• The Silicon Valley-based innovation consultancy firm brings its global vision of innovation ecosystems to Barcelona

Barcelona, 20 July 2022. – Tech Barcelona, the private non-profit association that supports Barcelona’s digital and technological ecosystem, has partnered with Mind the Bridge, an innovation consultancy based in Silicon Valley, to access its global network of innovation connections and boost the city’s technological and digital ecosystem at a global level. With the incorporation of Tech Barcelona as a Corporate Partner, Mind The Bridge will reinforce its knowledge of what is already one of the leading ecosystems in Europe, and will be able to give it more visibility within its international network.

Founded in 2007 by Marco Marinucci while working at Google, Mind the Bridge was born with the aim of developing the Italian startup ecosystem and building bridges with Silicon Valley. Today, it has offices in San Francisco, London, Milan, Los Angeles, Seoul and Barcelona, and holds scaleup summits in many countries.

Mind the Bridge has published the Tech Scaleup Spain report, together with Acciona and Crunchbase, whose latest edition highlights Spain as a unique case in Europe due to the coexistence of two major startup ecosystems -Madrid and Barcelona-. The report highlights that Barcelona stands out as the main focus of growth and investment, with a total of 306 scaleups and an accumulated $6.7 billion raised since its creation.

For Alberto Onetti, Chairman of Mind the Bridge, “over the past few years Barcelona has become an international hub able to attract the Digital and Innovation Outposts of companies from all over the world. Reasons? A vibrant and growing startup scene, the abundance of international talent, a network mindset. That’s why we decided a few years ago to open an office in Barcelona that today hosts an 10+ international team. For Mind the Bridge joining Tech Barcelona is the natural step for being even more integrated in the local ecosystem and helping make it even more international. That’s why at the top of our to-do list is a joint study on the international companies that have a digital outpost in Barcelona”.

Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, believes that “the ecosystem of startups and corporates in Barcelona must grow together with the global and innovative vision of major international players such as Mind the Bridge, and the experience it can bring from large projects. The presence of the consultancy firm in the American, European and Asian markets allows Barcelona to connect with an extensive network of knowledge and global experience”.

[In the photograph: Francesca Cavanna, Team Lead Innovation at Mind The Bridge, and Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona. Author: Marc Guillén]

• The technology consultancy specialising in digital transformation solutions has offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Kerala and Silicon Valley

• The company brings its experience in technology projects in strategic sectors for the ecosystem such as education, retail, mobility and fintech

Barcelona, 31 May 2022 – Opentrends, the technology consultancy specialised in digital transformation solutions and smart cities, joins Tech Barcelona as a Corporate Partner. With this alliance, the non-profit association strengthens its commitment to bring together and connect the main trends and technological solutions that underpin strategic sectors of the ecosystem such as education, retail, mobility and fintech.

Opentrends, which focuses on supporting companies in need of digital transformation, was founded in Barcelona in 2004 and currently has a team of more than 400 professionals located in its four offices – Barcelona, Madrid, Kerala and Silicon Valley. The consultancy firm has experienced growth of more than 20% since the start of the pandemic, thanks to the development of projects such as the management platform for the Barcelona Low Emission Zone (ZBE) and the identity validation system for the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

In the statement of Juanjo Giménez, CEO and founding partner of Opentrends, “Tech Barcelona is an independent association that works to position the city as a benchmark on the international technology scene”. “Its strategy, focused on driving the transformation of economic models and generating an innovation ecosystem, fully coincides with ours, aimed at providing companies and public bodies with the efficiency and competitiveness they need through digitisation”.

For his part, Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, assures that “the technological transformation of cities involves putting the citizen at the centre, understanding their needs and using the right technology to achieve this. The alliance with Opentrends is key to achieving this and anticipating the changes of the future”.

From left to right: Paula Serra, Project Manager & BI at Tech Barcelona; Xavi Buscallà, founding partner and CEO of Opentrends US; Juanjo Giménez, CEO and founding partner of Opentrends; and Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona.

● The US multinational strengthens its presence in Barcelona with an agreement that will boost innovation in the digital and technological ecosystem

Barcelona, 17 May 2022 – HP joins Tech Barcelona as a Global Partner to actively participate in driving the digital and technology ecosystem.

HP is one of the major global technology players and has been a pioneer in supporting the Barcelona ecosystem for three decades. The multinational currently has one of the company’s most emblematic international centres in Sant Cugat del Vallès, where more than 2,500 professionals from all over the world develop innovation in cutting-edge fields such as digital printing in 2 and 3D.

HP is a benchmark in talent and in the development of global solutions, and for Tech Barcelona, its participation reinforces its commitment to connect local innovation with the global technology ecosystem.

