Bilbao Ekintza

What Bilbao Ekintza does

Bilbao Ekintza is a municipal society (sociedad municipal) wholly owned by the Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, established in 2010 to drive economic development across the city. It delivers a portfolio of free public services rather than a single software product, organized into five principal areas: business support (Centro de Emprendimiento BIG Bilbao, Programa Mentoring Bilbao, Auzo Factory coworking network, SME competitiveness programs), retail commerce (Plan Estratégico de Comercio Bilbao 2025, EHUN centenary-shop program, Bilbao Dendak merchant association), employment (Plan de Empleo, Plan de Empleo Juvenil, labor intermediation via Lanbide, Estrategia STEM Bilbao), events and venues (Bilbao Arena, Bilbao Convention Bureau, Bilbao Bizkaia Film Commission), and investment and tourism (Invest in Bilbao, Bilbao Bizkaia Turismo, Bilbao Observatorio with the Bilbao Económico mobile app).

The organization operates without a commercial revenue model: it is funded primarily through municipal budgets of the Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, with co-financing from the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, Gobierno Vasco, Lanbide (Basque Employment Service), and the European Social Fund. All services — including personalized entrepreneurship advisory, mentoring, coworking, hiring subsidies (€3,000-€9,000 per contract), and data dissemination — are provided at no cost to beneficiaries. Reported outcomes since 2017 include 1,055+ companies created, 3,013 projects advised, 1,393 jobs generated, and 2,000+ merchant establishments in the Bilbao Dendak network.

Bilbao Ekintza has 51-100 employees and runs five major physical locations across the city: headquarters at C/ Navarra 5, Centro de Emprendimiento at Plaza Ensanche 11, Bilbao Arena (25,985 sqm in Miribilla), and two Auzo Factory coworking sites (Boluetabarri and Irazabal-Matiko). Strategic alliances span Basque public institutions, three universities (UPV/EHU, Deusto, Mondragon), the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce, technology partners (HP, Microsoft, Telefónica), financial institutions (Kutxabank, Elkargi), and international associations (ICCA, MPI, European Cities Marketing, Spain Convention Bureau). No AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or commercial software products are part of the current offering.

Name

Bilbao Ekintza

Legal name

Bilbao Ekintza

Website

https://bilbaoekintza.eus

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bilbao Ekintza is the municipal society of the Ayuntamiento de Bilbao that delivers free economic-development services — entrepreneurship support (BIG Bilbao), SME and retail competitiveness programs, employment plans, coworking, events, and tourism promotion — to businesses, merchants, entrepreneurs, job seekers, and citizens of Bilbao.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bilbao

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public funding: Funded by the Ayuntamiento de Bilbao (City of Bilbao) and co-financing from Basque Government institutions (Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, Gobierno Vasco, Lanbide) and European Social Fund. No commercial revenue model.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bilbao Ekintza is a municipal society of the Ayuntamiento de Bilbao that delivers free economic development services to the city. It supports local SMEs, retail commerce, entrepreneurs, and job seekers through programs such as the Centro de Emprendimiento (BIG Bilbao), Programa Mentoring Bilbao, Auzo Factory coworking spaces, employment plans, the Bilbao Convention Bureau, Bilbao Turismo, and Invest in Bilbao. The organization also operates the Bilbao Arena multi-purpose venue and Bilbao Observatorio socioeconomic data platform.

Product overview

Bilbao Ekintza is a municipal society of the Ayuntamiento de Bilbao focused on promoting economic development, innovation, employment, and local economic activity in the city. It operates as a multi-program public service organization rather than a unified software product, offering a portfolio of distinct programs and facilities organized into five principal service areas: (1) Business support — including the Centro de Emprendimiento (BIG Bilbao), the Programa Mentoring Bilbao, Auzo Factory coworking network, and SME competitiveness programs; (2) Retail commerce — including the Plan Estratégico de Comercio Bilbao 2025, the EHUN centenary shop program, Comercio Innovadores de Bilbao (CiB), and retail association support; (3) Employment — including Plan de Empleo, Plan de Empleo Juvenil, labor intermediation services, and the STEM Bilbao strategy; (4) Events and venues — including Bilbao Arena multi-purpose facility, Bilbao Convention Bureau, and Bilbao Bizkaia Film Commission; and (5) Investment and tourism — including Invest in Bilbao, Bilbao Bizkaia Turismo, and Bilbao Observatorio with its Bilbao Económico mobile app. The organization does not offer a software product or SaaS platform but rather delivers public services, advisory programs, physical infrastructure, and strategic initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bilbao Arena: Multi-purpose venue for events, sports, concerts, and conferences in Bilbao
• Bilbao Bizkaia Film Commission
• Bilbao Convention Bureau
• Invest in Bilbao
• Bilbao Observatorio
• EHUN
• Bilbao Dendak

