• The agreement allows the company, owner of Privalia, to reinforce its commitment to the city’s technological and digital ecosystem.

• In 2022, the multinational created its first Innovation Lab outside France in Barcelona, from where it is developing initiatives in machine learning, augmented reality, logistics and search systems

Barcelona, 11 July 2023. – Veepee, the ecommerce leader in flash sales, owner of Privalia, has joined Tech Barcelona as a Corporate Partner with the aim of strengthening its commitment to the technological and digital ecosystem of Barcelona. The agreement will allow the company to expand its connection with startups, corporations and institutions, building bridges of collaboration and strengthening the e-commerce and retail sector in the city.

The multinational, with a presence in 10 countries, has been closely linked to Barcelona since 2008, when vente-privée entered Spain. In 2016, it bought Barcelona-based Privalia, one of the pioneering companies in the digital ecosystem, involved from the outset in the creation of Tech Barcelona.

In 2022, Veepee created its first Innovation Lab outside France in Barcelona, from where it is developing new projects that improve the purchasing process, with initiatives in machine learning, augmented reality, logistics and search systems, thanks to the help of the city’s young technological talent. The group currently employs 1,300 people in Spain, and has offices in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, as well as a warehouse in Santa Oliva (Tarragona).

Anja Brehm, Country Manager of Veepee in Spain, assures that “at Veepee, we have been committed to innovation, technological talent and digitalisation for years. We firmly believe that these elements are key to business development. Actively participating in this ecosystem is fundamental for our continued growth. Therefore, we are pleased to announce our collaboration as partners of Tech Barcelona. This partnership will allow us to expand our networking locally and internationally, thus enhancing the generation of new business opportunities.

For Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, “Veepee’s entry into Tech Barcelona will expand the connections and synergies necessary to innovate in the e-commerce sector, a pioneering industry in Barcelona’s technological and digital ecosystem that seeks to progress in favour of the consumer experience”.

Veepee’s origins go back to the old vente-privée, founded by Jacques-Antoine Granjon, who in 2001 revolutionised consumerism by creating the concept of online flash sales: limited quantities of branded products, sold at deep discounts and for limited periods of time (three to five days). The group currently works with more than 7,000 brands – fashion, home and decoration, accessories, sports, technology, children’s, travel, leisure, beauty and gastronomy – to offer prices between 50% and 70% lower than recommended retail prices. Throughout its history, it has evolved its value proposition, which today follows the entire life cycle of the product through solutions ranging from full price to reduced price and also in second-hand and the circularity of the garments.

• The agreement allows the world’s third-largest spirits company to drive its innovation projects in collaboration with the city’s technology and digital ecosystem.

• Founded in 1862 by an original Catalan from Sitges, the family business with presence in more than 170 countries reinforces its commitment to Barcelona, where it has its headquarters for Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Greece.

Bacardi is a family company with a long tradition, founded in 1862 in Santiago de Cuba by Facundo Bacardi, a Catalan native from Sitges, which has been able to adopt innovative technological solutions to position itself as a benchmark in the spirits market; with more than 8,000 employees, it has production facilities in 10 countries and sells its more than 200 brands in more than 170 countries.

For Jesús Checa, Strategy & Disruptive Innovation Director at Bacardi, “Bacardi has adopted a corporate strategy for the coming years in which innovation plays a fundamental role, and where being connected to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in different territories is crucial. The city of Barcelona and Tech Barcelona provide us with a unique platform to carry out strategic innovation projects, in collaboration with different startups, universities, suppliers and customers, so that together we can transform the future of Bacardi in the coming years”.

“Bacardi’s commitment to innovation, as well as its experience and global prestige, make it a key player in the process of technological transformation of the restaurant and leisure sector in Barcelona,” says Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona. He adds that “this union reaffirms Tech Barcelona’s role as a central point in the city’s technological and digital ecosystem, demonstrating Barcelona’s capacity to attract international projects and talent”.

Tech Barcelona currently represents more than 1,200 companies and has more than 80 leading organisations committed to technology. Through its programme of content and activities, the association fosters connections between companies to create cross-innovation and accelerate the dynamics that reinforce Barcelona’s position as a technology and digital hub of international reference.

