Madrid is consolidated as a strategic pole on the european map of startups
The entrepreneurship ecosystem as a european is in full transformation. So it is revealed in the report Startup Heatmap Europe 2025prepared by DEEP Ecosystems, which analyzes the favorite destinations of the founders of startups, the dynamics of mobility and sectors are on the rise. Although London and Paris continue to lead the ranking, Madrid-scale positions with a firm step, reinforcing its position as key city for the technological entrepreneurship and innovative.
An ecosystem in growth, with an international vocation
Madrid attracts not only local talent: according to the data of the report, the international mobility of founders is still on the riseand more than 50 % of the startups european expand outside of their home country in the first year. In this context, the Spanish capital is gaining visibility as a competitive destination, especially in sectors such as foodtech, IA and green technologies.
Spaces like Madrid Innovation Lab (MIL), the International Lab (iLAB), Puerta Innovación, La Nave or other projects Madrid Innovation (an initiative of the city Council of Madrid), reinforce this trend, offering a real-world environment of experimentation and connection with the business sector and institutions of the city. This kind of initiatives are key for Madrid to stand out on maps of european innovation.
Rise of the sustainable innovation
The report points to the strong growth of the sector cleantech and solutions driven by artificial intelligence. Although cities like London and Berlin represent the largest part of the investment, Madrid is positioning itself as a laboratory for urban ideal to test emerging solutionsespecially in regulated environments or public impact.
From urban challenges to pilot programs with startups of impact, Madrid, offers an advanced infrastructure, a strong network of talent and an institutional ecosystem is aligned with the objectives ESG. And that is capturing the attention of international actors.
The city of Madrid, climb +3 locations in the Startup Heatmap Europe 2025 🚀
👉We are the sixth european city where the investments have more value@madridinnova @MadridEmprende pic.twitter.com/93QoSh9gMw
— Angel Niño (@AngelNinoQ) May 6, 2025
Accelerators and hubs as a lever of attraction
Another of the highlights of the report is the role of the accelerator in the attraction of talent. Madrid has a powerful network of incubators, public programs, and spaces such as the MIL, where startups can scale up collaborative and connected the challenges of city.
These hubsaccording to the study, they act as entry points for founders international, who are looking for diverse ecosystems, dynamic, and with access to market. Here, Madrid has a value differential: its connection with Latin America, its tissue of large corporations and their direct access to the european market.
Madrid, on the radar of Europe
While London, Paris, or Berlin are still great references,a the report reflects that the decisions of the founders are becoming more strategic and sectoral, and don't depend on the rankings overall. In that sense, Madrid has a lot to offer: quality of life, cost-competitive, active networks of investment and an institutional commitment by the open innovation.
For the equipment of the MIL, these data not only confirm what we have been seeing in the day-to-day: Madrid is on the radar, and projects like ours are the catalysts to keep gaining weight in the european ecosystem.
You can check the full report here: Startup Heatmap Europe 2025.