Biotech startup Stat-Dx acquired for $191M. iSalud acquired for €50M. Big changes at Telefonica.

June 25, 2019 • Issue #100

Startup funding news 💸

eSports team Mad Lions raised €2.5 million from business angels
Influencer marketing platform Kasitoko raised €450,000 from BBK, Angel Club and ESADEBan
Fintech startup PayPro launched an ICO

Spanish biotech startup Stat-Dx got acquired by Qiagen for $191 million. The company had previously raised more than €40 million in VC funding. It’s been a great few months for the Spanish biotech and pharma sector
French insurance company CNP Assurances acquired a 60% stake in Spanish insurtech startup iSalud, valuing the company at €50 million

Alexis Bonte to lead Atomico’s activity in Spain, France and Portugal as the firm’s newest partner
SPiCE VC announced that they have closed more than $40 million in commitments during their pre-sale, making them the largest tokenized fund in the world
El País interviewed Carina Szpilka, K Fund’s general partner and president of Adigital
Galicia’s local government launched a €4.5 million grant program for new companies in rural areas. This applies to both tech and ‘regular’ initiatives
The Euroleague basketball competition has launched an accelerator program in Barcelona
El Pais interviewed Laura González-Estéfani, CEO of accelerator/fund TheVentureCity
Nekko Capital is a new VC in the making. The Barcelona-based firm expects to complete it first closing before the summer, at €60 million

Traditional Spanish tour guide companies are not to happy about competing marketplace GuruWalk
Proptech startup Clicpiso claims to have reached €1.5 million in transactions in four months
Glovo to take over Cabify’s Express business in Peru
What do consumers request the most via Glovo?
Startup profiles: Transeop (transportation marketplace), Billib (fintech)

Telefonica to integrate Netflix’s catalogue in its own platform. El Español has an overview of what this could mean for both companies and for consumers
Telefonica announced last week several big changes to its organisational structure, including a new managing director for Spain and the hiring of former Pepephone CEO Pedro Serrahima
BBVA’s former president, Francisco González, demands a level playing field when it comes to competition from Facebook, Amazon or Google
Repsol and Kia to launch its car sharing service in Spain in the second half of 2018
Spanish hotels online bookings to reach €7.6 billion in 2018
Santander’s Explorer entrepreneurship program expands to Portugal, Argentina

BlaBlaCar is looking to partner with local municipalities in Spain to promote car sharing initiatives
Microsoft has sold more than 500,000 Xbox One consoles in Spain

Ibiza’s local government to be considering limiting Airbnb listings in the island