Products and services

• Centro de Emprendimiento (BIG Bilbao) A comprehensive entrepreneurship support center operated by Bilbao Ekintza, providing personalized advisory, business planning, formation, and accompaniment from idea inception through business launch. Reports 1,055 businesses created and 3,013 projects supported since 2017.
• Plan de Empleo y Plan de Empleo Juvenil
• Programa Mentoring Bilbao Mentoring program pairing businesspeople and entrepreneurs with experienced mentors for knowledge transfer and long-term strategic improvement. Accompanied by practical workshops and the annual Bilbao Mentoring Conference.
• Bilbao Arena A 25,985 m² multi-purpose venue owned by the City of Bilbao and managed by Bilbao Ekintza, located in the Miribilla neighborhood. Hosts sports events (including Bilbao Basket home games), concerts, cultural events, corporate events, and fairs. Opened in 2011.
• Bilbao Bizkaia Film Commission A film commission service jointly promoted by the City of Bilbao and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, attracting film productions to the city and territory. Provides location scouting, professional services, administrative permits, fiscal incentives, and production support across all phases of filming.
• Bilbao Convention Bureau A convention and meetings bureau offering personalized support to promoters of events, conventions, and incentives in Bilbao. Provides technical support for bidding, institutional contacts, venue location, and professional networking for over 100 member organizations. Holds the Q Calidad Turística certification.
• Invest in Bilbao A local investment attraction office offering comprehensive services to investors, including space and talent search, fiscal incentives, financing opportunities, institutional relationships, and expedited administrative processes. Website available at investinbilbao.com.
• Bilbao Observatorio An economic and socioeconomic knowledge platform providing updated indicators on business activity, labor market, productive economy, commerce, tourism, demographics, and transport. Publishes periodic economic reports and socioeconomic studies. Includes the Bilbao Económico mobile app (iOS and Android).
• Bilbao Bizkaia Turismo A tourism promotion service jointly run by Bilbao Ekintza and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia since 2010, focused on developing and promoting tourism in the city and territory. Operates tourist offices and publishes the Bilbao Turismo promotional plan.
• Red de Auzo Factorys A network of municipal coworking spaces and business incubators in Bilbao (Boluetabarri and Irazabal-Matiko locations) supporting startups, entrepreneurs, and newly established companies (under 3 years old) with flexible workspaces and common areas in creative and digital sectors.
• Servicio de Intermediación Laboral A labor intermediation service acting as a collaborator agency of Lanbide (Basque Employment Service) and as an autonomous private placement agency. Supports companies in talent search and connects unemployed individuals with job opportunities.
• Estrategia STEM Bilbao A science, technology, engineering, and mathematics promotion strategy targeting youth, aimed at socializing STEM importance and stimulating scientific and technological vocations. Includes projects such as Bizilabe, Zientzia Azoka, Formula Student, and Homo Curiosus Odisea.
• EHUN: Comercios de toda la vida y para toda la vida A recognition program honoring centenary and long-standing businesses (over 90 years of activity) in Bilbao. Provides specialized advisory on marketing, legal and financial areas, and human resources to support their adaptation to new sales models and prolong their trajectory as both historic businesses and tourism assets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,055 companies created since 2017
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, important and minor.

• Diputación Foral de BizkaiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government of Bizkaia co-finances and collaborates on economic development initiatives. Works with Bilbao Ekintza on film commission, tourism promotion, and business support programs.
• Gobierno Vasco (Eusko Jaurlaritza)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasque Government collaborates on strategic economic initiatives and provides institutional support for city development projects.
• Lanbide (Servicio Vasco de Empleo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasque Employment Service co-finances employment plans and labor intermediation services. Bilbao Ekintza acts as collaborating placement agency for Lanbide.
• Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on entrepreneurship programs including Zitek at Campus Bizkaia and university-business connection initiatives.
• Universidad de DeustoimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for entrepreneurship education and employment events including the Employment and Entrepreneurship Fair.
• Mondragon UnibertsitateaimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner contributing to entrepreneurship ecosystem development and business support initiatives.
• Cámara de BilbaoimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilbao Chamber of Commerce collaborates on business support and economic development initiatives.
• HP (Hewlett-Packard)minorOthersTechnology partner supporting entrepreneurship center with equipment and potential technology programs.
• MicrosoftminorOthersTechnology partner supporting entrepreneurship center with software and technology programs.
• TelefónicaminorOthersTelecommunications partner supporting entrepreneurship and business development initiatives.
• Bilbao DendakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest merchant association in Basque Country with 2,000+ establishments. Key partner for commerce competitiveness and retail promotion programs.
• ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational association for convention bureaus working globally to position Bilbao as a premier events destination.
• MPI Iberian ChapterimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting Professionals International chapter supporting events industry development and professional networking.
• European Cities MarketingimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean marketing network for city tourism and convention promotion collaborating on international positioning.
• Spain Convention BureauimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational convention bureau network supporting Spanish cities in attracting conferences and events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BilbaoEkintza
• Facebookfacebook.com/BilbaoEkintza
• Instagraminstagram.com/bilbaoekintza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 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 Bilbao Ekintza