month acceleration program in the ViaGalicia (Nigrán) coworking space, including monthly lectures, round tables, and networking meetings. As you meet the milestones of the action plan prepared personally by a team of mentors, you will get funding to get your firm off the ground and expand, including EUR 1.5 million of direct investment to promote selected startups.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
FI Boost is an equity-free business acceleration program offered by FI Group, a global consulting firm that specializes in the administration of funding initiatives. For 5 months, they will guide and accompany you to launch into the market. As part of the program, you may leverage their expert consultants to secure public and private financing options, as well as navigate tax breaks, public financing, innovation, sales, legal, and so forth. You will also gain access to FI Group's network of over 4,000 national and 18,000 international clients, and opportunities to gain investments from FI Group and external investors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Social and Environmental Impact Technology
With the mission to boost the impact economy, Ship2B Foundation provides specialized acceleration programs for technology-based startups with high social and environmental impact. They assist startups by providing mentoring through their world-class network of professionals as well as linking them with corporations and entities in their ecosystem and providing opportunities for alliances. They also operate a EUR 4 million investment vehicle as well and an impact investing network for startups' capital needs.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Conector is a startup accelerator that works with seed-stage entrepreneurs to help them enhance their skills and expertise, complete their teams, validate their business ideas, and grow. Conector provides startups with a board of top-level and prominent mentors who will assist them in developing their business strategy and connecting them with the necessary contacts. These mentors are accomplished entrepreneurs, managers, and investors who have the most relevant network of connections in any industry. Within 6 months of acceleration, startups may achieve growth that they may be difficult to traverse on their own.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Startup Labs is a 6-month program aimed to help any form of technology-based startup to become scalable businesses. They help startups identify the areas that require development and provide you with entrepreneurs or professionals in each area to assist you in analyzing and resolving difficulties encountered during the early phases of MVP launch. Each firm will also be assigned an incubation space, and funding opportunities will be made available through Investor Matching and private meetings with investors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 6 weeks
Tetuan Valley is a startup accelerator with a thriving entrepreneurial community. They run the flagship program Startup School, a 6-week intense training program for teams working on a technological product. They assist early-stage startups in the most critical milestones as digital entrepreneurs. The same initiative is available for firms in the cybersecurity industry that are run by women. They also provide an open innovation platform and engage with corporations and institutions that seek to collaborate with startups to innovate and develop unique solutions.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Alphacamp is a program for digital entrepreneurs who want to develop their ideas and launch their businesses. Over the course of 4 months, they will assist you in developing and launching your company through intensive training and mentorship program. They will run through key subjects such as business model canvas, lean startup, marketing, legal, and others that will help you in redefining your company model, develop a winning strategy, and acquire your first customers. At the end of the program, you'll also have opportunities in obtaining your first round of funding.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Impact
Decelera Ventures is the world's first startup decelerator. Unlike a typical accelerator, they assist early-stage purpose-driven startups in becoming more sustainable-focused. With a founder-centered approach, they focus on addressing your most critical personal and professional difficulties. You'll spend time focusing on your company's challenges, validating your business, improving your personal and professional abilities, acquiring tools to prepare you for future development, and exchanging 1:1 and group experiences with international mentors, investors, and connectors.
Growth Stage Startup Accelerators in Spain
Full list of growth-stage startup accelerators in Spain:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Automotive
Business Factory Auto (BFA) is an initiative promoted by the Xunta de Galicia, the government body of Galicia, with the objective to expedite and consolidate specialized automotive initiatives, transforming them into profitable and scalable firms. They run two programs: 1) Acceleration Program aimed at validating and developing the product or service, creating a business model, making the first sales, and improving the team's skills and talents. 2) Consolidation Program that offers training and coaching to reach the market and generate recurring sales and revenue. The programs will give specialized help based on the individual needs of each project, as well as access to a large network of players in automotive history, financial aid, and a workspace at the BFA facilities' incubator area.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Fishing Navigation, Fishing Gears, Quality in Fishery Products, Improvement in Product Processes, Aquaculture
Fishing Tech is a one-of-a-kind acceleration program that integrates the experience and commercial prospects of major fishing firms with the most innovative technology of startups and organizations worldwide. The program will enable participants to expand their businesses, receive mentoring from first-level professionals, conduct real-world pilots, and network with leading industry players. Best of all, the program is 100% equity-free.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Industry 4.0, Intelligent Industry, Clean Energy & Sustainability, Health and Food
The BIND 4.0 Open Innovation and Acceleration Program provides an opportunity for Industry 4.0 startups to reach over 65 industry leaders who serve as venture clients and gain paid contracts for deploying solutions in real-world contexts. They connect dynamic startup teams with well-established companies to provide external solutions for their internal digital transformation challenges, allowing startups to perform proof-of-concept and market validation with corporate partners. The program also provides high-impact mentorship, consistent network immersion, specialized seminars, and access to VC investors and governmental finance.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Social and Environmental Impact
The Social Nest Foundation is a platform that provides entrepreneurs and startups with the tools, chances, and specialized coaching they need to build solutions to the world's most pressing concerns. They direct initiatives, activities, events, and communities that will pave the way for people looking to create a good social and environmental impact with their businesses. They conduct a variety of acceleration programs for startups at various stages, including an early-stage program, an investment readiness program, a scale-up program, and an internationalization program.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: AI, Ed Tech, Big Data, Ag Tech, FinTech, SaaS, Health Tech, Biotech, Internet of Things
Barcelona Ventures offer an acceleration program for startups that are targeting huge, global markets and solving real-world challenges with technology. The initiative will act as a launch pad for European entrepreneurs seeking to enter the global and US markets. Through the 6-month program, startups will learn from Silicon Valley firms and work with Silicon Valley mentors to address major scaling needs. Startups who partner with them also benefit from access their network of advisors, lawyers, service providers, and investors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: EdTech
SEK Lab is an Edtech accelerator searching for educational innovators to help them scale up. They crafted their own entrepreneurship training methodology, where startups will attend workshops and master courses led by prominent entrepreneurs on areas such as design thinking, legal, patents, technology, and more. Startups will also attend educational events and professional forums such as Aula, Salón Mi Empresa, Campus Madrid, and Area31. The event concludes with a Demo Day in which participants present their proposal to a jury comprised of investors, business angels, accelerators, technology businesses, financial institutions, and officials from the SEK Educational Institution.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sectors
Innsomnia is Europe's largest open innovation ecosystem, specializing in venture building and internationalization. They run various accelerator programs and have advanced entrepreneurs who went on to achieve record-breaking financing rounds. They facilitate co-creation processes between startups, corporations, and technology partners.
Closing Thoughts on Startup Incubators and Accelerators in Spain
Joining a startup incubator or accelerator program in Spain may provide you with important tools and assistance as you establish and expand your firm. By participating in one of these programs, you can gain access to a network of experienced mentors, investors, and other entrepreneurs who can assist you in navigating the hurdles of launching a successful firm.
It is crucial to realize, however, that not all incubators and accelerators are made equal. Before selecting to join a certain program, you should understand exactly what the program entails and whether it will be the right fit to assist your specific requirements and goals as a company founder.
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