15 Barcelona start-ups to pitch their tech projects at California’s Disrupt SF 2016

Barcelona (CNA).- 15 Barcelona start-ups are participating this week at the Disrupt SF 2016, a global benchmark event in the field of new entrepreneurial projects featuring disruptive technology. The event is taking place between the 12^th and the 14^th of September in San Francisco. Catalonia Trade & Investment, Catalonia’s agency for economic promotion, and the technology media Tech Crunch, have selected 15 companies, from a total of 128 applicants. The Catalan firms will also have the chance to present their projects to 50 investors and US companies during a private session at Samsung’s Silicon Valley facilities on 15^th September. “These fifteen companies will provide a first-hand look at Catalonia’s disruptive innovation”, Catalonia Trade & Investment stated. 

The different business projects feature disruptive technologies in the field of digital health, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), virtual reality, Agriculture Technology (AgTech) and Educational Technology (EdTech). The 15 start-ups in the Catalan Pavilion are: Agroptima, Broomx Technologies, Bwom Technologies, Eodyne, Gestoos, HealthApp, Kompyte, Ledmotive, Mint Labs, tech4freedom, Restb, Sekg, Mediktor, The Construct and Zolertia. 

During the event, the start-ups will meet major companies and American investors in Silicon Valley and will present their projects to leaders of the disruptive innovation entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. In total, 128 Catalan companies applied to be part of this mission and those selected have received advice and support from Catalonia Trade & Investment in order to prepare the presentations they will give to the US investors. 

Barcelona, a land of entrepreneurship 

Catalonia Trade & Investment stressed that with 7.5 million inhabitants, Catalonia accounts for 16% of the Spanish population, but is responsible for 20% of its GDP and 23% of its industry. “Catalan exports come to almost half the value of its GDP and, as international studies performed by Ernest & Young or the Financial Times indicate, it leads Europe in foreign investment”, they stated.

“Its capital, Barcelona, acts as a magnet for business and international talent”, the agency added. The city hosts the Mobile World Congress (MWC) and has established itself as “one of Europe’s main hubs for entrepreneurship thanks to a strong network of shared workspaces, fab-lab market places, leading universities on an international level and a unique lifestyle”. 

With start-ups being one of the strongest employment- and income-creators in Europe, Barcelona is the 5^th Start-up Region in Europe according to Compass and Catalonia Trade & Investment, behind London, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam. Indeed, the CITIE’s 2015 report lists Barcelona as the continent’s 4^th Best City in terms of favouring digital entrepreneurship.