Barcelona's Weekly Tech Update

November 07, 2022

Hi all,

This week’s main headlines:

Lodgify get €30M 💰
5 M&As involving BCN firms 🤝
Congress approves the Startups Law 🧑‍⚖️

BCN FinTech #004 - DeFi vs Fintech ⛓🏦

The lineup for BCN FinTech #004 on Wed 23 Nov 18:30 @OneCoWork Plaza Catalunya is finally confirmed! And we're really, really proud & honored to feature 3 of the greatest experts & shapers of our ecosystem who will discuss DeFi vs FinTech.

- Philippe Gelis: CEO & Co-Founder of Kantox, the biggest fintech success story in our ecosystem to date. Kantox was recently acquired by BNP Paribas for a staggering €120M 💰!

- Victoria Gago aka Ms. Blockchain: the heart & soul ❤️‍🔥 of the BCN blockchain industry. Co-Founder of both the European Blockchain Convention & the European Tech School (which runs a great Blockchain Program btw).

- Claudia Giraldo: One of the most active, important & intelligent figures in our ecosystem 💪. Founding Partner of Blockmedia & Bambu PR, and also Co-Founder & CMO at Common Sense Finance.

Of course, the event will once again include the usual “pitch for help” and networking, accompanied by free snacks 🍕 & drinks.

👉 So don't wait before it's too late and:

Save your free spot ✍️ now here (must register on this Eventbrite link!)
Confirm your attendance ✅ on LinkedIn too to facilitate networking here (optional)
Share any interesting questions you may have for our panel here 💭

See you there!

What's the future of finance – FinTech or DeFi? Let's find out at BCN FinTech Afterworks on Wed 23 Nov @18:30 in the heart of Barcelona (OCW Plz. Cat.). We've got the 3 greatest experts on the subject debating it out. Plus, you can network with Barcelona's fintech community. Best part? Tickets, snacks & drinks are free. Sign up now here!

Startup & Investment News

Barcelona investment news

Vacation rental SaaS Lodgify raise €30M led by British fund Octopus Ventures
Ophthalmology startup Innerva Pharmaceuticals get €2.3M
Artisan homeware shop Hannun acquire British firm Artesa for €500K; it also shared its 2022 numbers so far: a 66% sales increase to €2.9M
EV charger startup Blaudrive acquired by Polish solar energy company Barter
Adtech firms AdPone & Unblockia acquired by Magnum Capital’s SunMedia vehicle
HR & payroll SaaS Integrho acquired by European provider SD Worx

Barcelona startup news

Blockchain startup Rand gets approval from Bank of Spain to operate as a crypto service provider
Motorbike buy & sell platform Mundimoto has quadrupled its sales in a year
Madrid-based gastronomy experience startup Uncovercity launches in Barcelona

Spanish investment news

Madrid-based Stemy Energy raises €1M

VC, investment & crowdfunding news

Barcelona Council is seeking managers to invest €10M in deeptech funds (Expansión; paywalled)
Swiss-based Privilège Ventures launches €20M fund exclusively for women-led early-stage startups across Europe
Deutsche Bank Spain launches VC fund focused on financing European tech startups
Spanish startup investment in 2002 so far: already exceeded €3B but may slow down; health, SaaS & fintech make up 33%

Open calls, accelerator news & incubator stories

Tech innovators can still nominate for Mobile World Congress’s prestigious Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards; apply until Nov 17
Tecnalia’s accelerator, DeepTech4Impact, wants energy models addressing decarbonization, high energy costs, energy dependence, etc; apply until Nov 30
Insud Pharma launches 6th edition of its ChemoStart program for innovative health startups; apply until Dec 1
CaixaBank & ENISA’a EmprendeXXI Award program is open for a range of tech startups (offering cash injections, mentoring, etc); apply until Dec 5

Barcelona startup & entrepreneur profiles & interviews:

Filmin: BCN’s indie Netflix will not consider following suit & including ads
Impress: perfect smiles thanks to technology
Jorge Agudo Praena (Thoguhtworks) & Narek Verdian (Glovo): Data mesh: it’s not just about tech, it’s about ownership and communication