StartupCLM - Asociación de Startups de Castilla-La Mancha

What StartupCLM - Asociación de Startups de Castilla-La Mancha does

StartupCLM (legal name: Asociación de Empresas Emergentes de Castilla-La Mancha) is a non-profit association registered on 13 July 2023 and headquartered in Albacete, Spain, operating as the dedicated convener of the startup ecosystem across the Castilla-La Mancha region. Its core activity is community building: connecting, training, and representing emerging companies through recurring event formats (StartupBeer, StartupRing, Startup Networking Chill), a mentoring program, exclusive webinars (StartupTalk), and an immersive workshop series. The association does not develop proprietary technology; its underlying platform is a WordPress-based digital hub at startupclm.com with a startup directory, a member newsletter, and social channels across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

The organization monetizes through a two-tier membership model: a free Seguidor/a (Follower) tier and a paid Asociado/a (Associate) tier priced at €9 per month, the latter unlocking a private WhatsApp group, exclusive webinars, mentoring, investor introductions, and access to fairs. Its go-to-market is community-led, leveraging partnerships with regional and national institutions including CEEI Albacete, CEEI Ciudad Real, IPEX, ENISA, IMPEFE, EOI, Google For Startups, and the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha to distribute programming and channels for funding access. Customer segments are primarily regional startups and entrepreneurs, with secondary audiences including public institutions, mentors, and domain experts; it operates under the governance of a board of directors led by President Joaquín Buendía Madrid and roughly 10 employees.

The business model is constrained by its non-profit structure and modest per-member pricing, but is reinforced by institutional distribution advantages and a strong regional brand position as the only dedicated startup association in Castilla-La Mancha. Recurring engagement is driven by event programming in multiple provinces (Albacete, Ciudad Real, Almansa, Hellín, Talavera de la Reina), partnerships enabling international exposure (e.g., Web Summit Lisboa via IPEX), and recognition of member outcomes such as Zepo's selection for Google For Startups Growth Academy.

Name

StartupCLM - Asociación de Startups de Castilla-La Mancha

Legal name

ASOCIACIÓN DE EMPRESAS EMERGENTES DE CASTILLA-LA MANCHA

Website

https://startupclm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

StartupCLM is a non-profit association headquartered in Albacete that connects, trains, and represents startups and entrepreneurs across the Castilla-La Mancha region through events, mentoring, and institutional partnerships, monetizing via a €9-per-month premium membership tier.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem Support Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Startup ecosystem association
• Entrepreneurship networking
• Founder mentoring programs
• Regional innovation hub
• Startup funding access

Headquarters

HQ city

Albacete

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The association generates revenue through monthly membership fees from associate members (9€ per month). Follower membership is free. This provides a sustainable recurring revenue stream to fund operations, events, and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

StartupCLM is a non-profit association that operates as the central ecosystem hub for startups and entrepreneurs in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. Its core offering is a paid associate membership (€9/month) plus a free follower tier that delivers networking events (StartupBeer, StartupRing, Startup Networking Chill), an exclusive webinar series (StartupTalk), a mentoring program, connections to public and private financing, and visibility platforms for member startups. The association does not develop or sell technology products; its value is delivered through community programs, institutional partnerships, and member services.

Product overview

StartupCLM is a non-profit association serving as the innovation and entrepreneurship hub for Castilla-La Mancha. The organization operates a digital platform with a startup directory and offers two membership tiers: a free Seguidor/a tier (access to newsletters, networking events, webinars, workshops) and a premium Asociado/a tier at €9/month (adding private WhatsApp group, exclusive webinars, mentorship program, immersive sessions, government/investor connections, and fair access). Core activity formats include StartupBeer (monthly networking gatherings), StartupRing, and Startup Networking Chill events, plus the exclusive StartupTalk webinar series. The association facilitates connections between startups, mentors, investors, and public administration through a structured governance model with local action teams across multiple cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Asociado/a Membership (Premium) Paid membership tier at €9/month granting full access to all StartupCLM programs: private WhatsApp group, exclusive StartupTalk webinars, exclusive mentoring program, immersive weekend workshops, connection with Public Administration, connections with investors, access to fairs and exhibitions, plus all free-tier benefits. Target audience: startups, entrepreneurs, and innovative companies based in Castilla-La Mancha.
• StartupBeer Networking Events
• Startup Networking Chill Events
• StartupTalk Webinar Series
• Mentoring Program
• StartupRing Networking Events

