Rising Startup Spain

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Spain's flagship international soft-landing program attracting foreign startups to establish operations in Spain through legal advisory, acceleration services, free office space, and corporate partnerships enabling market entry and regional
What are the main aims and objectives?

The primary objectives of Rising UP in Spain are to attract promising foreign startups to establish operations and grow in Spain, thereby strengthening Spain's position as a leading European technology and innovation hub with particular emphasis on regional development beyond Madrid and Barcelona. The program aims to facilitate international entrepreneurship while fostering strategic partnerships between foreign startups and Spanish companies, creating mutual commercial and knowledge exchange opportunities. Specific objectives include attracting and supporting foreign startups in establishing headquarters or significant operations in Spain through comprehensive soft-landing assistance; reducing barriers to market entry for international entrepreneurs by providing legal, administrative, and practical support; facilitating access to Spanish venture capital, corporate partnerships, and investment networks for foreign-founded companies; fostering collaboration between foreign startups and Spanish corporates through structured innovation initiatives and technology challenges; strengthening Spain's innovation ecosystem by integrating global talent and technology-driven ventures; positioning Spain as a gateway to European and Latin American markets for international startups; creating employment and economic activity through foreign-founded company establishment; and building international awareness of Spain as an entrepreneurship destination. The program also aims to support Spanish economic diversification through knowledge-based industries and technology sectors.

How does the program work?

ICEX-Invest offers six-month acceleration program to attract international entrepreneurs and talent to Spain promoted. Its mission is to contribute to reinforcing and internationalizing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Spain. 

Application and Selection Process:

Foreign startups apply to Rising UP in Spain with projects proposing establishment in Spain. Eligibility requires that at least 10% of startup capital is held by foreign individuals/companies or non-resident Spanish citizens. Applications are evaluated based on project innovation, market opportunity, team quality, and strategic fit with Spanish ecosystem needs. Selection is highly competitive, with 2024 selection ratio of approximately 2.3% (100+ selected from 4,000+ applications estimated).​

Legal and Administrative Support:

Selected startups receive comprehensive legal and administrative services including company incorporation planning (choosing appropriate legal structure), obtaining entrepreneur visas (fast-tracked visa processing), obtaining NIE, NIF (tax identification), and electronic certificates, and administrative procedures for business registration. Letslaw (legal partner) and other service providers handle these matters enabling rapid Spanish business establishment.​

Personalized Acceleration Program:

Startups participate in tailored acceleration programming including initial diagnostic assessment, assignment of specialized mentors, periodic follow-up sessions, participation in specialized training courses, and preparation for investor pitches. The acceleration program is delivered by external partners including TheVentureCity and Cink (specialized accelerators).​

Physical Infrastructure and Resources:

Program participants receive free co-working space for 6 months (in some cases extendable), typically at locations provided by local corporate partners offering collaborative opportunities with established Spanish companies. Access to prototyping labs and specialized resources depending on startup sector.​

Investor Access and Capital Connections:

Rising UP in Spain facilitates connections between startups and venture capital firms, angel investors, and institutional investors through investor showcases, demo days, participation in startup events, and curated investment network introductions. Startups participate in COMEUP (Spain's premier startup conference) and other major events.​

Ecosystem Integration and Networking:

Program provides visibility through media exposure, connection with local partners offering collaboration opportunities, participation in technology challenge forums where corporations propose innovation challenges for startups to address, attendance at relevant startup and business events, and ongoing community participation through alumni forums.​

Corporate Partnership Facilitation:

Rising UP in Spain facilitates connections between foreign startups and Spanish corporates seeking technological innovation, with local partners potentially providing workspace in exchange for innovation collaboration.​

Regional Support Network:

After program completion and Spanish company establishment, startups maintain community access through Rising UP in Spain alumni forums, ongoing contact with ICEX Invest in Spain, and integration into Spain's broader startup ecosystem including networks in Madrid, Barcelona, and emerging tech hubs.​

To help take innovative projects to the marketplace, Rising Start Up Spain offers softlanding via:

  • Free workspace in Madrid and Barcelona, two hotspots for start ups
  • Prize money of €10.000 to cover initial Start up expenses
  • Easier access to Visa and Residence permits
  • Instrumental mentoring to help you connect with potential investors
What is the overall cost?

No available information.

How was it implemented?

Rising UP in Spain was created in response to Spanish government recognition that Spain's startup ecosystem, while growing, could be significantly strengthened by attracting international entrepreneurship and venture talent. The program reflected strategic commitment to position Spain as a leading European innovation hub capable of competing with UK, Germany, and France in attracting global startups.​ In 2016, ICEX Invest in Spain launched Rising UP in Spain as Spain's first public program designed to attract international talent seeking to establish operations in Spain. The inaugural edition received 155 applications from 34 countries, with 10 startups selected. The first cohort included startups from Brazil, Colombia, Italy, Argentina, and other countries, demonstrating immediate international interest.​ The 2016 edition established foundational program elements including legal and administrative advisory services, office space provision, visa support, acceleration services, and networking opportunities. Of the inaugural 10 selected startups, notable examples included 87Seconds (creative/video production), BiomeMakers (agricultural genetics), and others that went on to establish operations in Spain and achieve business development milestones.​ Following successful 2016 launch, the program expanded substantially. Through Five Editions (2016-2020), over 1,400 applications were received from approximately 90 countries, with approximately 70 startups selected, demonstrating growing program reputation and international awareness.​ The program was implemented through partnerships with accelerators (TheVentureCity, Cink) and service providers (legal firms, co-working space operators, corporate partners) rather than building entirely new government infrastructure. This approach enabled rapid deployment leveraging existing ecosystem capacity.​ In 2020, amid COVID-19 constraints, Rising UP in Spain adapted to support hybrid delivery models combining online mentorship with on-site acceleration components when feasible. The program maintained operations and selections despite pandemic-related business disruption.​ By 2021-2023, Rising UP in Spain had become established as ICEX's flagship international soft-landing program with standardized processes, documented procedures, and partnership networks. The program formalized requirements for participating startups and standardized support service delivery.​ In 2024-2025, the program significantly expanded to support up to 50 foreign startups annually (compared to 10 in 2016), reflecting growing government confidence in program effectiveness and capacity expansion. The 2024 edition received approximately 4,000+ applications, representing approximately 100-fold increase in applications from 155 in 2016.

What impact has been measured?

Rising UP in Spain has facilitated establishment of over 1,400+ foreign startups cumulatively since 2016, with these startups formally incorporated as Spanish legal entities. The program directly enabled market entry and legal establishment for hundreds of international entrepreneurs who might otherwise face significant barriers.

CURATED BY

Adrian Blanco Estevez

Head of Funding Department
icex.es
Spain