With Spain securing its latest VC fund, Southern Europe seems to be on a roll in the investment landscape

The European startup ecosystem has seen a notable correction in valuations since the peak of 2021-2022, but one region appears to be benefiting from this adjustment: Southern Europe. This trend was evident at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year, where Northern European VCs were actively scouting startups in Spain and Portugal. These Southern European startups offer attractive advantages to investors, including lower operating costs and more modest valuations compared to their Northern counterparts.

Adding to this trend is the launch of a new venture capital fund, Plus Partners, by Enrique Linares and Oriol Juncosa. Enrique Linares, known for co-founding the unicorn letgo, has a strong track record in scaling startups to significant valuation milestones. Oriol Juncosa, with experience from Nauta Capital and as co-founder of Encomenda Smart Capital, brings deep expertise in early-stage investments and has been involved in numerous successful ventures.

Plus Partners aims to raise between $30 million to $50 million for its fund, focusing on sectors such as health and nutrition, finance and property, and the future of work and productivity. The fund’s strategy emphasizes investing in pre-seed and seed-stage startups primarily from Southern Europe, particularly Spain.

This strategic focus aligns with the region’s growing reputation as a hotspot for innovative startups with scalable business models and competitive advantages in cost-efficiency and market access. As Southern Europe continues to attract attention from investors seeking value and growth potential, funds like Plus Partners are poised to capitalize on emerging opportunities in these dynamic markets.