• The City Council, through València Innovation Capital, has launched a new support package for technology startups with a budget of one million euros—the largest investment ever made by the city government
• The first program, Startups Seed 2025, will allocate 600,000 euros to support early-stage projects through grants of up to 25,000 euros
• The second program, Early Stage, will allocate 400,000 euros to fund startups that have received private investment, with grants of up to 50,000 euros
• The deadline for submitting applications is January 29 and 30, 2026, and the goal is to retain talent, create quality jobs, and attract investment

The City of Valencia, through Valencia Innovation Capital, is launching a new call for grant applications with a budget of one million euros to promote technology-based entrepreneurship in the city—the largest investment ever made by the city government in the field of innovation. The application period opens on January 10, 2026, for the Startups Seed program and on January 13 for the Early Stage program. For both programs, the application period will remain open until January 29 for the Seed program and January 30 for the Early Stage program.

Paula Llobet, Councilwoman for Tourism, Innovation, and Investment, emphasized that “with this ambitious investment, we want Valencia not only to foster innovative ideas, but also to generate wealth, quality jobs, and a future full of real opportunities for our young people. The goal is to support startups and also to consolidate a productive model that retains the talent trained here, attracts talent from around the world, and positions our city as an international leader in innovation and development.”

According to the latest report from the WorldWide Observatory for Attractive Cities, Valencia has climbed to 21st place among 175 global cities in terms of its ability to attract talent, just behind London and ahead of other major Spanish cities. “This data shows that our strategy is working and that Valencia has everything it needs to be a leading city in retaining and attracting tech talent,” added Llobet.

The Councilwoman for Innovation emphasized that “innovation is not a one-time effort, but a strategic commitment by the city. With this call for proposals, we are reinforcing a model that turns talent, technology, and entrepreneurship into drivers of economic development and the creation of opportunities. These grants are a key tool for retaining talent, attracting investment, and transforming knowledge into positive economic and social impact.” The city’s investment aims to support the creation, consolidation, and scaling of tech startups, strengthening the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and positioning Valencia as a leading hub for innovation and business development in the Mediterranean and Southern Europe.

The funding is organized into two complementary programs, tailored to different stages of project maturity. The first, Startups Seed 2025, has a budget of 600,000 euros and is aimed at early-stage initiatives, with grants of up to 25,000 euros per project. This program is complemented by an incubation and acceleration program at La Harinera, which will offer specialized mentoring, workshops, training, and a Demo Day aimed at attracting investment.

“We want to support startups at the most critical moment—when an idea begins to transform into a business,” said Llobet, who added that “Valencia must be the place where starting a business is easier, faster, and has greater international reach.” As a new feature, the call for proposals includes the Early Stage 2025/2026 program, with a budget of 400,000 euros, aimed at startups that already have traction and private investment. The grants, ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 euros, will help fund growth-related expenses, such as expanding the team, technological development, or expansion into new markets.

In the councilwoman’s words, “the role of the public sector is to act as a catalyst. With Early Stage, we align public and private resources to accelerate projects that have already demonstrated their potential and to strengthen a more mature and competitive innovation ecosystem.” Interested startups may submit their applications through January 30, 2026, as part of this call for proposals, which reinforces the city’s commitment to talent, the creation of skilled jobs, and the promotion of strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, digital health, sustainability, and video games.