Valencian start-up investment rises 88% to over €234 million in first nine months

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Start-ups in the Valencian Community raised more than €234 million between January and September 2026, 88% more than in the same stretch a year earlier. The figure comes from the region's Startup Observatory, compiled by the non-profit Startup Valencia with the regional government's department for industry, tourism, innovation and trade. It was presented at the ninth edition of VDS, held at Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences.

The number of start-ups rose 15.45% to 1,852, and the jobs they account for grew 8% to 23,250. Of those analysed, 69% have received funding, mostly at pre-seed and seed. Companies earning over €500,000 a year doubled in number against 2025, and those above €1 million rose 16%. Add investors, universities, accelerators and the rest, and the wider ecosystem comes to 2,376 entities, up 6.14%.

AI shows up in more than 22% of the companies, and most of those founded in 2026 build AI-based software. Advertising and marketing is the largest sector at 11.39%, narrowly ahead of education at 10.65%, which says something about where generative AI has found work so far. About two-thirds sell to other businesses, more than half reach international markets, and 80% say they pursue social, environmental and financial returns at once. Nacho Mas, Startup Valencia's CEO, said the point was not only more money but more firms "growing, invoicing and creating jobs".