Youth Business Spain

What Youth Business Spain does

Youth Business Spain (Fundación Youth Business Spain, founded 2014) is a Madrid-based non-profit foundation and the official Spanish member of the global Youth Business International network (56 members across 52 countries). It delivers inclusive youth entrepreneurship support through a federation of 13 non-profit member organizations covering all Spanish autonomous communities, offering three core programs: volunteer-led business mentoring (adapted from the YBI methodology since 2014), social microcredits of up to €5,000 at 0% nominal interest for entrepreneurs excluded from traditional banking, and free training covering soft skills, business design, digital transformation, and green/social enterprises. All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries.

The foundation is funded by a diversified mix of corporate strategic partners (Repsol, EY, Accenture, Endesa, JP Morgan, Hogan Lovells, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Laboral Kutxa, among others), Spanish government ministries (Trabajo, Derechos Sociales, Juventud e Infancia), EU Next Generation funds, and individual donations. Its 2023 budget is reported at €994,000. YBS supports delivery through innovation laboratories (YBS Action Hub, YBS Futur Lab, YBS Social Tech Lab), an annual Entrepreneurship Awards program, a podcast on Spotify and Ivoox, the #SomosEconomía small business campaign, and proprietary impact research including GEM-based analyses and longitudinal program evaluations. The foundation is ISO 9001:2015 certified and has supported over 30,000 people since inception, with mentored businesses achieving a 91% five-year survival rate. Its lean 7-person core team is supported by 2,000+ volunteer mentors across Spain.

Name

Youth Business Spain

Legal name

Fundación Youth Business Spain

Website

https://youthbusiness.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Youth Business Spain is a Madrid-based non-profit foundation that delivers free mentoring, social microcredits up to €5,000, and training to young and underserved entrepreneurs in Spain through a federation of 13 member organizations, funded by corporate partners, Spanish ministries, and EU grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Entrepreneurship Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Youth entrepreneurship support
• Business mentoring services
• Social microcredit programs
• Non-profit foundation services
• Entrepreneurship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Partner Contributions: YBS receives financial contributions from strategic partners (corporations, financial institutions, and public entities) who fund programs in exchange for corporate social responsibility alignment, employee engagement, and brand association. Partners include Repsol, Laboral Kutxa, EY, Hogan Lovells, Accenture, Endesa, and others. The 2023 budget was €994,000.
2. Public Institutional Funding: YBS receives funding from Spanish government ministries (Trabajo, Derechos Sociales, Juventud e Infancia, Sanidad) and EU Next Generation funds. This covers program delivery costs and specific initiatives like the professional course for entrepreneurship technicians, the microcredit program, and the data kit initiative.
3. Donations: Individual donations from the public to support operations and specific programs. The foundation runs a donation page and campaigns such as '#Navidad con el pequeño comercio' to channel purchases toward supported small businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fundación Youth Business Spain is a non-profit foundation that delivers free entrepreneurship support services to young and underserved entrepreneurs across Spain through a network of 13 member organizations. Its core offerings are three integrated programs: a Mentoring Programme pairing entrepreneurs with 2,000+ volunteer mentors for 6–12 months; a Social Microcredit Programme providing loans up to €5,000 at 0% nominal interest combined with non-financial services; and Training covering soft skills, business design, digital transformation, and green/social businesses.

Product overview

Youth Business Spain operates a multi-component entrepreneurship support ecosystem structured around three core pillars: Mentoring, Social Microcredits, and Training. The Mentoring Programme delivers personalised business guidance through volunteer mentors; the Social Microcredit Programme provides loans up to €5,000 at 0% interest for those excluded from traditional banking; and Training covers soft skills, business design, digital transformation, and green/social businesses. Complementing these are innovation labs (YBS Social Tech Lab, YBS Futur Lab, YBS Action Hub), the #SomosEconomía campaign directory, an annual Entrepreneurship Awards programme, a podcast series, and published research including GEM-based analyses and impact evaluations. All programmes are delivered free to entrepreneurs through a network of 13 non-profit member organisations covering all Spanish regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YBS Action Hub: Innovation laboratory for creating the Systemic Map of Youth Entrepreneurship in Spain
• YBS Futur Lab
• YBS Social Tech Labt
• Programa de Microcréditos Sociales
• Programa de Mentoring
• #SomosEconomía
• El Podcast de YBS

