Centro Internacional Santander Emprendimiento

What Centro Internacional Santander Emprendimiento does

Centro Internacional Santander Emprendimiento (CISE) is a non-profit entrepreneurship support center founded in 2012 and operated under Fundación UCEIF at the University of Cantabria in Santander, Spain. It is institutionally backed by the Government of Cantabria, the University of Cantabria, and Banco Santander, and delivers programs designed to stimulate entrepreneurial culture, train aspiring entrepreneurs, connect research with industry, and convene regional innovation actors. CISE serves university students, PhD researchers, companies, public institutions, senior entrepreneurs, and migrant women, primarily in Cantabria with expanding European reach (22 countries engaged, 75,000+ participants, 40,000+ trained since inception).

CISE's product portfolio is organized around four pillars — Cultura Emprendedora, Formación, Apoyo/Transferencia/Conexiación, and Estado del Emprendimiento — and includes named programs such as I2E (research-to-business matchmaking), Ecuadrado and e2 (university students), TaleS (senior entrepreneurship with Fundación MAPFRE), Momentum of Cooperation (AMIF-funded migrant women program), PINNCAN (RIS3 regional innovation panel), AcelerARTE (cultural business incubator), BOYA 14 (coworking), and the Master's en Innovación & Emprendimiento. Underlying methodology relies on EntreComp, Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and agile frameworks rather than proprietary technology platforms; AI is referenced as curriculum content, not a deployed capability.

The business model is predominantly grant-funded through public institutions and EU programs (ERDF, AMIF, Erasmus+), with most programs offered free to participants. A nascent direct-revenue stream exists through the premium online.cise.es subscription platform. Customer concentration on the funding side is high (three institutional backers), while participant reach is broad but monetarily thin. Go-to-market is event- and community-driven, leveraging university, government, and EU consortia channels rather than commercial sales motion.

Name

Centro Internacional Santander Emprendimiento

Legal name

Centro Internacional Santander Emprendimiento

Website

https://cise.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CISE is a non-profit entrepreneurship support center based at the University of Cantabria, backed by the regional government and Banco Santander, delivering training, mentoring, and ecosystem programs to students, researchers, companies, and entrepreneurs across Cantabria and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship training and innovation support services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research, Innovation & Fellowship Prep (Labs, Competitions, Publications) (EDAMAKAI), Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific) (EDAMAKAA), Career Readiness & Employability Skills (Resume, Interview, Networking) (EDAMAKAG)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship training programs
• Startup support services
• Innovation ecosystem development
• University entrepreneurship programs
• Research commercialization programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santander

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public and institutional funding: CISE operates as part of Fundación UCEIF and is funded by the Government of Cantabria, the University of Cantabria, and Banco Santander. Programs are largely free for participants, financed through government grants, EU funding (ERDF, AMIF, Erasmus+), and institutional support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CISE develops and delivers entrepreneurship training programs, startup support services, and innovation initiatives for university students, researchers, companies, and senior or migrant populations in Cantabria and across Europe. Its portfolio spans entrepreneurial culture programs, structured training (online and in-person), mentoring, access to financing, research-business matchmaking, and the Master's in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, coordinated under the umbrella of Fundación UCEIF.

