Startup Ecosystem in Barcelona - Catalonia

Barcelona and Catalonia boast one of Europe's most robust startup ecosystems, fostering the growth of over 2,400 innovative startups.

Download the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub Report

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

Barcelona- Catalonia is home to 2,403 startups today, a ​​​​​​5.2% increase over the previous year. This is the highest recorded figure on record and the latest figures published by the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub 2025 Report.

The report points out that the number of startups in Catalonia has steadily increased over the past few years, more than doubling (+121%) compared to when the ecosystem was first assessed in 2016. It also notes that 44% of these startups were created within the last five years, underscoring the ecosystem’s strong momentum and entrepreneurial vitality.

From an international standpoint, the study emphasizes that Barcelona is further strengthening its role as the top startup hub in Southern Europe and ranks fifth in the European Union for launching a startup, following Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, and Amsterdam.

Record investments in startups

The study highlights that in 2025, Catalan startups collectively invoice 2.94 billion euros, 26% more than the previous, year representing 0.9% of the Catalan GDP. The report also notes that startup turnover has almost tripled over the past ten years, compared with €1.091 billion a decade ago.

Catalan startups secured €1.131 billion in funding in 2025, marking an 8% increase compared to the previous year. This makes it the third-strongest year on record, surpassed only by 2021 (€1.687 billion) and 2022 (€1.592 billion), both of which were significantly boosted by mega-rounds - investment deals exceeding $100 million (€88.5 million).

Altogether, 203 funding rounds were completed in 2025, with an average deal size of €5.6 million - the highest average ever recorded, confirming a continuing upward trend. That year also included two mega-rounds closed in Catalonia.

Data further highlights the sustained growth in startup investment over time. Between 2021 and 2025, Catalan startups raised a combined €6.106 billion, more than twice the €2.659 billion secured during the 2016–2020 period.

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.

  • 2,403 startups

  • Best hub in Southern Europe

  • €2.94B turnover

  • 30,500 jobs

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

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

A mature, job-creating and internationally oriented startup ecosystem

Regarding employment, the report states that Catalan startups provide jobs for more than 30,500 people, representing a 34% increase.

The document also reflects the growing maturity of the ecosystem: nearly 60% of startups have at least one founder with previous experience launching ventures, a proportion that has remained stable in recent years. In addition, 28% of Catalan startups include at least one international founder, and close to 60% of these companies employ foreign talent.

From a global perspective, the Catalonia Trade & Investment report emphasizes the ecosystem’s strong international outlook, noting that 61% of startups sell their products and services abroad. Their main export markets are the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The study further reveals that 15% of startups serving international clients generate more than 90% of their total revenue from exports.

Startups and tech

From a sectoral perspective, 30.8% of startups are active in healthtech and business services. The adtech and media segment also represents a significant share (6.2%), followed by e-commerce and online sales platforms (5.4%) and edtech (5.1%). In revenue terms, the health, travel, and financial industries together generate 37.3% of total turnover.

The study also underscores the strong technological focus of Catalan startups. More than half (57.5%) are developing or applying Industry 4.0 technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, sensors, and cloud computing. In addition, 374 deep tech startups have been identified - 10% more than in 2024. These companies are science- and engineering-based ventures that rely on STEM talent and create breakthrough technologies to tackle global challenges. In this context, the Global Location Trends 2025 report by IBM places Barcelona as the leading city in the EU and third worldwide for attracting foreign investment projects in artificial intelligence, behind London and Singapore.

In terms of research and talent, the report also highlights that 308 startups are spin-offs emerging from universities and research institutions. Nearly 90% of the startups surveyed invest in R&D, and more than half own at least one patent to safeguard their innovations. Barcelona also ranks as the second city in the EU with the highest number of founders coming from local universities and as the EU’s second-leading hub for spin-offs -behind only Paris- according to Startup Heatmap Europe.

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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