Products and services

• Mentoring Programme Personalised business mentoring programme connecting young and underserved entrepreneurs in Spain with experienced volunteer business mentors for 6–12 months to support business launch and consolidation. Free of charge to beneficiaries; delivered through the 13 non-profit member organizations across Spain.
• Social Microcredit Programme Microcredit programme providing loans up to €5,000 at 0% nominal interest rate with a 5% sustainability fee and 12–24 monthly instalments via direct debit, targeted at entrepreneurs with limited access to traditional banking. Complemented with non-financial services such as training and mentoring. One of the few microcredit programmes in Spain specifically targeting youth.
• Training and Capacity Building Entrepreneurship training programmes covering soft skills development, business idea design and validation, digital transformation, and green and social businesses. Delivered free of charge to entrepreneurs through member entities across Spain.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% five-year business survival rate for mentored businesses — more than double the national average
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

40 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• Youth Business International (YBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBI is the global parent network to which YBS belongs. Founded over 20 years ago, YBI operates in 52 countries with 56 member organizations. YBI promotes cooperation through exchange of experiences and best practices, shared resources, and global alliances. YBS adapts YBI's mentoring methodology to the Spanish context.
• GEM España (Observatorio del Emprendimiento de España)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual co-production of youth entrepreneurship situation analyses using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data for Spain. YBS and GEM España collaborate with the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy on these annual reports.
• TekniakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish technology company providing pro-bono communication strategy support to YBS. Contributed to the youth entrepreneurship situation report 2025 as a supporting partner.
• Hogan LovellskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational law firm providing pro-bono legal services and serving as secretary of the YBS Entrepreneurship Awards jury.
• AccenturekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal professional services company providing strategic support to YBS as a corporate partner.
• Coca-Cola Europacific PartnerskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner through the GIRA Jóvenes program, where YBS mentors finalists and accompanies young entrepreneurs. Partnership involves events and entrepreneurship support activities.
• ONCE Inserta / Fundación ONCEkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation of the Spanish National Organization of the Blind providing entrepreneurship support for people with disabilities. Joint activities include sustainability and inclusion training events.
• UlulekeyTechnology or IntegrationEuropean crowdfunding platform (largest in Europe) with which YBS has a partnership agreement to provide alternative financing options to entrepreneurs.
• CEPES – Confederación Empresarial Española de la Economía SocialkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish confederation of social economy enterprises. YBS is a member and collaborates on events including the Red de Jóvenes por la Economía Social and the European Social Economy Conference.
• ILO – Organización Internacional del TrabajokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Labour Organization represented at YBS Futur Lab and Action Hub events, contributing expertise on youth employment and entrepreneurship policy.
• Acción contra el HambrekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian organization that joined YBS as a member entity in 2026 to strengthen the ecosystem of support for inclusive youth entrepreneurship.
• Talento para el FuturokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing strategic support to YBS. Its president Elsa Arnaiz serves on the YBS Entrepreneurship Awards jury.
• ECODES – Ecología y DesarrollokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish environmental foundation collaborating with YBS on sustainability and entrepreneurship, particularly through the '#PorElClima' community and green entrepreneurship initiatives.
• European Microfinance NetworkkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of microfinance organizations. YBS is listed as a member organization on its member page, collaborating on social microfinance best practices.
• Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy (YEPA)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational policy academy focused on youth entrepreneurship. YBS participated as a member in the European Social Economy Conference under the YEPA framework.
• ADIE – Asociación de Instituciones de DesarrollokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of development institutions that collaborated with YBS to improve and strengthen the social microcredit program.
• Cámara de Comercio Hispano DanesakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned a collaboration agreement with YBS in July 2025 to join efforts in the development of business, commercial, cultural, innovation, entrepreneurship, and internationalization initiatives.
• Fundación AFIkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and research foundation collaborating with YBS on the 'Mejorando el éxito emprendedor' financial culture program, alongside Fundación ICO and the Ministry of Social Rights.
• MondragónkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasque cooperative corporation and reference model for social economy. YBS has partnered with Mondragón to provide collective entrepreneurship training that brings social economy closer to young entrepreneurs.
• Pérez-LlorcasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish law firm providing pro-bono legal advisory support to YBS as a strategic partner.
• LLYCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunication and public affairs consultancy providing strategic communication support to YBS.
• u4impactsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact measurement organization providing strategic support to YBS.
• Human Age InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish foundation focused on human talent and employment, supporting YBS as a strategic partner.
• CorresponsablessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish media platform for corporate social responsibility. Its president Marcos González serves on the YBS Entrepreneurship Awards jury.
• Consejo de la Juventud de España (CJE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth council of Spain providing institutional support and collaboration with YBS.
• Fundación TomillocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounding member and key local partner of YBS. Based in Madrid, it provides direct entrepreneurship support services using YBS methodologies. Its director Marta Martínez serves on the YBS Board.
• AutoocupaciócoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in Catalonia. Its director Guillem Arís serves on the YBS Board. Provides direct entrepreneurship support using YBS methodologies.
• Gaztenpresa – FundacióncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in Basque Country and Navarre. Founded in 1994, it is one of the longest-running entrepreneurship foundations in Spain. Its director Inma Ramos is a founding member of YBS.
• APROFEMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in Castilla-La Mancha. Provides local entrepreneurship support services using YBS methodologies.
• Fundación RonselcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in Galicia. Its director Luis García Deber serves on the YBS Board. Provides local entrepreneurship support.
• CreascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in Aragón. Its director Ana Hernández serves on the YBS ecosystem. Provides local social entrepreneurship support.
• Fundación Secretariado GitanocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member of YBS operating nationally. Its director Isidro Rodríguez serves as a board member of YBS. Works to support gitano community members in entrepreneurship. 40+ years of experience, 8 years in YBS.
• Afedes – AsociacióncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in the Canary Islands. 25 years of experience in training and employment support. Its director Catalina de Lorenzo serves on the YBS ecosystem.
• Nantik Lum – FundacióncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in the Community of Madrid. Provides local entrepreneurship support using YBS methodologies.
• Arrabal-AID – AsociacióncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member of YBS in Andalucía. Its director José Antonio Naveros serves on the YBS Board. Works on second-chance employment and youth entrepreneurship. Member of the Spanish Second Chance Schools Association.
• Enclave SocialcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in Andalucía. Provides social entrepreneurship support and innovation in the sector.
• Treball SolidaricoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in Mallorca (Balearic Islands). Provides local entrepreneurship support using YBS methodologies.
• Fundación MaimonacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore member organization of YBS in Extremadura. Based in Los Santos de Maimona. Its director Alejandro Hernández serves on the YBS ecosystem.
• COTECsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish foundation for innovation. Listed as a signatory of the Carta de Segovia, supporting YBS's vision for rural and youth entrepreneurship.
• Fundación Santa María la RealsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural and educational foundation. Listed as a supporter of YBS initiatives including the Carta de Segovia and YBS Action Hub.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA: Large Spanish-linked microfinance foundation serving underserved entrepreneurs across Latin America and Spain. A scaled, well-capitalized incumbent offering a broader microfinance product set than YBS, with similar financial inclusion orientation.
• Cáritas España: Spain's largest social services confederation, with substantial employment insertion and microenterprise programs for vulnerable populations. Comparable funder model (corporate, public, EU) and beneficiary overlap, though much broader in scope.
• Fundación ONCE: Large Spanish foundation of the National Organization of the Blind, with significant entrepreneurship and employment programs for people with disabilities. Strategic partner and operational peer for inclusive entrepreneurship support.

