Grow-UP Spain Will Connect Spanish Startups With International Investors

When it comes to solving Spain’s unemployment problem, creating a startup-friendly environment is one of the priorities of Spanish politicians on all levels, from local city governments to the central government. And within Spain (and Europe) Barcelona is definitely one of the hot spots and hubs for startups, and events like the Mobile World Congress, 4YFN and the Smart City Expo World Congress give the city worldwide exposure.

For entrepreneurs, financing is obviously one of the main issues to be solved as they turn their idea into a business. Over the last years, a lively startup scene has been developed with numerous people, organizations and companies giving support to startups around the financing issue; amongst many others, business angel networks like the Red de Inversores Privados y Family Offices del IESE, ESADE Ban, Keiretsu Forum  incubators like Wayra – Telefónica’s startup acceleration program, or Conector  new “investment clubs” or funds like 101 Startups, Faraday Ventures, or Lanzame. All these players complement public schemes like ENISA or ICF as well as offering from traditional banks, like Banco Sabadell’s BStartup 10 or Caixa Capital Risc.

Today, for Spanish startups getting initial funding from the three F’s (family, friends and fools) as well as from business angels and other seed investors is quite easy if you have a solid project and an outstanding team. The problem starts if you get some traction and need one or two million € to scale your business on an international level. There is just not sufficient money in Spain for this kind of investment rounds and you need to go international. In order to facilitate this step to Barcelona and Spain-based companies, we have created the ¡GROW-UP Spain! initiative, which counts with the strong support of Barcelona Activa  Our goal is to identify the 10-12 most amazing Spanish companies that have proven their business model, show significant traction and metrics and are ready to scale their business on a worldwide level. During the 2-day event they will have the opportunity to showcase and network in an exclusive environment with international (and local) investors who are eager to invest in Spain (VC’s, family offices, and professional business angels).

Unlike other investment forums that limit the interaction to a 10-minute pitch and Q&A, we have created format that will allow the participating companies to really get to know the participating international and local investors through presentations, informal networking and 1-on-1 meetings. During the 2-day event we want to create real business, show the great talent we have in Barcelona and Spain and present co-investment opportunities with Spanish investors to facilitate foreign investment in Spanish startups… and this will be only the beginning.

Interested companies find all the information here and can apply until December 21, 2014.