The multinational has been committed to Catalonia since 1985, when it began manufacturing plotters in a small factory in Terrassa. In 1993 the plant became the world headquarters for large-format printing, creating an R&D laboratory that is unique in the world, generating major innovations including 3D. In 2019 they inaugurated, on the same campus, the largest centre dedicated to research, development and innovation in 3D printing of plastics and metal in the world.

For Joan Pérez Pericot, Global Head of Strategy & Innovation, HP Industrial Print Business, “The world is changing in front of us at great speed. It is essential that we are connected to innovation ecosystems so that we can anticipate trends, adapt quickly to change and deliver the technology that will truly inspire ambitious and meaningful progress for our society.

For his part, Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, considers that “due to its importance, impact and technological leadership, HP is a priority reference for Tech Barcelona. With this agreement we have managed to bring together great specialists in technologies that are going to have a lot of weight in some of the industries that we are committed to at the Association, such as 3D printing and the world of health”.

F: Joan Pérez Pericot, Global Head of Strategy & Innovation, HP Industrial Print Business; Mar Galtés, Corporate Development Director de Tech Barcelona; y Miquel Martí, CEO de Tech Barcelona. Marc Guillén.

• The agreement reinforces the health sector ecosystem’s commitment to digital and technological transformation

Barcelona, 12 May 2022 – The scientific communication consultancy Grupo Mayo joins Tech Barcelona as a Media Partner, with the aim of accelerating the digital transformation of the health and life sciences sector and bringing its expertise in specialised communication to all players in the technology ecosystem.

According to José María Torres, CEO of Grupo Mayo, “by joining Tech Barcelona we want to be an active part of the technological transformation process that is taking place in the world of healthcare, making it easier for all the innovations to reach healthcare professionals and future patients”.

For his part, Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, considers that “with the alliance we reinforce our strategic commitment to the Healthcare & Life Sciences sector. Having a top-level partner like Grupo Mayo will allow us to bring knowledge of state-of-the-art solutions and technologies to professionals in the sector”.

The Healthcare & Life Sciences sector is one of the strategic pillars of the country and the application of technology will accelerate its impact at all levels: citizens, healthcare system, professionals in the sector.

• The global shopping centre operator, owner of Westfield Glòries, Westfield La Maquinista and Splau, joins the association to participate in the digital transformation of the retail sector.

Barcelona, 25 April 2022. – Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), a global shopping centre developer and operator, joins Tech Barcelona as a Corporate Partner, to actively participate in the development and application of technological solutions that drive retail transformation.

Retail is one of the key economic sectors in the functioning and development of cities, and one of the most impacted by digital transformation. In this sense, the future of retail involves rethinking the physical space and the relationship with consumers, the adoption of new payment systems and new distribution formulas and the management of the last mile. For Tech Barcelona it is strategic to bring together the companies that are providing technological solutions and the large operators that can apply them.

URW currently has a significant presence in Barcelona, where it operates two of the largest shopping centres, Westfield Glòries and Westfield La Maquinista, as well as the Splau shopping centre. In total, the developer owns 85 shopping centres in 12 countries and employs more than 2,800 professionals.

According to Marilyne Mesiano, Country Manager of URW in Spain, “being an active part of the development of the technological and digital fabric of Barcelona through the incorporation of Tech Barcelona is a great opportunity to contribute our global knowledge of the retail world to the local development of the sector”. “We are convinced that, in turn, the talent in the association will be a very valuable input for us, and will allow us to continue working on the constant improvement of the customer experience through innovative initiatives,” says Mesiano.

For Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, “retail is a sector in which many transformations converge: mobility, payment systems and logistics. At Tech Barcelona, we want the city’s technology ecosystem to actively participate in this retail transformation and become a reference model for the adaptation of large operators and small businesses to new solutions and new consumer habits”.

The agreement is also part of URW’s Better Places 2030 programme, through which it seeks to make a positive contribution to the communities in which it operates and to achieve the highest environmental standards to create better cities.

• The neobank for corporates opened its Spanish headquarters in 2021, and plans to set up an international operations hub in Barcelona this year

• The agreement with Qonto reinforces Tech Barcelona’s commitment to a sector that is one of the main pillars of the digital and technological ecosystem

Barcelona, 12 April 2022. – Qonto, Europe’s leading enterprise finance solution, joins Tech Barcelona as a Corporate Partner. The neobank, founded in 2017 and which has already reached unicorn status, has had its headquarters and offices in Barcelona since last year, and will open an international operations hub in 2022. With this alliance, Tech Barcelona reinforces its strategic proposal for the fintech sector, considered one of the great bets of the present and future of the city’s technological ecosystem.

