Rising UP in Spain is an ICEX-Invest in Spain programme that supports the establishment of foreign startups with local partners. The programme is running its tenth edition in 2026.
A recent delegation brought six startups from Peru, Chile and Mexico to Alhambra Venture to meet Spanish funds, companies and strategic partners across energy, circular economy, biotechnology and financial technology.
Soft landing must follow a strategy
Quality of life and access to Europe may attract a founder, but the company still needs customers, employees, a tax structure, permits and a specific commercial reason to operate from Spain.
A local partner reduces friction
Accelerators, advisers, universities and established companies can provide contacts and market understanding. Responsibilities, expectations, intellectual property and potential conflicts should be defined from the beginning.
Internationalisation also changes the company
Operating across countries forces a business to organise contracts, pricing, communication, governance and customer support. The goal is not to transfer an unchanged model, but to adapt it without losing its core advantage.
Editorial sources
Photograph: ZoomTanzania's Workplace.jpg · Ismizotz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons