Founded 1986 by the City Council. Public incubator network with multiple accelerators (e.g., mStartup Barcelona), training, coaching, and one of Europe's largest entrepreneurship centers. Supported thousands of entrepreneurs; 14,000 coached in 2016 alone. Scope: Regional (Barcelona).
Barcelona, Spain
Innovation Hub
/spain/innovation-hub/barcelona-activa
Enterprise Ireland's national entrepreneur development program offering mentorship, training, and a EUR 15,000 stipend during the six-month Phase 2. Delivered across 18 regional centers; alumni include FeedHenry. Scope: National.
Launched 2013 by Juan Roig. Accelerator and incubator supporting 250+ companies with programs from incubation to growth, zero-equity loans, and mentorship. Based at Valencia's Marina startup campus; alumni include Flywire. Scope: National.
Organizer of 4YFN, the startup platform running alongside Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Startup event platform organized by 4YFN alongside MWC. Next edition: Mar 2-5, 2026 in Barcelona.
Founded 2013 by prominent Spanish entrepreneurs. Runs 5-month batches for early-stage digital startups in media, gaming, and mobile; mentors take equity and support Demo Day. Notable alumni include Glovo and Meller. Scope: Regional (Barcelona & Madrid).
The DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship is a not-for-profit startup support organization in Dublin, affiliated with Dublin City University and founded with philanthropic support from the Ryan family (of Ryanair fame). Since its establishment in 2010, the Ryan Academy has become a hub for accelerator programs, entrepreneurship training, and ecosystem initiatives in Ireland. It operates from DCU’s Innovation Campus and focuses on early-stage startups as well as fostering entrepreneurial skills among students and the general public. Two flagship programs define the Academy: Propeller Accelerator, which was one of Ireland’s first seed accelerators (launched 2011, focused on tech startups), and the Female High Fliers program, an accelerator exclusively for women-led startups. Through these, the Academy has accelerated dozens of startups – alumni include fintech startup CurrencyFair and data startup Logentries, both of which achieved successful exits. Startups accepted into Ryan Academy programs receive pre-seed funding (up to €30k), office space, mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, and investor introductions. The Academy also provides entrepreneurship training courses, both at DCU (to students via modules) and to the wider community via short courses. Uniquely, the Ryan Academy blends academic and practical aspects: participants can tap into DCU research expertise while getting hands-on workshops by industry practitioners. The Academy actively engages in EU projects and networks, e.g. it led the INSPIRE program to support immigrant entrepreneurs and partnered on the Startup Europe initiative. Impact-wise, the DCU Ryan Academy has supported over 500 entrepreneurs and helped secure follow-on funding for many. It is credited with improving diversity in Ireland’s startup scene (through Female High Fliers) and championing social entrepreneurship as well. Alumni like Boxever (AI in travel, acquired by Sitecore) got early support at Ryan Academy. With its mission to “develop Ireland’s next generation of entrepreneurs,” the Academy plays a pivotal role in the ecosystem. It effectively acts as a “support organization” bridging academia, industry, and startup community – offering not just programs but also research, events, and policy input to grow Ireland’s innovation capacity.