VALENCIA (EP). The Valencian company Demium has invested in 2021 a total of 5.2 million in 49 Spanish startups born in its own incubator. Of these, 14 are from the Valencian Community, and have accumulated a total investment of 1.5 million euros, according to the signature in a statement.
By sector, in 2021 there has been an increase in investment in projects related to gaming and eSports and the EdTech field, while those related to areas such as commerce and travel have been reduced compared to 2020. On the other On the other hand, projects in the fintech sector remain on the rise, and those in the field of health have also gained strength.
In the case of the Valencian Community, the most outstanding projects of 2021 are those of the fintech Colibid, which allows access to the best mortgage through a bidding system; the foodtech Vegan Food Club, which serves elaborate vegan dishes at home; and Emendu, a flexible technological equipment rental platform for individuals, freelancers and companies.
The company is present in five countries: Portugal, Greece, Ukraine, Poland and Spain, where it has offices in Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga. In each of them, last year it organized five AllStartups events, which represent the gateway for talent. In total they had 485 participants between their headquarters in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Malaga. More than a hundred entrepreneurs participated in the five events in Valencia, and 56 of them were selected to be part of their incubation programs.
Looking ahead to this year, the organization of the first AllStartup of 2022 is already underway in the Valencian capital, which will take place during the first weekend of February. In addition, the first edition of its new Acceleration Program will start shortly, to help startups in their initial phase to increase their traction and achieve an investment round of at least 100,000 euros in four months.
Among the Valencian startups that have gone through Demium and are now successful in the market, it is worth mentioning Citibox, creator of a system of intelligent mailboxes for receiving online purchases, which has already reached a valuation of more than 100 million euros; Voicemod, which has developed a real-time voice modulator for gamers and streamers, and is valued at €124 million; and Landbot, creator of a chatbot system using artificial intelligence that allows companies to communicate with their customers, according to the same sources.
very positive balance
The firm has closed the 2021 financial year with a global turnover of 4 million euros, 7.2 million invested in 68 startups, divestments worth 4.4 million and reaching break even for the first time since its launch in 2013.
The CEO of Demium, Monte Davis, has highlighted that 2021 has been the year in which we have stopped “being simply service providers to also become investors”, with the launch of its first fund of 50 million, in which they participate more than 100 European investors.
In addition to “being profitable for the first time, we have shown that our business model works, and that investing in talent at the earliest stage, from our own structure and through this fund, can offer really attractive returns,” he says.
The company’s objective for this year is to strengthen its presence in the places where it already operates and open hubs in new European countries, with special interest in generating projects and investments in Eastern countries. In addition, through its manager, it plans to launch new funds and vehicles that reinforce the assets they already have, such as the creation of a fund of opportunities to invest in those startups in which it has a stake that are already in a more advanced phase (series A).