The Barcelona-based angel fund Masia launches immediately, devoted to capitalising on what the Co-founders describe as a “tipping level” for Barcelona-based frontier tech expertise.
The group intends to deploy €20 million throughout sixty investments on the pre-Seed and Seed phases, particularly in native and worldwide Founders who’re constructing world expertise firms in Barcelona.
Co-founder Carlos Trenchs says: “There’s a enormous alternative creating in Barcelona. A superb, various mixture of each native and worldwide Founders has grown over quite a lot of years right here. In the meantime, a brand new breed of MicroVCs and angel funds throughout Europe are altering how pre-Seed and Seed rounds are performed. By performing as a glue for these two rising forces, now could be the time for a fund like Masia to assist develop Barcelona into a significant EU ecosystem for frontier applied sciences.”
Masia is launched by VC investor Carlos Trenchs and Co-founder of Crowdcube Europe, Pepe Borrell. Masia had launched in stealth mode in September of final yr, investing in 9 startups alongside 20 worldwide VCs and angel funds led by rising managers. Early portfolio firms embrace Fermat, Biorce, Zymvol, and Capably.
The fund operates collaboratively, co-investing with different angel funds and specialist micro-VCs on the pre-Seed and Seed phases. Moreover, Masia selectively invests in worldwide angel funds to foster sturdy partnerships.
Trenchs and Borrell recognized three causes the town of Barcelona is on the precipice of turning into a significant tech hub:
Barcelona as a tech hub is maturing quick. Native first-time Founders are exiting their firms and seeking to reinvest capital or begin new initiatives.
Town has seen a tangible inflow of worldwide founders and builders, creating a various ecosystem. In 2024, two-thirds of Barcelona-based tech startups had not less than one worldwide Founder.
Most worldwide VCs and MicroVCs prioritise different main tech hubs in Europe, like London or Berlin. They require an area co-investor who understands the Barcelona tech scene to efficiently acquire publicity to the ecosystem.
Masia’s advisory board consists of notable tech entrepreneurs and operators from Barcelona, similar to Didac Lee (Co-founder of Galdana & TradeInn), Albert Nieto (Co-founder of Seedtag), Elisenda Bou (Co-founder of Vilynx, acq.Apple), Philippe Gelis (Co-founder of Kantox, acq. BNP Paribas) and Albert Castells (Co-founder iSalud, acq. CNP Insurance coverage).
Co-founder Pepe Borrel says: “Though a proud Barcelonian, I’ve labored throughout Europe in varied capacities. I can say with full objectivity that the potential we’re seeing first-hand in Barcelona is critical. An ideal storm of things means the rapid future for tech within the area appears to be like extraordinarily wholesome. We need to be a part of that course of. Utilizing our mixed expertise and the assist of our Restricted Companions, we hope to foster actual development for Barcelonian groups all throughout Europe.”
Masia operates with a definite funding technique and group, separate from Aldea Ventures. Though Trenchs will proceed to function a strategic advisor to Aldea, his foremost focus will now be on rising and scaling Masia, whereas additionally supporting different initiatives in Barcelona. Operational duties at Masia might be led by Borrell, who brings over a decade of expertise as a profitable tech operator.
Pedro Coelho, Co-founder and CEO at Biorce, says: “This distinctive probability to accomplice with Pepe and Carlos in Barcelona on pivotal issues—encompassing every thing from group improvement to long-term imaginative and prescient and important shopper collaborations—is an immense privilege. It cultivates a useful feeling of residence and assist.“
Within the months to return, Trenchs and Borrell can have vital funding bulletins to make, in direction of their purpose of capitalizing on an area tech scene on its method to turning into one of many main tech hubs in Europe.
