Startups in Madrid: ecosystem, companies and strengths
Iberia's second and fast-growing hub, specialised in marketplaces, travel tech and fintech with privileged access to Latin American markets.
Why Madrid matters in the European startup ecosystem
Madrid has consolidated its position as one of Southern Europe's leading startup hubs, in strong synergy with Barcelona. The city benefits from a domestic market of 47 million people (Spain), a strong entrepreneurial culture and its natural role as a bridge to 400 million Latin American consumers. It has produced unicorns such as Cabify, idealista, Factorial HR and TravelPerk (Barcelona), and attracts growing investment from US and Asian funds. The Spanish government launched the Startup Act (Ley de Startups) in 2023 to attract international talent and capital.
Why it works
- Large corporate demand
- Very active Spanish capital
- Natural gateway to Hispanic markets
Historical growth
Madrid grew significantly over the last five years and is now comparable to Barcelona in relevance, but with stronger ties to corporates, banking and large services. Its profile is more enterprise-driven and less lifestyle-oriented.
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Arkadia Space
Space tech startup developing satellite-based Earth observation and data analytics for climate, agriculture, a
Golden Owl
European startup developing an anticipatory intelligence OS based on OSINT and AI, enabling organizations to a
Keepler Data Tech
Spanish specialist in cloud-native AI and data solutions, acquired by Accenture to strengthen data and AI cons
PLD Space
Spanish launch provider securing €30M venture debt from EIB to complete development of MIURA 5 orbital rocket
Zepo Intelligence
Human-centric cybersecurity: behavioural threat intelligence to prevent social engineering attacks.
Strengths of Madrid
- Large domestic market
- Strong corporate base
- Natural bridge to Latin America
- Seed and Series A are now much deeper than five years ago. For growth, international fund support remains essential.
- Banking, telecom, utilities and mobility make Madrid very strong for B2B software and fintech. It is an ecosystem with natural access to large enterprise clients.
Weaknesses and limitations
- Weaker tech brand than Barcelona
- AI and deeptech less dense than top Nordic hubs
- Late-stage still heavily cross-border
Key startups in Madrid
ALIAS ROBOTICS S.L.
Alias Robotics develops AI-driven cybersecurity that automates complex security tasks using intelligent agents, providing continuous protection across modern IT, OT, and robotics systems.
APPLIED INNOVATIVE METHODS, SL
Applied Intuition powers physical artificial intelligence, automating machines in automotive, defense, transportation, and agriculture sectors.
Arkadia Aerospace Propulsion & Transportation Systems
Ecological propulsion solutions for all types of satellites and vehicles.
Arkadia Space
Space tech startup developing satellite-based Earth observation and data analytics for climate, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
BEYOURBEST S.L
VR Sports Training helps you to see the field better and to move forward, improving your vision, decision-making process, and cognitive abilities. Enhance your skills today.
CONNECTA THERAPEUTICS SL
Making advanced cell and gene therapies accessible and available to patients worldwide.
CREATIVITY SPARK CONSULTING S.L.
Creativity Spark maximizes value from Microsoft Power Platform and cloud investments.
Cabify
Cabify is a European mobility and logistics platform with a public unicorn valuation.
Clicars
Clicars, founded in Madrid in 2016, is an e-commerce platform for refurbished used cars. It was acquired in 2021 by the Aramis group (Stellantis) and has sold over 85,000 vehicles, with more than €1.5 billion in cumulative sales.
Clikalia
Clikalia is a Spanish proptech founded in 2018 in Madrid that simplifies selling property without intermediaries. It offers users a cash offer within 48 hours and the chance to sell the home in 7 days, all online. It completed a private IPO in 2021 and has received investment from funds such as Apax and Miriada. It aims to digitize the secondary residential market with a fast, transparent experience.
Cosymbio Labs SL
Best-in-class solutions for workplace environment optimization, enhancing wellbeing and productivity.
DATADEFEND SOLUTIONS, SL
DataDefend reduces security alerts and improves enterprise data protection with intelligent solutions.
DevsHealth SL
AI-powered drug discovery identifying promising compounds and therapeutic candidates more efficiently.
EOXSENSE SL
Cutting-edge chemical detection technology for environmental monitoring and industrial sensing.
Earthpulse, S.L.
Scalable geospatial analytics unlocking actionable environmental insights and decision-making.
