CaixaBank and Enisa launch the 19th edition of the EmprendeXXI Awards with new categories and recognitions

• Technology-based and innovative companies headquartered in Spain or Portugal, established from January 2022 onwards, can submit their applications via http://www.emprendedorxxi.es (Opens in a new window) until December 4

• A total of 19 territorial awards will be granted (one per autonomous community in Spain and two in Portugal), along with eight national awards and two cross-cutting recognitions for Social Impact and Disruptive Innovation

• Winning companies will receive financial support, join an international support program, become part of the AlumniXXI community, and gain access to investors and corporations interested in the entrepreneurial ecosystem

• Since its inception in 2007, the program has distributed nearly €10 million in prizes and support actions benefiting over 560 companies

A CaixaBank, through DayOne —its division specialized in tech companies and investors— and in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism via Enisa, launched the 19th edition of the EmprendeXXI Awards this Wednesday (Opens in a new window). These awards, aimed at technology-based and innovative companies headquartered in Spain and Portugal and established from January 1, 2022, have become a benchmark for promoting, supporting, and accompanying the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Applications can be submitted until December 4 via http://www.emprendedorxxi.es (Opens in a new window).

This edition, presented in Valencia during VDS 2025, focuses on identifying projects that generate value through innovation, improve people’s lives, and care for the planet with technological solutions.

Winners will receive cash prizes and visibility and support actions totaling nearly €800,000. Since the launch of these awards in 2007, the program has invested over €9.9 million in prizes and support actions, benefiting more than 560 companies.

In the 19th edition, 19 regional awards will be given to companies with the greatest impact in their territories: 17 in Spain (one per autonomous community) and two in Portugal (north-central and Lisbon-south & islands). Each winning company will receive €6,000.

Additionally, eight Challenges of Tomorrow awards will be granted to start-ups offering the best solutions in three categories: Business Transformation: projects that drive innovation with transformative impact on companies, professionals, and markets; Human & Wellbeing: initiatives aimed at improving physical and emotional quality of life; Living Planet: projects contributing to ecological transition and sustainability. Each winner will receive €15,000.

Two cross-cutting recognitions will also be awarded: Social Impact Recognition, for the company whose value proposition focuses on generating positive societal impact; and Disruptive Innovation Recognition, for the most disruptive technological innovation (deeptech or frontier tech). Each of these winners will receive €9,000. All winning companies will automatically receive the Innovation Grade approval for the Spanish Government’s Emerging Companies Certification, granted by Enisa.

Finally, the AlumniXXI Scalability Recognition will be awarded to a DayOne AlumniXXI community company with outstanding growth and global impact.

The territorial awards ceremony will take place during the first half of 2026 in each autonomous community. The final phase, where the ‘Challenges of Tomorrow’ awards will be presented, will be held on May 27 in Barcelona.

The awards are supported by various CaixaBank group companies, business areas, and divisions: AgroBank, imagin, VidaCaixa, CaixaBank Séniors, MicroBank, CaixaBank Real Estate & Homes, CaixaBank Sustainable Banking, CaixaBank Private Banking, CaixaBank Businesses, CaixaBank Dualiza, CaixaBank Tech, CaixaBank Payments & Consumer, CaixaBank Innovation, CaixaBank Hotels & Tourism, and CaixaBank Companies.

Support, International Training, and Community

In addition to financial support, regional winners, the eight winners and eight finalists of the ‘Challenges of Tomorrow’ awards, and the two cross-cutting recognition winners will gain access to an international support program. This includes training at one of the world’s leading innovation hubs, in collaboration with ESADE. All applicants will also have access to online training sessions on topics of interest to entrepreneurs.

Awarded companies will also participate in the EmprendeXXI Investors Day, events designed to connect entities with top investors and corporations interested in innovation.

Winners will join the AlumniXXI community, a consolidated meeting point for exchanging knowledge, ideas, and experiences among founders of awarded companies. This initiative combines a virtual community with in-person events to strengthen ties and create synergies among winners and the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Its main partner is Endeavor, the global network of high-impact entrepreneurs.

For more details, the competition rules can be found at the provided link (Opens in a new window).

About CaixaBank DayOne

DayOne is CaixaBank’s division specialized in tech companies and their investors. Its goal is to support technology-based companies with rapid growth and global reach throughout all stages of development, offering tailored solutions.

DayOne has expanded its value proposition with a venture debt instrument, initially endowed with €150 million to boost the growth of scale-ups and consolidated tech start-ups in Spain and Portugal. It also offers specialized services for investors supporting ecosystem growth (business angels, venture capital, and corporates).

Moreover, DayOne fosters relational banking with ecosystem stakeholders, facilitating relationships, synergies, knowledge, and innovation through strategic alliances.

To support the development of innovative young companies with high growth potential, the entity has launched the EmprendeXXI Awards annually since 2007. These awards have become a recognized benchmark for start-ups in Spain and Portugal and are complemented by an open innovation program to support start-ups.

DayOne currently has physical spaces in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Zaragoza, Bilbao, and Málaga, and business managers in Murcia, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Seville, Galicia, and Catalonia, covering 14 autonomous communities. These centers serve as hubs for talent and capital, bringing together tech company founders, business partners, and investors interested in innovative companies with growth potential.

About Enisa

The National Innovation Company (Enisa) is a public entity under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. Its mission is to help viable and innovative projects led by Spanish start-ups and SMEs secure the necessary funding to grow and compete globally.

This financial support is provided through participative loans ranging from €25,000 to €1.5 million. This financing alternative is particularly suited to SMEs, requiring no collateral beyond a solid business plan and the professional solvency of the management team.

Enisa is also the certifying body for emerging companies seeking to benefit from the tax advantages and special provisions of the Startups Law, a pioneering European legislation that creates a favorable legal environment for start-up growth and success.

Since Enisa began granting participative loans, it has invested around €1.45 billion in nearly 9,400 loans, financing 8,150 companies.