Startup Ecosystem
in Barcelona - Catalonia

Barcelona and Catalonia boast one of Europe's most robust startup ecosystems, fostering the growth of over 2,285 innovative startups.

Download the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub Report

Barcelona-Catalonia, the leading startup hub in Southern Europe.

Barcelona- Catalonia is home to 2,285 startups today, a ​​​​​​9% increase over the previous year. This is the highest recorded figure on record and the strongest annual growth rate of Catalonia's startup ecosystem since the pandemic. These are the latest figures published by the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub 2025 Report.

In fact, 49% of startups in Catalonia were established within the past five years. Barcelona has solidified its position as the leading startup hub in Southern Europe and the second most preferred startup hub in the European Union. Furthermore, it ranks second globally among emerging startup ecosystems, as highlighted by the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (Emerging Ecosystems Ranking 2024).

Record investments in startups

The study highlights that in 2024, Catalan startups collectively invoice 2.33 billion euros, 10.6% more than the previous year and the highest figure on record.

From 2020 to 2024, Catalan startups raised €6.1 billion in venture capital, more than double the amount secured in the previous five-year period (+127%). In 2024 alone, Catalan startups raised €1.15 billion in venture capital investments, a 65.5% increase from the previous year. The financial, travel-tech, and health-tech sectors collectively account for 52.3% of total investment.

You can explore the list of startups at the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub, a comprehensive directory that identifies each startup with relevant information about their activity, funding stage, and business model.

  • 2,285 startups

  • Best hub in Southern Europe

  • €2.33B turnover

  • 22,840 jobs

“In Barcelona you have incoming talent every year with new ideas”

Gaston Besanson, VP and Global Head of Data Science at PepsiCo

The largest and most international startup ecosystem

The study clarifies that Catalan startups have an aggregate turnover of 2.33 billion euros and employ more than 22,840 people. In recent years, Catalan startups have been growing larger, as today, 42% of companies have more than ten employees, a percentage that was 25% in 2021. 

Another indicator of the ecosystem's maturity is that 60% of startups have a founder with previous startup creation experience, a percentage that has increased by 15 points in the last five years.

As regards employment generated by these companies, the analysis carried out by ACCIÓ - Catalonia Trade & Investment states that 21% of startup employees and 20% of founders are foreign.

In this sense, Barcelona has established itself within the European Union as the second preferred startup hub for founders to establish a startup, only behind Berlin and ahead of cities such as Amsterdam or Stockholm.

In sectorial terms, one-third (34%) of Catalan startups operate in business services and health tech. Other key sectors include energy and green technologies (5.5%) and edtech (5%). By revenue share, the health tech, travel tech, and financial sectors collectively contribute 32.8% of total startup revenue.

Startups and tech

Startups have emerged as one of the most strategic factors for transferring knowledge to the market and impacting the overall economy and society. In this regard, the report highlights that the ecosystem of Catalan emerging companies has 287 spin-offs, which are entrepreneurial initiatives by members of the university or research community. Thus, Barcelona ranks as the second hub in the European Union with the highest number of founders from local universities, second only to Paris.

Among other key findings, the study identifies 407 scale-ups—startups with high growth potential that have raised at least $1 million in funding. These companies account for 44.7% of total startup revenue and employ 46.9% of the sector’s workforce.

This commitment to knowledge and research is also evident from the perspective of R&D undertaken by startups: 90% of Catalan emerging companies invest in R&D, while more than half hold patents to protect their intellectual property.

From a technological standpoint, the study concludes that 62% of startups work with Industry 4.0 technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, sensors, and cloud computing. Additionally, Catalonia hosts 340 deep-tech startups—companies rooted in science, technology, and engineering that require STEM talent and develop cutting-edge solutions to global challenges. 
 

The directory listing Catalan startups

The study is based on data from the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub digital platform, a directory created by ACCIÓ - Catalonia Trade & Investment in 2016 that lists startups with the following characteristics: a maximum of 10 years in business, technological, scalable, repeatable and applicable business models in global environments and aimed at rapid growth.

 

 

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