CaixaBank, through its technology and startup arm DayOne, together with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism via Enisa, has launched the 17th EmprendeXXI Awards cycle. This initiative calls on technology-based companies based in Spain or Portugal with fewer than three years of operation to apply through the official site www.emprendedorxxi.es. The program seeks to recognize and support entrepreneurial ventures that are driving innovation within the regional and national ecosystems.
To mark the kickoff of this edition, the Príncipe Felipe Museum at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia hosted the opening events. The Digital Summit 2023 provided the stage for the call, and the initiative plans to distribute substantial cash prizes and related activities totaling close to 800,000 euros.
In the last edition, Arcadia Space was lauded as the most innovative company in the Valencian Community. Nationally, five Valencian finalists were highlighted last year, including Bounsel, Qlip, Madeinplant, Bumerania Robotics and Ordatic, underscoring the region’s strong performance in the competition.
CaixaBank continues to emphasize the program highlights, including regional recognition and nationwide opportunities. Since its inception in 2007, the EmprendeXXI initiative has invested 8.3 million euros in cash prizes and related support activities, benefiting nearly 500 companies. The program awards 19 regional recognitions to newly created firms making notable local impact, with 17 awards allocated to Spain (one per autonomous community) and two to Portugal (the north-central region and Lisbon-south and the Islands). Winners at this stage receive a cash prize of 6,000 euros.
Beyond regional winners, the competition rewards the best solutions addressing key societal challenges. The category winners receive 12,000 euros each. In total, six challenges have been identified for this edition, with each challenge comprising two subcategories that target different problem areas.
Support for winners comes from a network of CaixaBank group companies, including AgroBank, Imagin, VidaCaixa, CaixaBank Séniors, MicroBank, CaixaBank Real Estate and Homes, CaixaBank Payments and Consumer, CaixaBank Hotels and Tourism, CaixaBank Food and Beverage, CaixaBank Technology, Sustainability, Banking Private, Innovation and CaixaBank Dualiza.
Alongside regional and challenge-based prizes, the program provides access to a training track hosted at a global reference innovation center. This enrichment helps winners and finalists accelerate growth through mentorship, strategic workshops, and hands-on programs designed to scale technology ventures across Europe and beyond. [citation: CaixaBank EmprendeXXI program overview and partners].