The Fundación Innovación y Desarrollo (FIDBAN) successfully held its 24th Round of Investment at the Centro de Iniciativas Empresariales (CIE) in Santander with the support of the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (UNEATLANTICO) and the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana (FUNIBER). The event, organized in collaboration with the Department of Employment, Entrepreneurship and Business Development of the City of Santander, was consolidated as a key platform for injecting capital into innovative projects in the region.
More than thirty investors met to meet four Cantabrian startups with high growth potential, generating a strong interest and investment potential that will materialize in the coming weeks.
Talent Cantabrico in the Center of the Ecosystem
The day began with the institutional welcome by Chabela Gómez Barreda, Councilor for Employment, Entrepreneurship and Business Development of the City of Santander, who highlighted the role of CIE as a nerve center to boost talent and technological entrepreneurship.
Then, Diego Laínz Arroyo, director of FIDBAN, presented the balance sheet of the Foundation, noting that, through its rounds, more than 100 startups have already passed, of which more than 30 are now consolidated success stories. For his part, Laínz also emphasized the growing international projection of FIDBAN with recent rounds in Chile and Peru, and upcoming events in Panama and Mexico.
The event featured the «Success Stories» section, where Jose Manuel Colsa, CEO of Vamos Rural (digital booking platform for rural tourism), was interviewed by Fermín Mier, Content Director of the SER Chain in Cantabria, sharing the experience of a regional company that has managed to scale up and consolidate.
The Protagonists: Four High Impact Projects
The four startups presented aroused great interest among attendees, highlighting their Cantabrian origin and their stage of growth:
WYPO (Fintech): Digital mortgage platform that seeks to simplify the intermediation and management of mortgages. It was presented by its CEO, Elena Ansótegui, and is in a phase of scaling up after raising initial capital. Wypo seeks to grow in the “improve your mortgage” market and internationally.
BANBU (Waterless Cosmetics): Eco-friendly, non-toxic and water-free cosmetic brand focused on reducing the sector’s environmental footprint. Its CEO, Rodrigo Folgueira, presented Banbu with emphasis on “Goodbye to toxic cosmetics”. The new funding through Convertible Notes will serve among others to enhance its international expansion as well.
La Muda (Bikepacking and Rural Tourism): A proposal for responsible and sustainable tourism that offers a cycling challenge through the Pasiegos Valleys. Its founder, Iván Diego, focused on revaluing the rural environment and human connection.
EMYRA Cara a Cara (Human Connection): Platform that organizes face-to-face and real encounters between like-minded people, using technology to turn off the screens and turn on conversations. Presented by its founder, Sonia Gómez Salazar.
«We are very satisfied with the level of startups and the interest they have generated among investors. This round demonstrates that the Cantabrian ecosystem continues to produce high-quality talent and that FIDBAN is a key driver in channelling the private investment these projects need for their scaling up phase,» said Diego Lainz.
About FIDBAN
FIDBAN is a non-profit foundation dedicated to connecting private capital with startups, acting as a catalyst for investment and innovation. Member of the Spanish Association of Business Angels (AEBAN), its Board includes the European University of the Atlantic, SODERCAN as main sponsor, the Ibero-American University Foundation (FUNIBER), CITICAN, the municipalities of Santander and Torrelavega, and the CEOE-CEPYME.