Applications to the ‘Rising UP in Spain’ programme are now open! ‘Rising UP in Spain’ is the new soft-landing and acceleration initiative by ICEX Invest in Spain to support international technology startups looking to develop their projects in Spain. The program is an initiative by the Spanish government, it’s free for startups, and through the involvement of a renowned accelerator team (Cink and TheVentureCity), there will also be access to venture capital.
What ‘Rising UP in Spain’ is offering
‘Rising UP in Spain’ is looking for 15 top innovative projects to take part in the programme and receive the following benefits:
Visa support services (fast-track)Co-working space for 6 monthsAccess to venture capitalSoft-landing and acceleration by Cink Venturing and TheVentureCity Media exposure Entry to forums for startupsFor the last few years Spain’s startup ecosystem has been growing fast and is emerging as a destination of choice for an increasing number of entrepreneurs ready to innovate and collaborate in this vibrant environment.
A strong technological infrastructure, access to a market of over 500 million European consumers, and record investment numbers in the last three years are just a few of the many competitive advantages that startups can tap into when growing their company in Spain. For instance, it is well-known that the hubs Madrid and Barcelona rank among the top six cities in Europe for startup growth.
‘Rising UP in Spain’ is Spain’s first public programme designed to attract international talent to collaborate with the business ecosystem in Spain. It aims to strengthen Spain’s place as one of Europe’s main technology and innovation hubs.
Since launching in 2016, the past three editions of the Rising UP programme have achieved great success, both in the number of foreign entrepreneurs that have applied and the quality of the projects. A total of 845 companies and entrepreneurs from over 70 different countries have applied to the programme. Of these, a total of 40 startups have been selected, bringing to the programme a very diverse array of technologies and countries of origin. So far, projects have come from Argentina (7), India (6), USA (5), Colombia (4), Russia (3), and Morocco (2).
How can startups apply?
To be selected for the programme, at least 10% of the startup’s capital must be held by a foreign individual or company, or by a non-resident Spanish citizen. In order to apply, startups should fill out the application form on the website. Applications are open until the deadline of January 9th, 2020. Good luck!
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