The Catalan entrepreneurial ecosystem reaches 1,700 'startups'

The pandemic did not stop the development of startups, which already employ a total of 17,500 workers. A study by Acció has identified 1,708 during 2020, 13.5% more than last year. In fact, 69% of emerging companies increased their activity or were not affected in the previous year, while only 31% saw it worsen. This positive evolution has been maintained for some time, with a 60% growth in the number of companies registered in the last five years.

One of the characteristics of these emerging companies is the international factor, which has been growing over the years: 26% of their employees are foreigners. Of these, 20% are founders of the companies.

Most of the international professionals working in Catalan startups come from Western Europe (47% of the total) and are dedicated to technology (27%), sales (23%) and operations (17%). Likewise, 45% of foreign founders already had previous experience in creating emerging companies.

Likewise, sectors linked to information and communication technologies (ICT), leisure, and health concentrate 60% of the emerging companies in Catalonia. They are followed by those dedicated to business services, representing 8% of the total; foodtech (6%); e-commerce and logistics (5%); fintech and insurtech (5%); green technology (5%); mobility (4%); fashion and design (3%); and education (3%). With less weight are those that are part of sectors such as sports, marketing, real estate, or video games.

More than 2.8 billion raised

The Acció report also highlights that Barcelona has attracted more than 2.8 billion euros in investment for startups in the last five years. This figure has allowed it to consolidate itself as the third European hub in number of financing rounds, surpassing 1,000 rounds since 2016, only behind Paris and Berlin.

In this sense, the study indicates that three out of four startups of the 1,708 identified have obtained financing at some point in their life. 26% of the investment rounds raised by these emerging companies have exceeded one million euros.