The EmprendeXXI Awards have recognized Smallops as the most innovative startup in Extremadura in 2023. This is a recognition promoted by CaixaBank, through DayOne, its division specialized in technology companies and their investors, and co-granted by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, through ENISA. In Extremadura, the organization of these awards has the support of the Junta de Extremadura.
Smallops, nanoparticles for sustainability, created in March 2020, is a company specialized in revalue olive oil waste to produce biogas and nanoparticles. The startup has implemented a model of circular bioeconomy Putting value on waste related to olive oil without generating any wasteproducing green energy and a product with high added value with potential environmental applications.
The company, co-founded by Rubén Escudero, Íñigo Monreal and María Jara, aims to impact SDG 13, climate action, and 7, affordable and non-polluting energy.
The EmprendeXXI Awards were born in 2007 with the aim of promoting and supporting entrepreneurial initiatives, contributing to the development of young companies with high potential and recognizing the social, economic and environmental impact that these businesses generate in their territory. Since its creation, the program has invested 7.5 million euros in cash and accompanying actions, which have benefited more than 465 companies.
Prize money and training
The award obtained by Smallops includes a economic endowment of 6,000 euros and access to an international training program. This is a training program specially designed for startups with high growth potential, Moonshot Thinking for entrepreneurs, and is taught by ESADE and experts from Silicon Valley. Its realization combines training sessions with the experience of visiting one of the main innovation hubs in the world.
They will also have the opportunity to participate in the Investors Day EmprendeXXIa day where they will maintain contact with investors and companies interested in collaborating with the entrepreneurial ecosystem and will become part of the AlumniXXI community, with the founders of the winning companies from the beginning.
The award ceremony, which took place in the Aula Magna of the University of Economic and Business Sciences of Extremadura, was attended by the territorial director of CaixaBank in Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura, Jaime Campos; the Minister of Economy, Science and the Digital Agenda of the Junta de Extremadura, Rafael España, and the Director of Communication of ENISA, Carmen Cuesta, among other speakers. In addition, within the framework of the DayOne Innovation Summit, it hosted a content session with Competize, Mercaguadiana and Bittacora Informática Diseño, winners of previous editions.
