This certificate, issued by Enisa, not only legitimizes startups within the Spanish regulatory framework, but also offers a range of fiscal, financial and operational advantages that enhance their competitiveness.
In today's article, we explore in depth the impact of this certificate and how it can become a catalyst for the growth of Spanish startups.
1. Official recognition and trust for foreign investors
One of the main challenges that startups face in their early years is to demonstrate their credibility, especially when they seek to attract investors in a competitive and globalized market. This is where the Emerging Business Certificate plays a key role, acting as an official seal that validates essential aspects of the business such as:
- To be of recent creation (less than five years, or seven years in the case of sectors such as biotechnology or renewable energy), reflecting their innovative and avant-garde nature.
- Have an innovative and scalable business model, which ensures their potential for growth and adaptation to market needs.
- Do not distribute dividends, ensuring that financial resources are reinvested in the development of the company.
This recognition not only endorses the startup as a serious player in the market, but it also reduces the perception of risk among foreign investors. By having a clear and transparent regulatory framework, the financial decision-making process is facilitated, generating greater trust in the project.
2. Tax benefits that favor foreign investment
The tax environment is one of the most determining factors for foreign investors. Startups certified as emerging enjoy a series of tax incentives designed to improve their competitiveness and attract capital. Key benefits include:
- Reduced Corporate Tax: Certified startups can benefit from a reduced rate of 15% in Corporate Tax for the first four years of benefits. This represents a significant relief in the tax burden and allows more resources to be allocated to growth and innovation.
- Exemption from installment payment: For the first two years of activity, certified startups are exempt from making fractional corporate tax payments, which improves their liquidity and investment capacity in the early stages.
These tax benefits not only help startups to optimize their resources, but they are also a key attraction point for foreign investors. Observing that Spanish startups have a favorable fiscal framework, investors see greater financial efficiency in the companies in which they plan to invest.
3. Exemption from the obligation to obtain the NIE for non-resident foreign investors
Another notable advantage of the Emerging Business Certificate is the exemption from the obligation to obtain the NIE (Foreigner Identity Number) for non-resident foreign investors. This measure considerably simplifies the investment process in Spain and eliminates one of the main bureaucratic barriers faced by international investors. With this exemption, investors can:
- Make investments faster and more efficiently, without having to go through lengthy administrative procedures.
- Focus directly on negotiations and the execution of your investments.
This benefit not only facilitates access to foreign capital, but also reinforces Spain's image as an open and proactive country in attracting global investors. For startups, it means having a more agile environment for raising resources and closing key deals.
4. Access to national and international funding programs and grants
The Emerging Business Certificate also acts as a gateway to other sources of funding both nationally and internationally. Many European grants and programs, such as those managed by Horizon Europe, seek to encourage the participation of certified and innovative companies. These programs are usually aimed at encouraging research, development and application of advanced technologies.
This recognition not only facilitates the application to these funds, but also reinforces the value proposition to foreign investors. The ability to access international grants demonstrates to investors that the startup has the possibility of supplementing private funding with public resources, strengthening its financial stability and reducing the risks associated with its investment.
5. Attracting foreign talent
For international investors, a startup's ability to attract and retain global talent is a determining factor in their investment decision. Companies certified as start-ups enjoy favorable conditions for hiring foreign talent, including:
- Simplified processes for obtaining visas and residence permits for highly qualified workers, eliminating bureaucratic barriers and facilitating the incorporation of international experts to the team.
- Tax benefits for employees who choose stock options, a key tool for attracting talent and keeping it committed to the growth of the startup.
These advantages not only strengthen the startup's competitiveness, but they also guarantee investors that the company has the necessary human capital to execute its long-term vision. The presence of highly qualified talent also increases the attractiveness of startups in international markets, since it guarantees the ability to innovate and adapt quickly to the demands of the sector.
6. Facilitating the due diligence process
The due diligence process, a comprehensive review of a company's operations and finances, is one of the most critical steps in attracting foreign investors. This process can be costly and time-consuming if the company doesn't have a clear regulatory structure. Having the Emerging Business Certificate simplifies this process by providing a regulatory and financial information base that has already been validated by ENISA.
This not only saves time for the parties involved, but it also reinforces confidence in the viability of the project. By reducing barriers in this process, investors can make decisions faster and with greater security, increasing the chances of closing funding deals.
As we can see, any startup that aspires to grow sustainably and attract foreign capital should consider obtaining the Emerging Company Certificate as a priority step in its growth strategy.
We help you get the Emerging Business Certificate
At Intelectium, we work under a successful model in obtaining public aid. We help you to identify which grants are the best fit for you and to prepare all the necessary documentation to carry out the procedure correctly until you obtain funding. You can contact us through our form or by sending an email to comunicacion@intelectium.com