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 startups connected with investors at V Foro de Financiación de la Innovación in Talavera de la Reina
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centro Europeo de Empresas e Innovación de Albacete (CEEI Albacete)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEEI Albacete is a key strategic partner collaborating on startup support programs, events, and ecosystem development. The association participates in CEEI-organized events including forums, webinars, and financing forums. CEEI Albacete hosts physical events for StartupCLM and provides institutional support for the association's activities.
• Centro Europeo de Empresas e Innovación de Ciudad Real (CEEI Ciudad Real)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEEI Ciudad Real organizes the annual Forum of Startups of Castilla-La Mancha in collaboration with StartupCLM. The association actively participates with speakers and programming contributions. CEEI Ciudad Real also collaborates on the organization of StartupBeer events in the province.
• Instituto Municipal de Promoción Económica, Formación y Empleo (IMPEFE) - Ciudad RealcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIMPEFE, the municipal economic development agency of Ciudad Real, sponsors StartupCLM events including the StartupBeer series in Ciudad Real. The partnership supports the association's visibility and event programming in the province.
• SV Comunicación & EventosminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSV Comunicación provides communication and event management services to the association, including website development and maintenance, branding, and event support. Listed as a collaborator on the association's website.
• ENSIS LegalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerENSIS Legal provides legal expertise to StartupCLM, with Julio García Cantó (partner at ENSIS Legal) serving as Secretary of the association. The firm contributes legal guidance on startups law and digital transformation.
• Instituto de Promoción Exterior de Castilla-La Mancha (IPEX)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerIPEX provides financial support for startups to participate in international events including the Web Summit Lisboa 2024, covering registration costs (100% for selected startups). The association facilitates connections between member startups and IPEX opportunities.
• ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerENISA is the national innovation agency that certifies startups under Spain's Startup Law and provides financing. StartupCLM participates in ENISA events including the Spain Up Nation regional tour and financing forums, connecting members with ENISA funding programs and certification.
• Incubadora de Alta Tecnología Almansa Impulsa (Ayuntamiento de Almansa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe high-tech incubator in Almansa collaborates with StartupCLM on events and programs for the local startup ecosystem. The association's Startup Networking Chill events are held at the Centro de Innovación Empresarial in Almansa.
• Centro Tecnológico Industrial de Castilla-La Mancha (ITECAM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITECAM, the industrial technology center of Castilla-La Mancha, collaborates with StartupCLM as a supporting partner, providing technological expertise and resources to the association's ecosystem.
• Asociación de Profesionales de Desarrollo Local y Promoción Económica de CLM (APRODEL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRODEL collaborates with StartupCLM on professional development events and training, including joint jornadas on artificial intelligence for local development professionals.
• ECIR (Emprendedores Ciudad Real)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorECIR, the entrepreneur networking group in Ciudad Real, collaborates with StartupCLM to promote networking activities and events in the province, expanding the association's reach in Ciudad Real.
• Google For StartupscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle For Startups runs accelerator programs including the Growth Academy AI for Cybersecurity. Member startup Zepo (Ciudad Real) was selected for the program, providing international visibility and mentorship from Alphabet experts.
• Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La ManchacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, through the Consejería de Economía, Empresas y Empleo, supports StartupCLM's ecosystem development initiatives and collaborates on financing forums, entrepreneurship events, and policy development.
• EOI (Escuela de Organización Industrial)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEOI, Spain's first business school, co-organizes the EOI-JCCM Coworking program in Ciudad Real (8th edition), which is supported by the European Social Fund Plus. StartupCLM promotes these programs to its members.
• Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla-La ManchaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe science and technology park of Castilla-La Mancha participates in StartupCLM expert panels and ecosystem events, providing infrastructure and networking opportunities for technology companies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wayra (Telefónica): Corporate venture arm and accelerator of Telefónica, running startup programs globally with deep corporate backing. Comparable role in connecting startups to capital and corporate partners, but operates with substantially greater resources and a corporate investor lens.
• Impact Hub Madrid: Part of a global network of innovation hubs offering coworking, events, and community programs for entrepreneurs and impact-driven startups. Comparable community-building and event-driven engagement model, though operating a physical space and broader programming.
• Madrid Network: Madrid-region innovation and entrepreneurship association supporting startups, SMEs, and corporates. Comparable function as regional ecosystem aggregator, though covering a broader set of business types beyond pure startups.
• Lanzadera (Marina de Empresas): Juan Roig–founded startup accelerator in Valencia supporting Spanish founders with funding, mentoring, and infrastructure. Comparable function of selecting and supporting early-stage startups, though operating as a professionally staffed, well-funded accelerator rather than a volunteer-led association.
• EOI (Escuela de Organización Industrial): Spain's first business school and a public institution offering entrepreneurship training, coworking programs, and accelerator services. EOI co-organizes programs StartupCLM promotes and represents a broader, more established incumbent in the Spanish entrepreneurship education space.

Direct peers

• Startup Valencia: Regional startup association for the Valencia ecosystem with a similar community-led, membership-based model aggregating entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions in a defined Spanish region. Closest structural analog to StartupCLM.
• Barcelona Tech City: Private non-profit association that serves as the central hub for Barcelona's tech and startup ecosystem. Comparable community-building, member-services, and institutional-partnership approach, though operating at significantly greater scale in a more mature ecosystem.
• Spain Startup / Asociación Española de Startups: National-level Spanish startup association aggregating the country's startup ecosystem. Directly comparable to StartupCLM as both are non-profit membership associations supporting Spanish startups through networking, representation, and access to financing — Spain Startup operates at the national scale StartupCLM does regionally.
• Andalucía Open Future: Regional open innovation and startup support program backed by Junta de Andalucía and Telefónica, operating across multiple Andalusian provinces. Comparable regional scope, public-sector backing, and multi-province distribution model to StartupCLM.

Others

• ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación): Spain's national innovation agency that provides financing and certifies startups under Spain's Startup Law. Functions as an ecosystem partner (StartupCLM connects members to ENISA programs) rather than a direct competitor, but shapes the same startup landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Startupclm
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startupclm
• Instagraminstagram.com/startup_clm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 StartupCLM - Asociación de Startups de Castilla-La Mancha