Spanish startups gather at Alhambra Venture to attract investors.

Startups are fundamental to the Spanish economy, a true engine of innovation and technology that advances Spain not only as an economy but also as a society, fostering an environment worthy of the times we live in. However, startups require investment , as they are initiatives that start from scratch, with an idea, and require a little push to get their initiatives off the ground.

At Alhambra Venture , the largest entrepreneurship and investment event in southern Spain, they are fully aware of the reality of these small businesses, as their job is to help them flourish . They achieve this by connecting with investors, corporations, and other stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since its creation in 2014 , Alhambra Venture has established itself as a crucial hub for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation in our country.

The event is in its twelfth year this year, and its impact on the startup ecosystem for over a decade is undeniable. More than 1,100 projects were presented, and 24% of them received funding. This funding totals € 110 million , confirming the event's potential as a transformative opportunity for many small initiatives.

Antonio Romero-Haupold Caballero is General Partner at Sherry Ventures Innovation , one of the investment funds launched by the Andalusian Regional Government in 2021. During its history, it has invested more than €8.9 million in twenty different companies, both Andalusian and based outside the region. Since its creation, it has already returned money four times to the Andalusian Regional Government and its private investors.

Romero-Haupold explains that the main objective of Alhambra Venture is to create a " triangle " of success between the start-ups, which represent the future of entrepreneurship, the investors , who come to the event to inquire about the initiatives, and the clients , the true stability factor that start-ups need to establish themselves in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In turn, the fact that the event is being held in Granada , Andalusia, provides additional added value to investors who come to discover new technological and entrepreneurial initiatives. This means that, unlike in cities like Madrid or Barcelona , ​​the square footage of startups is cheaper, as it isn't inflated by the circuit.

This is why investment opportunities are more affordable , resulting in greater value creation than investing in a startup based in Madrid or Barcelona. However, this price difference does not affect the quality of the initiatives, as Romero-Haupold points out, in every edition of the event, a company has emerged that industry experts call a "punicorn," meaning one with a market valuation of at least one hundred million euros .

However, Romero-Haupold regrets that the environment is not as favorable for startups in Spain as in other countries. In the rest of Europe, investors can afford to take more risks . In England, for example, there is a larger tax shield that kicks in when losses occur, so investors don't have to be as cautious when investing their capital in various initiatives.

On the other hand, when a company achieves a high degree of success, it is natural for it to consider an IPO . Again, the ecosystem in Spain does not facilitate this, so there are various obstacles both to investor access and to the potential future IPO of these companies.

However, Alhambra Venture is committed to connecting startups with investors and traditional companies to help the Andalusian entrepreneurial ecosystem flourish. The event, which will feature networking activities, meetings, and workshops, promises to be an opportunity for small businesses to achieve success.