The best startup cities in Spain
What are the hottest cities in Spain for startup entrepreneurs? We don’t mean temperature-wise. In this ranking, we present the best hubs for startups in Europe, based on the popularity among founders and investors.
With our research and data services, we help startups, ecosystem builders and investors to navigate European startup hubs. Our Startup Heatmap platform tells you which places are the most trustworthy and where startup founders find the best conditions: reliable networks, support infrastructure, dedicated startup events, and a business-friendly environment.
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Find the best startup hubs and build new connections
Below you find the best startup cities in Spain, sorted by popularity among startup founders. We also invite you to explore our complete dataset and find the best cities, startup accelerators and opportunities for startups according to your own criteria. If you don´t find what you´re looking for or want to collaborate to explore a trending topic, please don´t hesitate to contact us.
Put yourself on the map: We help you identify the data points that make founders and investors look your way.
Barcelona
Barcelona ranks 3rd in founder popularity among the 200 analyzed startup hubs in Europe. With 17% of founders expressing their willingness to start their company in Barcelona, the city proves to be an attractive choice for entrepreneurs. It also ranks 8th in the category of Accelerating Startups, showcasing its ability to provide support and assistance to startups entering the market. Additionally, Barcelona secures the 7th spot in the Scaling Unicorns category, highlighting its success in attracting large-scale investments for growth. With its thriving startup ecosystem and high popularity among founders, Barcelona has established itself as a top destination for startup companies in Europe.
Madrid
Madrid is a flourishing startup city in Europe, ranking 9th in scaling unicorns out of 200 analyzed startup hubs. With a high rank of 11 in popularity and a remarkable 7% of founders who can imagine starting their company in Madrid, it is undoubtedly an attractive destination for startup entrepreneurs. Madrid’s performance in accelerating startups is also noteworthy, despite its rank of 37, showcasing its ability to support startups in entering the market. Additionally, Madrid’s strong rank in scaling unicorns indicates its proficiency in attracting large-scale investments for growth. Overall, Madrid’s startup ecosystem exhibits promising potential for founders seeking a vibrant and supportive environment for their entrepreneurial ventures.
Las Palmas
Las Palmas is ranked 40th in founder popularity among 200 analyzed startup hubs in Europe according to the ‘Startup Heatmap Europe 2023’ study. Additionally, 1% of founders can imagine starting their company in this city. Although Las Palmas performs well in popularity, it ranks 82nd in accelerating startups and 104th in scaling unicorns. However, it is still a relatively attractive destination for entrepreneurs due to its growing ecosystem as indicated by its rank of 40 in growing entrepreneurs.
Bilbao
Bilbao, has ranked 44th in founder popularity among the 200 analyzed startup hubs in the ‘Startup Heatmap Europe 2023’ study. Despite not being among the top-ranking cities in terms of popularity, Bilbao shows promise as an emerging startup ecosystem. With a percentage of only 1% of founders who can imagine starting their company in the city, there is room for growth. In terms of specific sub-categories, Bilbao ranks 81st in ‘Growing Entrepreneurs,’ indicating that the city is producing new founders. However, there is room for improvement in terms of supporting startups entering the market, as Bilbao ranks 91st in ‘Accelerating Startups.’ Additionally, the city ranks 90th in ‘Scaling Unicorns,’ suggesting a need for increased efforts in attracting large scale investments for growth. Despite these challenges, Bilbao holds potential for becoming a prominent player in the European startup scene.
Our research and methodology
We’ve been taking our Startup Heatmap Europe survey since 2015 to find out which are the preferred startup hubs by people in the industry. We ask them a simple question: “If you were going to start a company in Europe tomorrow, where would you like to do it?”
Respondents can choose up to three places, depending on their preference. Based on the survey, we calculate a trust score for each city. As a central element in our methodology, the trust score indicates the positive attitudes startup founders associate with a city. It’s our benchmark index for startup hubs, based on perception and trust. You can find out more about our data and methodology here.