Fever
Global platform for discovering and booking urban experiences operating in 80+ cities connecting users with local entertainment, dining and events.
GYALA THERAPEUTICS SL
Unified cybersecurity protecting IT, OT, and IoT infrastructure from advanced threats.
Golden Owl
European startup developing an anticipatory intelligence OS based on OSINT and AI, enabling organizations to anticipate geopolitical, competitive, and market risks.
Idealista
Idealista is a Spanish real estate portal founded in 2000 in Madrid that connects buyers, sellers and renters. With millions of property listings in Spain, Italy and Portugal, it is the go-to platform for home searches. It has raised hundreds of millions in funding (EQT became the controlling shareholder in 2020) and is considered one of the major players in European online real estate.
Idoven 1903 SL
AI-powered cardiology platform that revolutionises ECG interpretation, enabling early detection of heart conditions and improving diagnostic precision.
Job&Talent
Job&Talent is a platform founded in 2009 in Madrid that connects job seekers with companies for flexible and temporary work. It uses matching algorithms to pair qualified candidates with open positions. With over 100,000 people placed in jobs worldwide, it has raised $500M in funding and reached unicorn status. Its mission is to simplify large-scale recruiting through advanced technology.
Jobandtalent
Spanish tech marketplace for temporary labor connecting workers and employers through AI-powered matching for flexible work opportunities.
Keepler Data Tech
Spanish specialist in cloud-native AI and data solutions, acquired by Accenture to strengthen data and AI consulting capabilities.
Lingokids
Lingokids is an edtech platform founded in 2016 in Madrid, dedicated to playful learning for preschool-age children. It offers interactive games, videos and songs to teach English and other cognitive skills in a fun way. With over 20 million monthly family users, it raised $40M in a Series C round in 2022 and aims to make children's learning effective and safe.
LuxQuanta Technologies
Quantum security company offering post-quantum cryptography solutions for the quantum computing era, protecting sensitive data from future threats.
MITIGA SOLUTIONS SL
AI-based climate risk intelligence platform delivering scientifically rigorous physical risk assessments to help organisations quantify and act on climate exposure.
Orbital Paradigm
Satellite-based Earth observation and analytics platform.
PLD Space
Spanish launch provider securing €30M venture debt from EIB to complete development of MIURA 5 orbital rocket.
Payflows
Embedded financial services platform for fintech and marketplaces.
Qbeast Analytics S.L
Discover faster queries and reduce processing costs with Qbeast's multidimensional indexing: open, efficient, and perfectly.
SCOOLINARY SL
Learn from the best chefs in the world. Unlimited access to over 130 courses. New courses every week! Stream anytime, anywhere, at your own pace, only on Scoolinary.
STEM CELL LAB S.L.
Life sciences company developing specialised cell culture media, separation systems, instruments, and reagents to support stem cell and cellular therapy research.
Seedtag
Seedtag, founded in Madrid in 2014, offers AI-based contextual advertising technology. It raised over €250 million in funding in 2022 and serves major global brands. Its platform enables targeted campaigns without the use of cookies.
Singularly, S.L.
Enterprise-grade AI security platform protecting AI agents and applications from attacks, hallucinations, and data leaks with native cybersecurity solutions.
TaxDown
TaxDown is a Spanish startup founded in 2019 in Madrid that offers an application to simplify income tax filing. Using AI, it guides users step by step through the tax process, reducing errors and saving time. It has over 50,000 active users and has received investment from Angels4BD and other investors, positioning itself as a digital alternative to traditional accountants.
TravelPerk
All-in-one business travel platform integrating booking, policy enforcement and expense management with AI-powered savings optimization.
Uxia Testing Solutions S.L.
UXIA supports you in the realization of your technical projects. Our agile methodology combines with a company vision to help you exceed your goals.
VAXDYN SL
Vaccine development company focused on preventing global health crises caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria.
Xoople
Spanish startup founded in 2021. Provides AI-ready geospatial data and satellite analytics for enterprise applications. $130M Series B in 2026.
Zepo Intelligence
Spanish startup founded in 2022. Specialises in cybersecurity for human risk — phishing, social engineering, insider threat. $15M seed in 2026.
VCs, accelerators and key players
Hubs & campuses
Key universities
Public support
Key sectors in Madrid
What we can learn
- Economic capitals can grow a lot in tech without dominating the brand
- Corporate fabric matters as much as venture