During the recent South Summit in Madrid, PROEXCA actively took part alongside numerous stakeholders from the tech ecosystem of the Canary Islands. The primary goal was to showcase the benefits that the islands provide to entrepreneurs and startups, while also enhancing the visibility of technology-based companies in the archipelago.
Accompanying PROEXCA at the event held in Madrid last week were various regional public institutions including the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation, and the Information Society, the Special Canary Zone (ZEC), the island councils of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, accelerators such as Olympoboxes and Mentorday, and investors like Archipelago Next.
There were also 40 local startups, out of which 15 had the opportunity to present their business proposals to potential investors at the the Demo Stage. This platform served as a valuable avenue for the Canary companies to exhibit their projects, establish new connections, and generate interest among both national and international investors.
Additionally, at the Catalyst Stage, Eva Sainero, Senior Officer of the ZEC, shed light on the distinctive aspects of the tech ecosystem in the Canary Islands. She emphasized the abundant prospects it presents for technology-based companies and positioned the archipelago as an optimal hub for startups.
The South Summit serves as a prominent innovation platform that facilitates connections between startups, investors, and companies worldwide, through diverse events focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and networking. In this context, the entities accompanying PROEXCA at this event leveraged the shared booth to provide support to startups based in the archipelago. They also took the opportunity to elucidate the business advantages offered by the Canary Islands to attending companies and investors.
These benefits comprise an established ecosystem with a track record of organizing tech events in the islands, over 1,100 operational technology companies, a rising number of emerging enterprises, funding prospects, fiscal incentives, an engaging network of investors, proficient technology sector experts, and a thriving community of entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, the entities’ involvement in the South Summit provided an opportunity to reiterate to attendees the benefits of the close proximity between the archipelago and European territory, as well as Western Africa. They also emphasized the favorable air connectivity with key European airports, the United States, and multiple countries in West Africa.
Moreover, in their efforts to promote the Canary Islands as an appealing investment and business destination, with a particular focus on startups, they underscored additional advantages. These include the consistently warm and stable temperatures year-round, affordable cost of living, safety, the availability of educational institutions, and the presence of international consulting firms. Collectively, these factors contribute to fostering an international and cosmopolitan community within the islands.