Product overview

CISE operates as an entrepreneurship support center offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services across multiple stages of the entrepreneurial journey. The core offering includes four main program areas: Cultura Emprendedora (entrepreneurial culture), Formación (training), Apoyo/Transferencia/Conexión (support/transfer/connection), and Estado del Emprendimiento (entrepreneurship research). Key named products include I2E for research-business collaboration, Ecuadrado and e2 for university students, TaleS for senior entrepreneurs (50+), and the Workshop en Emprendimiento for researchers. Additional offerings include the cultural incubator AcelerARTE, PINNCAN innovation panel, coworking spaces (BOYA 14), and StartPoint blog as an educational resource platform. The center is backed by Universidad de Cantabria, Gobierno de Cantabria, and Banco Santander, and has engaged over 75,000 people from 22 countries since 2012.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• I2E (Interfaz para el Emprendimiento Colaborativo entre Investigadores y Empresas) A free interface program that connects research groups from Cantabria with companies nationwide to explore collaborative opportunities and transfer research results into business applications.
• Cultura Emprendedora Initiatives that stimulate entrepreneurial capabilities, help generate ideas, provide new skills, and prepare individuals to lead successful projects.
• Formación Training programs providing all necessary knowledge to undertake a project, delivered in both online and in-person formats.
• Apoyo, Transferencia y Conexión Support services including mentoring, strategic contacts, access to financing, and knowledge transfer between research and business sectors.
• Estado del Emprendimiento (Informes) Research on entrepreneurship at different levels, including reports on the state of entrepreneurship in Spain.
• Ecuadrado Program for Cantabrian university students offering 60 free places to develop skills like critical thinking and collaborative work through entrepreneurship projects.
• e2: Estudiante x Emprendedor Program connecting university students with entrepreneurs to develop entrepreneurial competencies and learn to convert ideas into projects.
• Máster en Innovación & Emprendimiento Master's degree co-developed with the University of Cantabria, delivered online, covering skills most demanded by companies in innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Workshop en Emprendimiento para Investigadores Annual workshop bringing together PhD students from across Spain to enhance entrepreneurial and innovative capabilities of researchers.
• TaleS (Talent and Senior Entrepreneurship) Inter-university national network for senior entrepreneurship (50+ years), in collaboration with Fundación MAPFRE and Ageingnomics, supporting experienced professionals in launching new ventures.
• Momentum of Cooperation European program (AMIF-funded) coordinated by CISE to improve labor and socioeconomic integration of migrant and refugee women through entrepreneurship and social economy training.
• PINNCAN (Panel de Innovación de Cantabria) Innovation panel under RIS3 strategy bringing together 40+ institutions, companies, and research groups to strengthen collaboration and innovation in the Cantabria region.
• BOYA 14 Coworking Free coworking space for entrepreneurs under 35 years old, promoted by the Youth Directorate of the Government of Cantabria.
• AcelerARTE Cultural business incubator supporting Cantabrian creative companies with training, incubation, support, and networking.
• ConexiONEs Santander Annual event to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Cantabria, connecting various regional innovation agents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 75,000 people from 22 countries have participated in CISE programs since 2012
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Fundación Mapfre — Centro de Investigación AgeingnomicsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CISE collaborates with Fundación Mapfre's Ageingnomics research center to coordinate TaleS, a national inter-university senior entrepreneurship program. TaleS is a pioneering network connecting over 50-year-old entrepreneurs across five Spanish public universities (UC, UEX, UGR, UVigo, ULPGC).
• Gobierno de Cantabria — Dirección General de Juventud, Cooperación al Desarrollo y VoluntariadocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The regional government's youth and development directorate collaborated with CISE in Spain for the Momentum of Cooperation EU program targeting women migrants and refugees.
• Cruz Roja CantabriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Cruz Roja Cantabria partnered with CISE as a local implementing organization for the Momentum of Cooperation program in Spain, supporting the integration of women migrants and refugees.
• Fundación UCEIF (Fundación de la Universidad de Cantabria para el Estudio y la Investigación del Sector Financiero)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012CISE belongs to Fundación UCEIF, which serves as its parent foundation. Fundación UCEIF was established by the University of Cantabria to promote research and study in the financial sector. CISE operates as one of the foundation's key programs under this umbrella.
• Gobierno de CantabriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Government of Cantabria provides institutional backing and funding to CISE. Its Dirección General de Innovación, Desarrollo Tecnológico y Emprendimiento Industrial drives the RIS3 strategy and the PINNCAN innovation panel in partnership with CISE.
• Universidad de CantabriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Cantabria hosts CISE at its facilities (ETS Caminos, Canales y Puertos) and provides academic infrastructure. Its Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Transferencia y Doctorado co-supports programs like I2E and the Master's in Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
• European Union Consortium (Momentum of Cooperation)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Momentum of Cooperation program was funded by the AMIF (Fondo de Asilo, Migración e Integración) fund and involved CISE coordinating with 8 partners across 4 EU countries: Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Hungary, to promote employability of women migrants.
• Startups.stminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCISE partnered with Startups.st to become the reference institution in Cantabria for the 'Investors Hubs' network, which connects investors, business angels, and entrepreneurs to stimulate investment in the regional startup ecosystem.
• SECOT (Seniors Executives for Organizations and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSECOT collaborates with CISE to provide networking and volunteer workshops for senior entrepreneurship, leveraging experienced professionals to coach and support the senior entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Fundación León Torres Quevedo — CDTUCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISE signed a collaboration agreement to provide mentoring to technology-based startups under the CDTUC incubator managed by Fundación León Torres Quevedo, supporting and accelerating early-stage companies.
• Fundación ONCE — Inserta EmpleominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISE collaborated with Fundación ONCE's Inserta Empleo to hold a session on talent, entrepreneurship, and inclusion at the University of Cantabria, promoting inclusive entrepreneurship for people with disabilities.
• Maflow Spain Automotive and TIM BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundación UCEIF, Maflow Spain Automotive, and TIM Business signed a collaboration agreement coordinated by CISE to promote entrepreneurship and business innovation in Cantabria.
• European Commission (EntreComp framework)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISE's training programs incorporate the European EntreComp framework (15 transversal competencies), and CISE coordinates the EntreComp4Transition Erasmus+ project training educators across 5 European countries in digital and ecological transition through entrepreneurship education.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• IE Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Madrid-based business school entrepreneurship center operating founder development programs, startup support, and venture creation activities — a clear comparator in Spanish entrepreneurship education.
• EOI (Escuela de Organización Industrial): Spanish public business school backed by the Ministry of Industry that delivers entrepreneurship, innovation, and management training with significant EU and government funding — closely comparable to CISE in mission, funder mix, and program structure.
• Lanzadera (Marina de Empresas): Spanish startup accelerator founded by Juan Roig that supports early-stage entrepreneurs through training, mentoring, and funding — directly comparable to CISE's ecosystem-building role and entrepreneurship training focus.
• ESADE Entrepreneurship Institute: Business school division that runs entrepreneurship programs, accelerators, and research-to-business initiatives — comparable in combining academic credentials, founder training, and research commercialization.

