Spain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is on a remarkable upward trajectory, as highlighted in the GEM Spain 2025–2026 Report. This comprehensive study, conducted by the Spanish Entrepreneurship Observatory with support from Enisa, showcases the robust growth across all stages of entrepreneurship in the country.
In a challenging global landscape, Spain is not just holding its ground but is also cultivating a vibrant entrepreneurial culture. The report reveals that the percentage of individuals considering entrepreneurship as a viable career option has risen to 13.8%, marking a 2.6 percentage point increase. This uptick signals a recovery from the stagnation observed in the previous year, reflecting renewed optimism among potential entrepreneurs.
The actual entrepreneurial activity also tells a positive story. The Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) rate, which tracks individuals running businesses less than three and a half years old, now stands at 7.8%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points. Furthermore, established business ownership has climbed to 7.4%, up by 1.4 points, indicating a maturing business landscape in Spain.
The dynamism of this ecosystem is further illustrated by business turnover. While new ventures continue to emerge, the rate of business discontinuation—whether through closure or transfer—has slightly increased to 3.7%. This trend suggests a more competitive and active market environment.
Ana Fernández Laviada, President of the Spanish Entrepreneurship Observatory, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating, “The percentage of the population expressing an intention to start a business within the next three years has increased by 2.6 percentage points, reaching 13.8%.”
Carolina Rodríguez, CEO of Enisa, added that “entrepreneurial culture continues to gain ground in society, and interest among the population keeps growing, thanks in part to public policies aimed at fostering entrepreneurial talent, as well as the numerous public-private initiatives and partnerships operating throughout the country.”
A Diverse and Inclusive Ecosystem
The report underscores a more balanced entrepreneurial environment, with women and men engaging in entrepreneurship at nearly equal rates (7% and 8%, respectively). This shift reinforces the ongoing trend toward gender equality in the business sector.
Education plays a pivotal role in shaping entrepreneurial intentions. Individuals holding university degrees are twice as likely to express a desire to start a business (60%) compared to those without higher education qualifications. This correlation highlights the importance of educational attainment in fostering entrepreneurial aspirations.
The report also sheds light on the entrepreneurial dynamism within the migrant population, whose activity rate reaches an impressive 13.8%, nearly double the national average. Their entrepreneurial intention stands at 27%, showcasing their vital contribution to Spain’s economic landscape.
Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence Drive Growth
Technology is increasingly recognized as a key driver of entrepreneurship. Notably, the integration of artificial intelligence is on the rise, with 29% of early-stage entrepreneurs reporting its widespread use in their businesses—an increase of four percentage points from the previous year.
Other digital solutions are also gaining traction, with e-commerce leading at 46%, followed by data analytics and cloud computing, both at 40%. However, expectations for AI adoption in the medium term remain cautious, with only 34% of entrepreneurs anticipating its integration within the next three years.
Progress Accompanied by New Challenges
Despite the positive trends, the report identifies areas needing improvement. Spain scores 4.4 out of 10 on the National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI), a slight increase from 2024 but still placing it in the lower half of assessed countries.
This improvement is attributed to effective public policies, particularly at the local level, which stimulate entrepreneurship, encourage female participation, and promote technological adoption. However, challenges persist, including the need to enhance entrepreneurship education, simplify administrative procedures, and lower barriers to market entry—the lowest-rated area in the report at 3.8/10.
Growing Confidence in Entrepreneurship
Public perception of entrepreneurship is on the rise, with 59% of the population knowing someone who has recently started a business—the highest level recorded and three times greater than 15 years ago. This growing familiarity with entrepreneurship is likely to foster a more supportive environment for new ventures.
Additionally, both entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs are increasingly recognizing business opportunities. However, fear of failure remains a significant barrier for 55% of the population, underscoring the ongoing need to cultivate a resilient entrepreneurial culture.
Services, Innovation, and Sustainability as Future Growth Drivers
The services sector continues to dominate, accounting for 85% of all new businesses created in 2025. This trend solidifies its position as the primary area of entrepreneurial opportunity in Spain.
More than half of these new ventures incorporate innovation in their products or processes and implement sustainable practices aimed at minimizing environmental impact. This shift reflects an entrepreneurial model increasingly aligned with contemporary social, economic, and environmental demands.
Senior Entrepreneurship Takes Center Stage
A recent roundtable discussion focused on senior entrepreneurship, highlighting the growing role of older entrepreneurs within Spain’s diverse and mature ecosystem. Moderated by Iñaki Ortega from Ageingnomics, the panel featured experts discussing the unique contributions of senior talent, emphasizing their experience, resilience, and ability to develop robust and sustainable business projects.
Download the GEM 2025–2026 Report
About Enisa
Enisa is a public company linked to Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism, dedicated to supporting innovative and viable projects developed by Spanish startups and SMEs. The organization provides participative loans ranging from €25,000 to €1.5 million without requiring collateral or guarantees beyond a solid business project and the professional solvency of the management team.
In 2025, Enisa granted 514 loans totaling €86.2 million, with the average financing operation amounting to approximately €167,000. Since its inception, Enisa has provided 9,700 loans to over 8,400 companies, representing a total investment of €1.5 billion.
About the Spanish Entrepreneurship Observatory, GEM, and GEM Spain
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) is an international research project coordinated by the Global Entrepreneurship Research Association (GERA). With national research teams from over 60 countries, GEM has been responsible for the world’s most comprehensive study of entrepreneurship since 1999.
The Spanish Entrepreneurship Observatory serves as Spain’s national GEM team, organized into 19 regional teams and 8 provincial teams. It brings together nearly 200 researchers and entrepreneurship experts from Spain’s leading universities, producing annual reports that inform and inspire entrepreneurship policy development throughout the country.
More information:
medios@observatoriodelemprendimiento.es | www.observatoriodelemprendimiento.es
Photo caption (left to right): Manuel de Timoteo, founder of The Brubaker; Loreto Fernández, GEM Galicia; Carmen Olmedo, founder of Menoara and winner of the TaleS 2025 program; Carolina Rodríguez, CEO of Enisa; Ana Fernández Laviada, President of the Spanish Entrepreneurship Observatory; Juan Fernández, Director of Ageingnomics; Nuria Calvo, Technical Director of the GEM Spain Project; and Iñaki Ortega, Advisory Board Member at Ageingnomics.
- By ENISA
- 03/06/2026
- GEM Spain 2025–2026 Report
