If you have an innovative startup you can still submit your application for the awards undertakeXXI, which are open until December 5, for technology-based companies based in Spain or Portugal with less than three years of activity. In this edition will be delivered 19 awards at territorial level to the newly created companies with the greatest impact in their territory, 6 awards to the companies that offer the best solutions to some of the current challenges and 4 second prizes.
CaixaBank, through DayOne, its division specialized in technology companies and their investors, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, through ENISA, are responsible for the 16th edition of the EmprendeXXI Awards.
In this edition, 19 awards will be given at the territorial level to the newly created companies with the greatest impact in their territory: 17 in Spain (one per autonomous community) and 2 in Portugal (north-central zone and Lisbon-south and Islands). In this phase, the winners will receive a cash prize of 6,000 euros.
At the same time, companies from any territory that offer the best solutions to some of the current challenges for the entity and for society in general will be rewarded. The companies selected for this category will obtain a cash prize of 20,000 euros. In total, they have defined a total of six challenges:
- BankXXI. The digital and technological transformation of the financial sector: Innovative solutions that add value to the offer of products and services in the financial sector (banking and insurance).
- CityXXI. More sustainable, safe, connected and adapted cities: Aimed at companies that propose solutions to make the cities and towns where we live more sustainable, safe, connected and with adapted mobility.
- PlanetXXI. Environmental sustainability, a better planet for the new generations: This challenge seeks innovative proposals that help find the best solution for a less aggressive lifestyle with natural resources.
- SilverXXI. Ensuring active aging and a long and healthy life through technology: This challenge is aimed at sectors such as agetech, life sciences, e-health, reduced mobility, senior tourism, sport, fitness… In short, it is about to innovate in everything that helps to improve the health of citizens through technology.
- SeedXXI. Digital transformation and innovation in the agri-food sector: Technological solutions related to the agri-food industry to establish a more efficient, effective, sustainable and healthy production.
- LiveXXI. Digitization, new business models and reactivation of the hotel, restaurant, tourism and leisure sector: Solutions that help to reactivate the sector, as well as new innovative business models and solutions that contribute to its digitization.
The awards have the support of different business areas and divisions of CaixaBank: AgroBank, CaixaBank Digital Business, CaixaBank Payments & Consumer, Zone2boost, Imagin, MicroBank, VidaCaixa, Business Banking, CaixaBank Hotels&Tourism, Private Banking, Individual Banking, Banking Businesses and CaixaBank Seniors.
In addition, just by presenting their candidacy for the EmprendeXXI Awards, participating companies will access online training sessions on some of the main topics of interest to start-ups.
For its part, ENISA offers those who participate in these Awards the possibility of accessing its financing aimed at innovative entrepreneurship, through the participatory loan, through its different lines of financing: Young Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurs and Growth, AgroInnpulso and Digital Entrepreneurs.
international training
In this edition, two second prizes will be awarded, which will have an endowment of 10,000 euros each. The Social Impact award will be given to the company with the greatest positive influence on society and the Deep Tech award to the most disruptive technological innovation.
For its part, the call has the support and collaboration of international entities such as the Embassy of Israel in Spain, and the Agência Nacional da Inovaçao de Portugal, which will also award two second prizes for innovation.
In addition to the cash prizes, both those who win at the territorial level and the winning companies and a finalist from each of the categories proposed as challenges and those who win the second prizes will also have access to an international training program. This is a course specially designed for start-ups with high growth potential, Moonshot Thinking for entrepreneurs, and is taught by ESADE and Silicon Valley experts. Its realization combines training sessions with the experience of visiting one of the main innovation hubs in the world.
The people selected to participate in the training will also have the opportunity to be at the Investors Day EmprendeXXI, days where they will maintain contact with investors and companies interested in collaborating with the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In addition, the award-winning start-ups will also form part of the AlumniXXI community, which is a meeting point for the exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiences between the founders of the companies awarded throughout the history of the EmprendeXXI Awards. This is an initiative that combines a virtual community and face-to-face meetings that helps strengthen links and create synergies between those who have been awarded and the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem.
On the other hand, the participating people will also be able to take part in the open innovation program DayOne Open Innovation Program to develop pilots with the CaixaBank group. Since its creation in 2007, the program has invested 7.5 million euros in prize money and accompanying actions, which have benefited more than 465 companies.