• Through this agreement, Scalapay’s direct connection with the entrepreneurial and technological ecosystem of Barcelona will enable and promote the growth of the Italian Fintech in Spain, while supporting the development of the industry in the region

• Scalapay, which has located its international ‘Risk & Data’ hub in the city, is looking for new collaboration opportunities to continue innovating in the field of eCommerce, risk management and payments

Barcelona, May 2 , 2023. – Scalapay, an Italian fintech that provides ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ solutions, joins Tech Barcelona as a Corporate Partner. The agreement positions Scalapay in the technological and digital ecosystem of Barcelona, where it already has its global ‘Risk & Data’ hub, and favors the creation of new collaboration opportunities to continue innovating in the field of electronic commerce and payments. Likewise, the entry of Scalapay adds to Tech Barcelona’s commitment to boosting the fintech sector, considered one of the strategic industries for the city.

Founded in 2019 in Italy by Simone Mancini and Johnny Mitrevski to offer consumers the possibility to pay in 3 installments without interest in online stores, Scalapay grew rapidly in the Italian e-commerce market and expanded its services throughout Europe, locating its headquarters for the Spanish market in Barcelona. In 2022, the startup became a ‘unicorn’ with a valuation of 1,000 million euros.

Florian Jensen, Chief Risk Officer at Scalapay: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Tech Barcelona and its vibrant ecosystem of startups and technological innovation in the city. Since our arrival in Barcelona, we were eager to contribute to the city’s entrepreneurial spirit and empower local talent. We believe that by working together, we can foster innovation and create a brighter future for all. We also want to reaffirm our presence by actively involving ourselves in the development and cooperation of the Barcelona fintech and risk ecosystem”

Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, adds that “the fintech sector is one of the great commitments of the city’s technological ecosystem, and having large international companies such as Scalapay reinforces this vision. At Tech Barcelona we are committed to connecting the main players who are leading this transformation to position Barcelona as a global benchmark fintech hub”.

• The agreement allows the healthcare company to become more involved in Barcelona’s healthcare innovation ecosystem, and to boost collaboration between all its agents.

• Tech Barcelona reinforces its strategy for structuring business innovation in the health and life sciences sector by launching Pier07 at Via Laietana 26.

• Uriach reaffirms its commitment to promoting innovation in its sector: self-care with natural products powered by science.

Barcelona, 16 March 2023. – The health and wellness company Uriach becomes a Tech Barcelona Partner to demonstrate its involvement in the city’s health and life sciences innovation ecosystem. The collaboration agreement allows for a greater connection between the company and entrepreneurial talent and reinforces the association’s strategy to link all the actors involved in the sector and solve needs through technology.

As part of its strategy, Tech Barcelona recently inaugurated Pier07 at Via Laietana 26, a benchmark space for business innovation in the health and life sciences sector. This building is a meeting and collaboration point for startups, pharmaceutical companies, investors, institutions, universities, research centers, and the public health system, all actively participating in the contents and activities of the association.

For Oriol Segarra, CEO of Uriach, “Innovation is part of our DNA. It is key to the development of new natural products that, powered by science, we are sure are the best way to improve health and well-being. Collaborating with startups from the Tech Barcelona ecosystem will help us to be even more agile and efficient in our innovation processes”.

Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, highlights the importance of involving large pharmaceutical companies such as Uriach in Barcelona’s healthcare ecosystem, one of the country’s strategic pillars. “The implementation of technology in the health and life sciences sector is crucial to accelerate its impact on citizens and the health system,” says Martí.

• The agreement allows the German company to be further involved in the development and cooperation of Barcelona’s health innovation ecosystem.

