With the entry into force of the Law for the Promotion of the Ecosystem of Emerging Companies (known as the Startup Law) in December 2022, Spain took an important step toward consolidating its entrepreneurial ecosystem. This regulation aims to foster the creation and growth of innovative technology-based organizations by establishing the criteria that define a startup. Among these, the requirement to obtain ENISA certification stands out—a process that has already been completed by 1,369 companies, reflecting the vitality of a growing sector.
The data confirms an optimistic outlook: a dynamic ecosystem with the capacity to generate disruptive ideas, products, and services. Some time ago, we analyzed some of the conclusions that could be drawn from the implementation of this new process. In this second phase, we want to understand the certification process from within, through the firsthand experience of startups that have already completed it.
An Accessible Process with Tax Benefits
Alan Fusté, founder of the startup Mathew.ai, a company specializing in the application of artificial intelligence in education and training, describes the certification experience in a positive light, stating that “it was fast and simple,” especially since they had previously worked with ENISA. A similar opinion is shared by Conxi Pérez, CEO and co-founder of RolldBox, a game studio developing the Positive Gaming concept, who also finds the certification process relatively straightforward. However, she highlights that the most complex part lies in presenting the business plan, both financially and narratively.
According to RolldBox’s CEO, an excess of required information is one of the aspects that could be improved. In her view, “not so much information should be necessary” to obtain startup certification, as the process can become tedious—especially for those who have never worked with ENISA before and cannot reuse previous documents. Additionally, any request for documentation reviews or content modifications can significantly delay certification, a frequent issue that can be particularly costly for early-stage startups with limited resources.
When it comes to the most significant benefits of obtaining startup certification, both Conxi Pérez and Alan Fusté agree: the primary advantage is the tax incentives available to investors. These include reductions in corporate tax rates and the removal of certain registration fees for establishing a new company, which we previously summarized in this infographic.
Barcelona: A Startup City
In this context, Barcelona emerges as an international benchmark. The Catalan capital is positioned as one of the most attractive European cities for entrepreneurial talent, consolidating itself as a strategic hub for innovation, according to the Startup Heatmap Europe 2024 study. Barcelona is home to 87% of Catalonia’s startups, as both national and international investors find in the city a strong talent pool, solid infrastructure, and excellent international connectivity.
Other studies, such as StartupBlink, rank Barcelona as the fifth most powerful startup ecosystem in the European Union, with enough potential to continue climbing the ranks. In fact, in the Startup Genome report, Barcelona is ranked second in the Emerging Ecosystems category worldwide—two spots higher than in the previous 2023 edition.
Regarding industry sectors, the StartupBlink report indicates that Barcelona is currently the world’s leading city in the fields of video games and pharmaceuticals.
With initiatives like the Startup Law and processes such as ENISA certification, the city’s ecosystem is not only aiming to remain competitive on a global scale but also to attract an increasing number of international investors. The ENISA certification, together with the regulatory framework promoted by the Startup Law, stands out as a key element in positioning Spain—and particularly cities like Barcelona—as a reference point for startup creation and development.
