Are you a Spanish tech startup ready to take on the U.S. market? Don't miss this chance to join Desafía San Francisco, offering an immersive program tailored to propel your growth in the United States!
Desafía San Francisco 2025 is designed to introduce Spanish entrepreneurs to the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem and facilitate a soft landing in the North American market through direct engagement with investors, corporate leaders, and strategic partners. Desafía San Francisco 2025 is operated by SOSA in partnership with ICEX and Red.es.
The program is designed for Spanish tech startups from all sectors who are ready to expand and scale in the United States. We offer a high-impact program experience, access to investors, industry experts, ecosystem leaders, and targeted workshops to accelerate your internationalization efforts. We look forward to partnering with you!
Why San Francisco
San Francisco and the broader Bay Area remain at the forefront of global innovation and venture capital. In 2024, startups in the Bay Area attracted $90 billion in venture funding - 57% of all U.S. venture capital investment, totaling $178 billion nationwide. Particular areas of strength in the San Francisco ecosystem include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, HealthTech, BioTech, Fintech, and GovTech.
Beyond capital, San Francisco's startup ecosystem encompasses thousands of founders, corporate innovation centers, accelerators, and support services. Its density of talent and infrastructure fosters unmatched networking opportunities, from intimate angel sessions to high-stakes investor connections.
For international startups, the U.S. remains the largest and most attractive market for expansion. U.S. corporations and investors are increasingly looking outward for proven, globally competitive technologies that can be quickly deployed at scale. For foreign startups with product-market fit and strong teams, programs like Desafía San Francisco offer a structured path to validate their offerings, build local relationships, and secure early traction in one of the most dynamic markets in the world.
Requirements
Bootcamp in Madrid
The selected companies will be invited to an in-person launch of the program. During a full-day bootcamp in Madrid on October 9th, the companies will align objectives, refine their U.S. value proposition, and prepare for the San Francisco program.
Two-week intensive immersion program in San Francisco
The in-market immersion, operated by SOSA and local partners, will offer the selected companies a personalized agenda aligned with their U.S. expansion and fundraising goals.
Workshops and strategic content sessions
An array of expert-led sessions will cover U.S. market entry fundamentals, legal and regulatory landscape, go-to-market strategy, how to win over U.S. investors, and other key topics.
Targeted meetings with investors in Silicon Valley
The program will include strategic meetings with VCs, angel networks, and family offices, focused on validating startups' market opportunity, refining their fundraising pitches, and building meaningful relationships.
Connections with key players in the San Francisco tech ecosystem
The immersion program will offer opportunities to meet SF ecosystem leaders, including innovation directors from corporates, accelerators, industry experts, and growth advisors.
Mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs
Founders who have successfully scaled their companies in the U.S. will offer direct insight into the realities of operating and fundraising in Silicon Valley.
Networking opportunities
This program will provide selected startups with a multitude of in-person touch points with key stakeholders in the San Francisco ecosystem, enabling them to build their U.S. contact base and explore commercial, investment, and collaboration opportunities.
Participation in a final Demo Day
During the San Francisco immersion, the selected startups will deliver a 5-minute pitch to a curated audience of investors, corporates, and ecosystem stakeholders.
Ongoing support through the Desafía Alumni Network
Upon completion of the program, the founders will connect to a broader community of Spanish startups and international partners, with continued access to resources and visibility.
Requirements
Be an entrepreneur with a technology startup
Have an annual turnover increase of more than 20% year over year (YoY)
Be headquartered and operating primarily out of Spain
No previous participation in a Desafía San Francisco Program
Have full professional proficiency in English
Full participation in all program phases, including the in-person Program Launch in Madrid (October 9th), the Virtual Program, and the entire two-week San Francisco Immersion (November 10-21st)
About ICEX
ICEX is a public business-oriented organization aimed at promoting the prosperity of the Spanish economy through internationalization. Its goals include enhancing the competitiveness of Spanish companies and their ecosystems in international markets; promoting Spain's image, its productive sectors, and companies abroad; attracting, promoting, and supporting foreign investments in Spain; and providing training in these areas. Its international network and close collaboration with chambers of commerce and sectoral associations are key to positioning Spain as a reference in global markets.
ICEX also promotes the international scalability of the technological and innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem through market intelligence activities, institutional support, and the promotion of our companies: startups, scaleups, investment funds, corporations, accelerators, incubators, etc. This is approached from a dual perspective of business development and investment attraction, as well as the creation of partnerships within the ecosystem.
Red.es is the public corporate entity attached to the Ministry of Digital Transformation and The Civil Service.
Red.es develops programs to boost the digital economy, innovation and entrepreneurship, in addition to offering training for young people and professionals and support for SMEs and startups through the promotion of efficient and intensive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
SOSA is a global open innovation company that connects governments, corporations, and tech companies through a range of accelerator and market entry programs. From two day bootcamps to six month accelerators, SOSA delivers tailored initiatives that help companies navigate new markets and scale internationally. With offices in New York, São Paulo, and Tel Aviv, and partnerships across Europe, Asia, and North America, SOSA supports the global exchange of innovation.
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