• Tech Barcelona reinforces its strategy to vertebrate business innovation in the health and life sciences sector with the imminent opening of Pier07 in Via Laietana 26

• Under its objective to become a leader in digital innovation in the pharmaceutical industry and a key site for the group globally, Boehringer Ingelheim plans to continue investing in its digital and technological hubs in Sant Cugat del Vallès in the coming years

Barcelona, February 9, 2023. – The German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim joins Tech Barcelona as a Corporate Partner. Its incorporation allows a greater involvement of the company in the development of the innovation ecosystem in health and life sciences in Barcelona. In addition, the agreement reinforces the association’s strategy to connect all the agents involved in the value chain of the health sector to solve needs detected through technology.

Tech Barcelona will launch Pier07, a hub of reference in business innovation in the health and life sciences sector, reaffirming the association’s commitment to public and private actors in the sector. The building, located at Via Laietana 26, will house startups, pharmaceutical companies, investors, institutions, universities, research centres and the public health system, which will be represented and actively participate in the contents and activities of the association.

In its commitment to sustainability, not only of the environment, but also of the communities where it is present, Boehringer Ingelheim contributes to the generation of job opportunities, in this case, with the investment in its digital and technological hubs in Sant Cugat del Vallès. This type of centre represents a development for the region, the universities and the community in general. In the last year, the company has allocated 13 million euros to technological projects and plans to continue investing in the coming years. The company’s goal is to become a leader in digital innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.

For Esther Donado, Medical Transformation & Innovation Lead at Boehringer Ingelheim Spain, “signing this agreement with Tech Barcelona allows Boehringer Ingelheim to join Barcelona’s innovation ecosystem, connect with key players such as technology companies and startups, and contribute to the evolution of the healthcare world. This fits with our commitment to transforming the lives of people and animals for present and future generations, as it allows us to be an active part of the process of technological transformation and to get closer to the needs of healthcare professionals, as well as patients, who are at the centre of all our decisions”.

Marieta Ramos, Head of the IT HUB at Boehringer Ingelheim Spain, recognises this agreement as fundamental in the strategy that the company is carrying out in its trajectory, within the technological and digital framework in Spain with its HUBs, which currently employ 340 people and continue to grow in 2023 with a growth forecast of more than 10%.

For his part, Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, assures that “the incorporation of Boehringer Ingelheim as Corporate Partner reaffirms the involvement of large pharmaceutical companies in the health ecosystem of Barcelona, one of the strategic pillars of the country. The application of technology in the health and life sciences sector is crucial because it will accelerate its impact at all levels: citizens, the health system and professionals in the sector”.

• The agreement allows one of Europe’s leading fashion groups to engage with Barcelona’s technological and digital ecosystem.

Barcelona, January 30th, 2023. – Mango, one of Europe’s leading groups in the fashion industry, has joined Tech Barcelona as a Global Partner with the aim of engaging with Barcelona’s technological and digital ecosystem. This incorporation allows Mango, as an agent with a long history in the retail and e-commerce sector, to actively participate in the generation of knowledge and debate on the present and future of both sectors.

In addition, the agreement will broaden and deepen Mango’s connection with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, corporations and institutions committed to digitalisation and innovation. In this regard, in April 2022 the company created Mango StartUp Studio, a fashion startup accelerator whose mission is to promote innovation, detect growth opportunities and participate in the development of new technologies or business models. Mango StartUp Studio seeks companies or ideas in the development phase to carry out seed capital investments that bring innovation to the value chain of the fashion industry and improve the customer experience.

“At Mango, innovation and technology are part of our essence and DNA. For this reason, we are particularly excited to be part of Tech Barcelona, a collaboration that will allow us to move forward in our digital transformation process hand in hand with one of the top leaders of the digital and technological ecosystem in Barcelona, as well as an international benchmark organisation,” says Elena Carasso, Online and Customer Director at Mango.

For Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, “Mango represents a great success story in the retail and e-commerce sectors, so its involvement in Tech Barcelona will expand the connections and synergies needed to innovate and facilitate the digital transformation of the sector. In addition, being able to count on Mango’s leadership and experience in Tech Barcelona’s activities and content will undoubtedly help startups, corporations and institutions solve new challenges with technology at their core”.

The agreement also gives the company access to Tech Barcelona’s dynamic working groups, organised to identify technological solutions, share challenges and knowledge and support participants’ public policy strategies.