The 5th EXPANSIÓN Start Up Awards have recognised Spain’s new and strongest start-ups, bringing together a hundred representatives of the innovation ecosystem in Barcelona. Despite the economic uncertainty, characterised by high interest rates, rising financing costs and inflation, these start-ups have shown resilience and adaptation.
In 2023, investment received by Spanish start-ups amounted to €1.6 billion, 42% less than the previous year, but 21% more than in 2020. Spain remains the fourth largest European market in terms of access to funds for start-ups and ranks sixth in the creation of start-ups.
The awards ceremony took place at the Hotel Intercontinental in Barcelona and was sponsored by Abertis, CaixaBank and Cellnex, in addition to the collaboration of Deusto Emprende, BHV Partners and the Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia. Eighteen start-ups were honoured in six different categories:
- Food and agrotech: Protiberia (1st), Isauki Foods (2nd) and Naturbec (3rd).
- Fintech: Rever (1st), Snab (2nd) and Hastee (3rd).
- Health and biotechnology: Nimble Diagnostics (1st), Match Biosystems (2nd) and Live Fresh Biotech (3rd).
- Environment and energy: Cimico (1st), Build to Zero (2nd) and SolarMente (3rd).
- Mobility and smart cities: EPowerlabs (1st), Crisalion Mobility (2nd) and Wattson Charge (3rd).
- Telecommunications, Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies: Proteus Innovation (1st), Brickbro (2nd) and Motmo.pro (3rd).
The jury of the awards selected the winners from among 24 companies chosen by Deusto Emprende from 90 applications. During the awards ceremony, Ana I. Pereda, director of EXPANSIÓN, highlighted the importance of innovation and the determination of entrepreneurs to develop new businesses and generate employment. She also highlighted the strength of the Spanish innovative ecosystem, where 60% of start-ups generate revenue and 16% have positive EBITDA, exceeding the European average.
The law on start-ups, in force since the end of 2022, was also mentioned as a significant step forward in consolidating entrepreneurial activity in Spain. Pereda underlined the usefulness of EXPANSIÓN as a working tool for entrepreneurs, providing information on new sectors, investment, success stories and trends in strategy, marketing and internationalisation.
Original source:
https://www.expansion.com/expansion-empleo/emprendedores/2023/12/14/657b32e6e5fdea525b8b468a.html
