Investment
During 2023, startups and scaleups established in Catalonia secured an investment of €220 million, thus reinstating the trend established in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, 2023 was a year of growth for investment firms of national origin. The number of these firms increased to 36, doubling the number of investors present in 2019. Moreover, investment firms of national origin tripled the number of investors present in 2019.
Ysios Capital
The most important VC firm in Spain and the most international. It invests globally in biotechnology companies developing innovative therapies. Manages assets valued at over €450 million through 3 funds.
Attraction of investment firms
Between 2019 and 2023, four new VC firms have been established in Barcelona (Additio Ventures, Grow Venture Partners, Nara Capital, and Clave Capital), and four specialized investment companies have opened offices in the city: AdBio, headquartered in Paris; Kaudal, headquartered in Tenerife; Columbus Ventures Partners; and CRB Inverbio, both headquartered in Madrid.
The high scientific and technological level and the business dynamism of the BioRegion are attracting international capital. While up until 2018, 37 unique international firms had participated in operations in the BioRegion, by 2023, this number has risen to 130 international investment companies.
58% of the venture capital raised has international participation
In 2023, venture capital was the main source of investment (€114 million, 52% of the total). International investments and co-investments (with both local and international capital) amounted to €66.5 million, 58% of the total. American and Asian investors maintained their activity through 6 different operations.
Investment rounds with national capital increased to 18, doubling the investment to €38.7 million. Competitive grants doubled their contribution compared to the previous year.
Investors
Ysios Capital
The most important VC firm in Spain and the most international. It invests globally in biotechnology companies developing innovative therapies. Manages assets valued at over €450 million through 3 funds.
Caixa Capital Risc
CriteriaCaixa venture capital manager that invests in innovative startups. It has three teams that specialize in the life sciences, ICT and industrial technology. Manages assets valued at €200 million through 9 investment vehicles.
Alta Life Sciences
Invests in biotech, biopharma, medtech and digital health companies at all stages of development. In 2023, it launched a new SFDR qualified fund, Aliath Bioventures, with a significant focus on sustainable impact investment.
Asabys Partners
Focuses on investment in innovative early stage companies in health (biotechnology, medical technology, disruptive services and digital therapeutics). Its portfolio includes companies in Belgium, the Netherlands and Israel. The target size of its second fund (SAHII 2) is €200 million.
Invivo Ventures
VC specializing in early stage projects in the health sector, including biotechnology projects for diagnostics and drug development, medical devices and e-Health. Manages assets valued at €60 million.
Inveready
Their life sciences branch focuses on early stage and series A projects in drug development, with in vivo proof of concept and toxicology, as well as digital health and consumer health projects. Manages assets valued at €60 million, 19 companies.
CGHealth Ventures
Provides investment and support for early stage projects by innovative startups, especially in digital health, information technology for health and genomics.
Nina Capital
Fund specializing in healthtech and digital health that prioritizes investment in highly innovative projects based on unmet clinical needs in Europe, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United States and Canada.