Barcelona city hall welcomed a collaboration initiative led by Juan Roig’s group, highlighting Lanzadera and Marina de Empresas, with Edem business school and Angels startup investment as integral parts. The proposal centers on favorable terms to expand the group’s facilities in Barcelona, a move reported yesterday by the holding company promoting entrepreneurship. Javier Jiménez, managing director of Lanzadera, visited key innovation hubs in the Catalan capital and consulted with several municipal authorities. The discussion included offers such as long-term concessions on renovated spaces without requiring new investments, as approved by the accelerator.
Jimenez shared on social media that Barcelona City Council has opened up numerous opportunities for entrepreneurial startups to grow, expressing curiosity about whether Lanzadera might consider Barcelona in the future. He noted that Valencia faces distinct challenges in expanding its Marina de Empresas, emphasizing the importance of municipal support for nurturing an innovative ecosystem. He also mentioned concerns about how Valencia’s leadership has approached the development of the Marina and the growth of the broader startup community nearby, underscoring the need for proactive municipal engagement.
Sources from Marina de Empresas voiced frustration with delays and missed deadlines promised by the mayor, citing internal bureaucracy as a barrier to progress. They indicated that certain commitments made in July, including space specifications and the ability to tailor the building to needs, have not yet been delivered.
11,600 square meters
The mayor, Joan Ribó, met with Juan Roig at Marina de Empresas on July 27 to discuss a contract for 11,600 square meters. Roig explained that existing facilities had become too small and expansion was necessary to support ongoing growth. The plan included the potential invasion of Tinglado 4 as an initial step, with the city promising to explore additional land to anchor the project. The goal was to accelerate construction before Christmas, but after six months the initiative stalled, prompting renewed calls for timely action from both sides.
900 companies supported
Since September 2015, Marina de Empresas has operated at the port of Valencia and has trained more than 10,000 students. The original complex houses EDEM and Lanzadera across 18,000 square meters, and in 2021 a 1,712-square-meter extension was opened to accommodate Angels beside the fourth cottage. During the academic year, about 2,000 individuals visit the facilities daily. Since its inception in 2013, Lanzadera has helped more than 900 companies and provided financing surpassing 20 million through its loan programs. The combined effort has yielded approximately 8,000 direct jobs and attracted more than 615 million in foreign investments.
Roig reiterated his intention, voiced in July, to double or triple the size of the Marina de Empresas to establish it as a benchmark for European entrepreneurship.
In the face of administrative stalemate, the Lanzadera general manager held meetings with representatives from Anella Olímpica, Carme Lanuza of the Barcelona Municipal Services Forum, Olga Cerezo of Port Olímpic, and Sergi Vidal of Solutions Mobilitat Profesional, aiming to keep momentum alive and work toward concrete milestones.