Barcelona Tech Investments Recap: Q1 2016 – Over €38.000.000 In 10 Companies

The first quarter of 2016 was not a crazy period of investment for Barcelona (nor for Spain), but there were some highlights making the winter months a bit warmer as we’re heading into Spring.

The big winner was Aelix Therapeutics – an innovative Catalan drug development company which is known for their advanced HIV medicine. They closed an A-series of €12.500.000 from Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Ysios Capital and Caixa Capital Risc.

Also Blue-Collar mobile hiring app Cornerjob, closed a big round of €10.000.000 from a big group of investors, including Media Digital Ventures, Ithaca Investment, Samaipata, Caixa Capital Risc, Cube Investments, Antai Bussiness Angels, Mediaset, Banc Sabadell Capital and Bonsai Venture Capital.

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Hot markets

In total, €38.020.653 was invested in Barcelona-based companies in Q1, according to Barcinno’s and Index‘ numbers, which has contributed to the graphs. The total number is in reality higher, not showing Finstar Financial Groups acquisition of Prestamos Prima. They acquired 51% for an undisclosed amount.

Two super-hot markets in Spain are the peer-to-peer both rental marketplaces and the on-demand delivery space. This can be shown through investments, as BoatBureau is getting ready for a busy summer with a seed-round of €760.870 and Deliberry, the startup that shops and delivers groceries for you, closed a seed-round of €3.260.870.

Another investment worth mentioning is OpenSeneca’s seed round of €5.000.000 by Telefónica Open Future and Scytl.

All of Spain

Most of the investments closed in Barcelona were seed rounds, apart from two series-A, one series-B and the acquisition of Prestamos Prima Group.

All in all, Spain raised €48.099.425 the first quarter of 2016, according to Index‘ numbers.

Barcelona accounted for most of the investments in Spain and also the highest fundings rounds, however it’s worth mentioning that Madrid-based Advanced Radar Technologies raised a round of €6.000.000 from undisclosed investors, and was the third largest investment in Spain this winter.

It’s heating up, and we’re hoping for bigger and braver investments in the upcoming months, as Spring has statistically been the best season for Barcelona tech companies in fundraising mode.

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