Carles Marcos, Country Manager of Qonto in Spain explains that “establishing synergies with an organisation that is committed to the birth of entrepreneurs, passionate about innovation, fits perfectly with our self-imposed obligation to simplify all management processes and bureaucracy for SMEs, so that they can focus on what really generates value for them: their business. It was clear to us that in order to continue consolidating our growth, it is necessary to formalise strategic partnerships, including associations, such as Tech Barcelona, and companies that deal directly with the entrepreneurial ecosystem and care about their needs, in the same way that Qonto does”.

Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, adds that “the fintech sector is consolidating itself as one of the big bets of the city’s technological ecosystem. The first local successes are being joined by international companies, such as Qonto, which reinforce this vision. At Tech Barcelona we are committed to connecting the main players leading this transformation to consolidate Barcelona as a fintech hub of international reference”.

• The Italian group based in Barcelona specialises in technological solutions applied to mobility, retail and fintech

• With the incorporation of Spindox, Tech Barcelona consolidates its position as the gateway to the local ecosystem

Barcelona, 30 March 2022. – Spindox, the Italian digital transformation technology consultancy that develops and integrates solutions in the field of ICT (Information & Communication Technology), has joined Tech Barcelona as a Corporate Partner. The agreement will allow the group to strengthen its approach to the Barcelona ecosystem and provides extensive knowledge in digital solutions for strategic sectors such as mobility or retail.

Spindox, based in Barcelona, has around 1,000 employees, distributed between Italy, with its headquarters in Milan, and its subsidiaries in Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Italian group specialises in technological solutions applied to mobility, retail or fintech and its clients include brands such as Maserati, Vodafone, Pirelli and United Colours of Benetton.

Spindox’s active participation in the Tech Barcelona ecosystem will provide a global vision of the challenges faced by large international corporations, providing visibility of global projects and technological solutions that can be useful to both corporations and startups in the ecosystem.

Paolo Marone, Country Manager of Spindox Spain, says: “For a company like Spindox, which is dedicated to supporting the innovation of its clients through digital solutions and which operates throughout Spain from Barcelona, being part of Tech Barcelona is a natural step. We love the idea of participating in the development of advanced solutions in areas such as mobility, retail or fintech and thus contributing to a competitive ecosystem”.

Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, adds that “the incorporation of Spindox as an active partner in the ecosystem corroborates the interest of large international corporations in Barcelona as a focus for talent, business and technological contributions. It is a new opportunity to strengthen top-level international connections. And as an association we are proud to continue accompanying the companies that are committed to Barcelona”.

SeQura, the leading Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and deferred payment solution in Southern Europe, will invest €10 million in an innovation centre in Barcelona over the next two years. To accomplish this, 150 people will be hired over the next 12 months, 80 of them in technology and product. The Innovation Hub will be located at SeQura’s headquarters in Barcelona.

SeQura, founded in Barcelona in 2014, will use this investment to develop new products and tools to accelerate the digital transformation of physical shops and e-commerce, to streamline the purchasing process, improve conversion and provide new experiences that will enable customer loyalty.

“Convenience, trust and agility in the checkout process are imperative to convert online visits into sales, in context with a consumer profile accustomed to immediacy and convenience. Does it make sense to be forced to provide your personal information at every online shop and remember a unique password when you come back to shop? We have rethought the current shopping experience and simplified this process down to a single click. This investment will allow us to accelerate the development and implementation of such tools for our affiliated merchants” says David Bäckström, CEO of SeQura.

SeQura also offers different solutions for deferred payment in physical shops. These range from those that are integrated into the regular POS sales cycle, to those that allow the shopper to scan a QR code on the product label, allowing them to complete the purchase from their mobile, streamlining the sales process. “We enhance the inherent benefits of physical shopping by combining the immediacy and convenience of digital shopping,” adds David Bäckström.

SeQura becomes a Global Partner of Tech Barcelona

As part of this strategy, SeQura announces its incorporation to Tech Barcelona as a Global Partner to lead the new wave of fintech transformation from the city. For Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, “the financial sector is undergoing a decisive change, and Barcelona has the opportunity to contribute to and lead this transformation through technology. For Tech Barcelona, the fintech sector is one of the strategic focal points for the development of the ecosystem, and it is essential to bring together the main technology companies, such as SeQura, which are leading this change”. Tech Barcelona promotes, within its structure, a vertical that favours the creation, attraction and consolidation of technology companies that have to contribute to the transformation of the banking, financial and insurance sectors.

In the photo, from right to left, David Bäckström, CEO of SeQura; Adrián Escudé, Head of Marketing of SeQura; Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona; and Mar Galtés, Corporate Development Director of Tech Barcelona (PHOTO: Mercè Resino).