The bank has awarded a total of 180,000 euros in prizes to the winners of both initiatives, in which more than 4,000 projects, startups and scaleups from 11 countries have participated.
Madrid, 28 February 2024.
Banco Santander has presented its awards Santander X Global Award and Santander X Global Award | Transforming the Digital Economy during the 4YFN 2024 in Barcelona, the benchmark event for the international entrepreneurial ecosystem for the last ten years.
The Santander X Global Award has recognised the best entrepreneurial projects and university startups, which have managed to stand out among more than 3,800 participants in this edition.
Three startups and three scaleups will share a total of 60,000 euros in prizes and access to Santander X 100, the exclusive community of Santander X's most outstanding companies:
During the event, the Santander X Global Award | Transforming the Digital Economy winners were also announced. This international challenge developed in collaboration with Oxentia Foundation, to which more than 260 companies have applied to submit innovative solutions in the digitisation of industry, the improvement of user experience or the stability and growth of companies with the optimisation of processes. The six winning companies were:
The winners received 120,000 euros in prizes, as well as access to Santander X 100 and the opportunity to present their project at Fintech Station, the bank's Open Innovation area.
Banco Santander has launched Santander Startups, a complete range of services and products aimed at startups and innovative companies with potential for scalability and growth. In addition to a 100 million euros fund to finance technology-based startups in early stages and specific financial solutions adapted to each stage in the growth cycle of these companies, the bank offers a range of measures to support them and facilitate their development. The aim is to boost the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Spain.
Through Santander X, it supports entrepreneurs and small businesses to create opportunities, consolidate and grow through training, advice and resources to advance and scale their business.
With Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, it offers them an online platform that facilitates access to resources and technological solutions, support, advice and specialised mentoring.
And through the Santander Fintech Station, a specialised team connects startups and scaleups from multiple sectors and industries with the financial institution to identify collaboration opportunities that enable it to be at the forefront of innovation and provide technological and innovative solutions for the bank's different areas.
Banco Santander is firmly committed to progress and inclusive sustainable growth. It boasts a long-standing and groundbreaking 27 years commitment to education, employability, and entrepreneurship, which sets it apart from the world's other financial institutions. The bank has allocated more than 2.3 billion euros and supported more than 1.5 million people and companies through agreements with more than 1,300 universities. It has also been recognised as one of the companies that is doing the most to change the world for the better, according to Fortune magazine's 2023 'Change the World' list (www.santander.com/universidades).
Oxentia Foundation was created to support Oxentia's main goal: to tackle global inequalities through innovation and entrepreneurial activities. Oxentia organises international entrepreneurial innovation competitions and awards, and has also provided advice to entrepreneurs in order help bring to market science and technology projects that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Oxentia grew out of Oxford University's technology transfer company, and aims to provide specialised innovation management services to public and private sector customers throughout the world. Its approach is based on the company's solid legacy, built on over 30 years of experience supporting academic innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in more than 70 countries.