The Spanish startup ecosystem has shown significant growth in 2024, with large investment rounds highlighting the confidence of both national and international investors in the country's business landscape.
According to information compiled by El Referente, the year is characterized by Catalonia's clear leadership in terms of investment volume and the dominance of the fintech sector, followed by other industries such as ehealth and traveltech.
Catalonia Leads Investments in Spain
Of the 25 most important investment rounds analyzed, Catalonia stands out as the region with the highest concentration of investment, accounting for 76.2% of the total. This figure highlights the dynamism and attractiveness of its entrepreneurial ecosystem, driven in part by the presence of key technological hubs such as Barcelona. Regions like the Community of Madrid (16.3%) and the Valencian Community (2.4%) lag far behind, consolidating Catalonia's dominance.
The Fintech Sector Takes the Lead
In terms of sectors, fintech leads with 35.2% of the total investment. Startups like Sequra and ID Finance spearhead some of the most prominent rounds, with investments exceeding 100 million euros, demonstrating the appeal of the digital financial sector for investors.
In second place is the traveltech and tourism sector (23.4%), led by companies such as TravelPerk and Civitatis.
Other sectors with notable activity include:
Ehealth (11.2%): With companies like Impress and Inbrain Neuroelectronics receiving significant capital injections.
Logistics and Delivery (6.5%): Highlighted by key players such as Citibox and Paack.
Labor and Talent (6.3%): Exemplified by companies like Factorial and Sesame HR.
The Most Active Months of the Year
Analyzing the temporal distribution of the rounds, greater activity is observed in April, July, and November, coinciding with major operations such as Factorial in April and Sequra in November.
These months reflect trends of closing significant deals in the second and fourth quarters, traditional periods of high financial activity.
Capboard Among the Indirect Protagonists
A relevant fact is that several startups included in this list are clients of Capboard, a platform for managing equity in startups.
This underscores the importance of technological solutions that facilitate the administration of cap tables and option plans—key factors in attracting investment and retaining talent in high-growth companies.
Conclusion
The year 2024 has consolidated Catalonia as the epicenter of startup investment in Spain, with the fintech sector clearly leading the way. As the ecosystem evolves, it is evident that tools like Capboard continue to play a critical role in the success of startups seeking to attract capital and achieve sustainable growth.
The future of investment in Spain promises to follow the same path of growth and consolidation.