Broad incumbents

• Wayra (Telefónica): Telefónica's global corporate accelerator with operations across Spain and Latin America — overlaps with CISE on startup support and ecosystem convening but operates at a much larger scale.
• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed founder development program that runs structured, cohort-based entrepreneurship training across many countries — directly comparable methodology to CISE's cohort-style programs and 22-country footprint.
• Babson College Center for Entrepreneurial Studies: US institution globally recognized for entrepreneurship education, offering degree and non-degree programs — comparable as an entrepreneurship education specialist, though much larger and university-based.

Emerging players

• Impact Hub: Global network of entrepreneurship and innovation community hubs offering training, coworking, and connection — comparable on community-led entrepreneurship support, with co-working similar to CISE's BOYA 14.

Others

• EBN (European BIC Network): EU-level network of Business Innovation Centers supporting entrepreneurship and innovation — directly comparable as an ecosystem-level partner in EU-funded entrepreneurship programs.

Regional players

• IDEPA (Instituto de Desarrollo Económico del Principado de Asturias): Asturias regional economic development agency that delivers entrepreneurship and innovation support programs in a neighboring Spanish region — a strong regional analogue to CISE's regional innovation convening role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/emprendecise
• Facebookfacebook.com/emprendecise

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centro Internacional Santander Emprendimiento