Today, the entire team of Catalunya Emprèn Program has taken a tour of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Barcelona. After having organized for so many months the Ifest (the huge event that took place last November 30 and that was attended by more than 6,200 people), we decided to take a moment of reflection and absorption of new knowledge. Some days ago we prepared an agenda, very focused on the Pier01 building. Now, just having arrived from the visit, I want to give you a brief summary of what we have seen and done.
We started at about 9.00am. Of course, first we had a coffee in one of the terraces that are around the building. What a moment! The sun, the good winter temperature of Barcelona, the sea, the runners on the promenade… ¡a luxury place!.
Right at the entrance of Pier01, when we checked in, we found Carlos Trenchs. Carlos has been for many years the director of Caixa Capital Risc. But now he assumes a new role in his institution: He is launching dayOne, the CaixaBank service for startups, scaleups and its investors. We agreed that we should meet soon to talk about that project. But Carlos also said: “When you have a moment, you pass by here, by Pier01, and I’ll tell you how the Payment Innovation Hub is going”. He was making reference to the initiative promoted by Caixabank, Global Payments, Arval Renting Spain, Samsung and Visa, located in 1,000 m2 of the building. It is a space specialized in digital means of payment. It is an innovation alliance between these five companies, in which each of them brings experience in their respective area of activity.
But we could not talk too much because we were late for the first meeting. It was with Jordi Aguasca, from Startup Catalonia. In fact, the entire team has welcomed us: Begoña, Emili, Montse, Laia. Going to the meeting room, Jordi mentioned the initiatives we were crossing: The Open Innovation group that ABB has installed in the Startup Catalonia spaces, the startup Bwom promoted by Helena Torras, Alta Life Sciences, the investment company where my good friend Monserrat Vendrell is working, La French Tech, where we greeted Christian Marion …. Just before entering the meeting room, Miquel Martí, from Barcelona Tech, the main instigator of the building, has welcomed us. Then, for one hour, Jordi Aguasca told us how much (very much) Acció from the Catalan Government is doing for startups: subsidies, international missions, support for accelerators… It is very gratifying to see this public involvement in the entrepreneurial field.
At about 11.00, we went down to the second floor, where Eli Martinez from Conector and Nuclio was waiting for us. She told us that Connector has already accelerated 115 startups, some of which (Glovo for example) have become impressive startups. Eli mentioned that yesterday Conector presented his collaboration with Porsche. Good! Conector continues with its strategic collaboration with large corporations: Bankia, Seat, now Porsche… Eli has exposed us very clearly the difference between an accelerator (Conector) and a Venture Builder (Nuclio).
Later we have visited mVentures, where Francesc Saldaña and Manuel Palacín have taught us about The Collider Program, devoted to fostering technology transfer from our universities and research centers. There I met Pep Lluis de la Rosa, a researcher at the University of Girona, who has just entered into this program to create a company. I wish Pep Lluis good luck. He is one of our great soldiers of innovation. His constant work in this field, which began in 1999, is an example of what our entrepreneurs have done to bring the ecosystem to its current stage, always overcoming the many obstacles with which they have encountered.
Finally, past one o’clock, we left the Pier01 and walking alongside the multiple yachts and sailboats, we approached OneCoWork, a privileged space for entrepreneurs, creative people, digital nomads… Ben Nachoom and Oscar Navarro have devoted their time to show us the facilities and the environment. It has also been a pleasure to meet there Scott Mackin from Barcinno.
In one of the rooms, we have seen how some students from the Harbor Space University (University for Technology and Design in Barcelona, taught entirely in English) were taking classes.
By the way, I inform you that tomorrow at 7:00 pm you have an event at OneCoWork that you should not miss: The first TechTribe, dedicated this time to the EduTech area.
Being so late, we were starving. We went to Buon Appetito. On their website they say their pizza is the best in Barcelona. I do not know if it is the best in Barcelona but … it is the best I have ever had!
In short … I am so happy of living and working here! Remember… Barcelona is the best place for your startup!
Great article 👏
Thanks Nikk!