After a successful 2018, MarsBased are looking to take the startup ecosystem to the next dimension. 2019 will see them strengthen bonds, develop their worldwide network and stage ever more impressive sell-out shows to connect their growing network of entrepreneurs.

MarsBased – A Key Player In Barcelona’s Startup Ecosystem

But what is MarsBased? If you’re part of the startup ecosystem, chances are you’ve heard of or met Àlex Rodríguez Bacardit, the man behind Startup Grind Barcelona. Well, he’s also the CEO of MarsBased, a team of expert developers who use technology and agile methodologies to take startups to the next level.    

“As we approach our fifth birthday, we look to the future and learn from the past.”, says Àlex. “Five crazy years of relentless promotion, endless optimism and a never-ending search for a better way have led us to this point. This year we go beyond expectations.”

Aside from their technical wizardry, MarsBased also bring people together. From sold out shows to online platforms, they connect entrepreneurs from all over the world.  

“We’re proud to be at the heart of the startup ecosystem. As our influence grows, more connections are made. And as experts in the startup scene, we’re always looking to develop new ways of bringing entrepreneurs together.”, explains Àlex.

Startup Grind Barcelona

It’s been almost five years since MarsBased broke out Startup Grind in Barcelona, hosting continuously sold-out events, month after month, to bring a little harmony to the startup community. Fireside chats with founders, CEOs, investors and self-made experts have proven to be massively popular – more than 6,000 entrepreneurs showed up to over 60 events so far.

These numbers are projected to climb even higher in 2019. MarsBased are dedicated to bringing big names and big ideas together, inspiring, educating and connecting entrepreneurs from all over the world. At present, Startup Grind – in partnership with Google for Startups – has chapters in more than 500 cities across 150 countries worldwide.

Startup Grind Tech Conference

And what better city for innovation and ingenuity than Barcelona? The cultural mecca on the Catalan coast attracts entrepreneurs from far and wide. In April, the third edition of their annual Startup Grind Tech Conference will bring 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, gurus, creatives and industry writers from all four corners of the globe. Some of the brightest in the business will share ideas and soak up inspiration, firing off theories about the mind-bending potential of technology, as well as the challenges it presents. From blockchain implementation and AI to offshoring development and scaling up business, expect deep tech wisdom from the finest creative minds on the startup scene. Previous speakers include founder of CouchSurfing Casey Fenton, co-founder of Shazam Dhiraj Mukherjee. This year they welcome CPO and co-founder of TravelPerk Javier Suárez, CEO at Startup Genome JF Gauthier and CEO at RedPoints Laura Urquizu, among many others.

Startup Digest

MarsBased are also curating Startup Digest, a personalised insider newsletter for entrepreneurs in Barcelona and around the world, since 2016. With well over 5,000 subscribers, Startup Digest is one of the leading newsletters for most entrepreneurs, giving them the lowdown on the latest news, trends and events in their own cities and the ones they travel to. Tailored events lists keep entrepreneurs connected to the topic of their choice, with specialist info and news on everything from business development & growth hacking to virtual & augmented reality.  

Startups BCN

MarsBased are constantly looking to make better connections. Through Startups BCN, a Slack community for Barcelona startups and entrepreneurs, they share latest job offerings, news, trends, events and much more. With a rapidly growing membership that currently stands at 1,500, Startups BCN is the place to go for ambitious entrepreneurs looking to stay up-to-date with all that happens in this buzzing city.    

MarsBased – Experts in Web & Mobile Development

With a strong team of 15 employees and an ARR of $1M, MarsBased’s goal for this year is to continue to develop state-of-the-art, quality-driven applications for startups, companies and big corporations. Some of their top projects have involved Decidim Barcelona, Naiz, C40, Zapptales, Sonar Music Festival (they built the famous Sonar Calling project!) and Rakuten and they’re on pace to add more high-profile names to this list.

In fact, they have just signed an exciting deal to become Startup Genome‘s new development provider! This year, they will design and build their new corporate platform, due to be released in early April. The brand spanking new corporate platform will be presented publicly by their CEO, JF Gaultier, at the Startup Grind Tech Conference 2019.

Additionally, MarsBased are constantly looking to evolve. In order to stay relevant and keep up with the market, they review their techstack every year. 2019 has already seen two major changes to the way they work. They’ve adopted Node.js for backend projects and React for the frontend. Node.js allows a focus on one technology, using the expertise of a pure-JS fullstack developer rather than hiring talent for the backend and frontend separately. React enables a complex user interface to be delivered at the drop of a hat, mostly thanks to having a more simplified architecture. These two technologies will give MarsBased a great advantage in competitive markets.  

Bridging the Corporate and Startup Worlds

Investing in key relationships is a big part of what MarsBased do. That’s why they look to bridge the corporate and startup worlds. Big corporates are beginning to see the potential in venturing into the startup world. MarsBased act as a go-between, bringing knowledge to the table and sourcing investors, from Silicon Valley (mostly business angels) and the rest of Europe (BAs and VCs), for startups on the brink of the big-time. Cultivating this symbiotic relationship between corporates and startups is something they are experts in.

MarsBased have propelled startups in fintech, last-mile delivery, eHealth & wellness, proptech and insurtech, allying them with corporates who have provided considerable funding. As trusted service providers, they are sharing insights, predicting trends and shaping the startup scene. In 2019, they will be sharpening their focus on the startups of tomorrow, investing more effort, time and money into taking the startup ecosystem to the next level.  

2018 was a rollercoaster year for MarsBased, with many ups, a few downs and lessons learnt along the way. 2019 will see them engage on a deeper level with collaborators, take on new exciting projects, connect and develop exciting talent and shape the future of the startup scene … in Barcelona and beyond!