Direct peers

• Junior Achievement Spain (JA Spain): Spanish affiliate of the global Junior Achievement network, delivering youth entrepreneurship education, mentoring, and business simulation programs to students and young entrepreneurs. Closest direct peer in mission, target audience, and delivery model.
• Fundación Secretariado Gitano: National Spanish foundation supporting the gitano community through employment and entrepreneurship programs. Overlap in target segment (underserved entrepreneurs) and serves as both a YBS member and a peer-level operator.
• Fundación Nantik Lum: Madrid-based foundation focused on microfinance and financial inclusion for underserved entrepreneurs. Although a YBS member, it operates its own microcredit and training programs and is a direct peer in the inclusive microfinance space.
• Fundación Gaztenpresa: Basque entrepreneurship foundation (founded 1994) supporting young entrepreneurs in the Basque Country and Navarre. Direct peer providing comparable mentoring and microcredit services, and one of YBS's founding member organizations.
• Ashoka Spain: Spanish arm of Ashoka, the global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs. Comparable mission of identifying and supporting changemakers, with overlapping funder base and emphasis on system-level social innovation.
• ENACTUS Spain: Spanish affiliate of the global ENACTUS network, running student-led social entrepreneurship programs at universities. Comparable in mission to develop entrepreneurial capacity in young people, though channel is academic rather than community-based.

Others

• European Microfinance Network: European umbrella network of microfinance institutions of which YBS is a member. Provides best-practice exchange, policy advocacy, and peer benchmarking for YBS's social microcredit program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=V1dxDTt6JL0

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Youth Business Spain