Spain & Iberia Startups — 2026-04-21

Key Highlights

Portugal: AI and Data Centers Power Up

Portugal's energy grid and digital infrastructure are becoming central to Europe's AI buildout. A new analysis published this week examines the country as a prime destination for AI data-center investment, framing it through a "downstream investing" lens — backing the infrastructure suppliers behind a major economic wave.

14 Portuguese Startups to Watch, According to Investors

Sifted published its investor-curated list of 14 Portuguese startups making waves in 2026, with companies spanning AI, cybersecurity, and SaaS. Lisbon continues to serve as the ecosystem anchor, drawing international attention for its talent pipeline and innovation culture.

Spain Plants $200M Biotech Flag in Boston

Spain has officially launched a $200M venture capital fund anchored in Boston, targeting Spanish biotech companies seeking to scale within one of the world's premier life sciences ecosystems. The initiative includes a new trade office in Massachusetts and approximately $57M in public seed capital — a significant government-backed push to internationalize Spanish biotech.

Spain's Entrepreneur Visa: Fast-Track Talent Relocation

Spain's startup visa ecosystem remains a live draw for international founders. The government's ENISA funding program provides up to €1.5 million in grants for innovative projects, complementing the Spain Tech Visa pathway that continues attracting founders looking to relocate into the country's multi-hub startup network.

4 sources

sifted.eu

sifted.eu

european-biotechnology.com

european-biotechnology.com

sifted.eu

sifted.eu

sifted.eu

sifted.eu

Analysis

Southern Europe's Rising Tech Competitiveness

The Iberian Peninsula is rapidly shedding its peripheral status in European tech. Portugal's emergence as a preferred destination for AI infrastructure — driven by energy capacity, geography, and a supportive regulatory environment — positions Lisbon not just as a startup hub, but as backbone infrastructure for the next wave of European AI companies.

Spain's strategic move to co-invest in Boston biotech signals a maturation of the country's innovation policy: rather than waiting for global firms to come to Spain, Madrid is buying a seat at the table in the world's most competitive life sciences market. With $57M in public seed capital anchoring a $200M fund, this is one of the more ambitious cross-Atlantic public-private plays in recent European memory.

Barcelona's tech ecosystem, meanwhile, already exceeds €51 billion in enterprise value — ranking it among Europe's top technology hubs. Madrid leads in mid-stage "breakout" financing. Together, the two cities form a powerful anchor for what Spain's capital-risk sector describes as the second-fastest growing startup ecosystem in Europe over the past five years.

What to Watch

• Web Summit Lisbon (November 9–12, 2026) remains the region's marquee event. Portugal's startup ecosystem will again showcase its depth, with the Road 2 Web Summit program supporting Portuguese-based startups seeking investor access, media visibility, and international partnerships.

• Spain's Boston biotech office — watch for the first cohort of Spanish biotech companies receiving support through the new Massachusetts trade office and whether this model expands to other sectors or geographies.

• Portugal's AI infrastructure buildout — as hyperscalers and cloud providers scout European data-center locations, Portugal's combination of renewable energy, Atlantic connectivity, and political stability could attract major anchor investments in 2026.

• Spain's secondary hubs — Valencia, Bilbao, Málaga, and Seville continue maturing as innovation nodes beyond Barcelona and Madrid, with Invest in Spain citing a growing multi-hub structure as a key differentiator for the national ecosystem.