Fruzzel Group will launch Karabanga, a new platform connecting worldwide advertisers and publishers. With their proprietary technology, even better results can be achieved in CPM, CPC, CPL, CPA and CPi campaign management. Focus on performance and optimising media investment. Follow Fruzzel on Linkedin or contact Michiel Smit directly via email or Linkedin for more information.

Startup funding news 💸

• CounterCraft concludes new round of €2 million with leading investment funds specialized in cybersecurity
• Fintech startup Socialpay raised €1 million from CaixaBank
• Screenly is a Spanish startup that’s building an on-demand model applied to movie theatres. The company has just raised €113,000 through Bolsa Social
• Livetopic raised €100,000 from business angels

Startup exits 🎊

• The story behind the acquisition of Erasmusu by Spotahome

Investor & accelerator news 🚀

• Sonia Fernandez of Kibo Ventures explains why the firm invested in Gestoos
• Citibox launches ecommerce startup incubator to solve ‘last mile’ challenges
• Changes at Tetuan Valley: Karel Escobar has left his CEO position after four years at the helm and will be replaced by Camila Polensvaig
• 19 open calls for startups still available in Spain

Startup news 💡

• Cabify says that it could have more than 1,000 cars in Barcelona before 2020
• El Confidencial profiled Bijoux Indiscrets, an ecommerce company that sells adult sex toys with sales of more than €3 million
• Interesting interview with PcComponentes’ social media manager, David Gutiérrez, about influencer marketing
• Another interesting interview, this time with bq’s CEO Alberto Méndez. The Spanish mobile manufacturer sold 1.1 million devices last year, totalling €190 million in revenue and €8.5 million in profit
• The number of proptech startups in Spain has increased significantly over the past few years. A study from Savills Aguirre Newman and Finnovating says the number could be higher than 200 companies
• Trailblazing Women: an interview with Laura Urquizu, CEO of Red Points
• Digital marketing startup Beabloo is looking to raise funding from US investors. The company was previously backed by Softbank
• Kippel01 interviewed Andres Pla, CEO of proptech startup Protopiso
• Finding the real Typeform: a video from the Barcelona-based startup explaining the reasoning behind the changes recently announced

Big company news 🏦

• A study from BBVA says that 36% of Spanish jobs could be automated in the near future
• Several employees of Amazon’s distribution center in Madrid went on strike last week. The company came back with an offer to increase salaries, but the company’s trade union has rejected the offer. More details on the strike here
• Jaime Castellanos, former president of Vocento, is working on the launch of an Uber and Cabify competitor, Moove Cars
• Former Uber UK chief Jo Bertram joins Telefonica’s UK division to lead its digital and strategy operations. Bertram is also an executive-in-residence at venture capital firm EQT Ventures
• Endesa says that it expects to spend up to €1.2 billion in R&D in the next two years
• Palantir has opened an office in Madrid. Its first in Spain
• Instagram Shopping is now live in Spain

Tech and policy 💂🏼

• Spain’s competition regulator, CNMC, wants to stop the government from forcing Airbnb and other platforms to provide data from hosts to the tax office. HomeAway believes the transfer of data to the government will not be an easy process
• The catalan competition regulator suggested this week that several local laws that try to limit the expansion of Uber and Cabify in Barcelona should be changed since it impedes competition

Interesting reads 🤓

• Music streaming is on the rise all around the world, and Spain is no exception. Spanish revenues from music and record labels increased for the third consecutive year
• Spanish startups operating in the cannabis industry are looking for opportunities despite the current legal environment
• Malt, a platform that helps freelancers find new jobs, published a study on the Spanish freelance economy
• Rafael Tamames (CEO of Findasense): ’Starting a company from scratch and without external money’
• Ramon Egea (K Fund): ’Tips to build an effective recruiting strategy for your startup since day one’

Podcasts of the week 🎧

• Blockchain Minutes is a new podcast from Raul Marcos and Pablo Venture about the world of crypto and blockchain. Go listen to their first four episodes if you’re interested in the topic
• Itnig: The importance of cultural fit in recruitment processes