2024 Breaks Records for Catalan Startups with 2,285 Companies

Catalonia is now home to 2,285 startups (2024 data), representing a 9% increase from 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 findings are part of the Analysis of the startup ecosystem in Catalonia report conducted by Catalonia Trade & Investment. Miquel Sàmper, the Minister for Business and Labour, presented the report at a press conference on Thursday. The Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment, Jaume Baró, was also present.

“Startups drive economic growth in Catalonia, modernizing the business landscape, generating wealth, creating high-quality jobs, and introducing cutting-edge technologies”

Miquel Sàmper, Minister of Business and Labour of Catalonia

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The report underscores the consistent and uninterrupted growth of Catalan startups in recent years. Since the ecosystem was first analyzed in 2016, the number of startups has more than doubled (+110%). The sector remains highly dynamic, with 49% of all Catalan startups founded within the last five years.

On an international scale, the study highlights Barcelona’s growing reputation, now ranked as the fifth-best startup ecosystem in the European Union, following Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, and Amsterdam.

Higher revenue and job creation

According to Catalonia Trade & Investment’s study, Catalonia’s startup ecosystem continues to expand in terms of business volume. Collectively, Catalan startups generate over €2.33 billion, representing a 10.6% year-on-year increase, equivalent to 0.8% of Catalonia’s GDP. Additionally, over the past three years, startups have significantly strengthened their revenue-generating capacity—currently, 46% generate over €500,000 in annual revenue, a 17-percentage-point increase compared to 2021.

Regarding employment, the study finds that Catalan startups employ over 22,840 people (+10.5%). Over the past few years, startup teams have grown in size, with 42% of companies now having more than 10 employees (compared to 25% in 2021). Another key indicator of the ecosystem’s maturity is that 60% of Catalan startups have at least one founder with prior startup experience, a figure that has increased by 15 percentage points over the past five years.

Additionally, 21% of startup employees and 20% of founders are foreign. According to Startup Heatmap Europe, Barcelona is now the second most preferred startup hub in the European Union, second only to Berlin. The city also ranks as the second EU city with the highest number of startup founders from local universities (1,887), surpassed only by Paris.

Minister Sàmper emphasized that "startups are a key driver of economic growth in Catalonia, modernizing the country’s business landscape, generating wealth, and creating high-quality jobs while introducing cutting-edge technologies to the market". He added, "This ecosystem continues to expand, and the Government is committed to its further development. Our goal is to create the conditions necessary for Catalonia’s startup ecosystem to reach 3,000 startups by 2030".

Sàmper also noted, "This data reinforces the entrepreneurial nature of Catalonia’s university ecosystem and demonstrates the need to continue to bolster the startup sector, which will help transform the broader business landscape and continue attracting investment, talent, and international projects".

On an international level, the report confirms that Catalonia’s startup ecosystem is highly globalized—61% of startups export their products or services, with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy being the top destinations. "Startups showcase the key strengths of our economy: global reach and innovation", emphasized the Minister for Business and Labour.

Startup funding

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.

A highly technological ecosystem

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.

The Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub 2025 report highlights Catalan startups’ strong technological focus, with 62% working 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, requiring STEM talent and developing cutting-edge solutions to global challenges. The Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment, Jaume Baró, stated, "In an increasingly uncertain and rapidly changing world, a strong technology-driven startup ecosystem ensures our competitiveness". He went on to say, "Deep-tech startups solidify our position as an international hub, driving the discovery of new solutions in strategic sectors".

Additionally, 287 Catalan startups are spin-offs—companies originating from universities and research centers, a fact that Baró emphasized, "This underscores the importance of knowledge transfer from research to the market". Furthermore, 90% of all Catalan startups invest in R&D, and more than half hold patents to protect their intellectual property.

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.

The directory tracking Catalan startups

The study is based on data from the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub, a digital platform created by Catalonia Trade & Investment in 2016. It includes startups that are less than 10 years old (12 years for biotech startups), technology-based, scalable, globally focused, and centered on rapid growth.

Catalan participation at 4YFN

This year, the Catalan government will feature 36 startups at Catalonia Trade & Investment’s booth at 4YFN, held at Fira Barcelona Gran Via in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, as part of the MWC. These will be startups from different sectors showcasing their technology in the event. Furthermore, 16 startups specializing in health will participate in the Catalonia Health Innovation Ecosystem Pavilion in collaboration with Biocat.

Since 2015, Catalonia Trade & Investment has facilitated the participation of 259 Catalan startups at 4YFN.

Download here the catalogs of Catalan companies participating in MWC 2025 (.PDF document) and the Overview of Catalan Startups at 4YFN (.PDF document).