Spanish accelerator Mola tackles the crisis, adds 7 new startups to its portfolio

There’s not denying it: Spain is in crisis, and so deeply that it is hard to see a way out. But for Spanish serial entrepreneur Enrique Dubois, the solution is very clear: “We are confident that investing in innovation and entrepreneurs is the best route towards economic growth,” he insists.

As a matter of fact, he’s already been following his own advice since September 2011 with the launch of Mola.com, an accelerator for Spanish and Latin American startups headquartered in Palma de Mallorca (see our previous post).

While Dubois and his business partner Paco Gimena initially invested from their own capital, Mola started to raise money last February, closing a $1.6m round and investing in 7 new startups.

Only a few months later, Mola is ready for the next step, and hopes to close a $3.8m round by next September. In the meantime, it has announced the addition of 7 new teams, shortlisted among over 1,000 applications. This brings Mola’s total portfolio to 43 startups.

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Here are the companies that will share Mola’s $473,000 investment, go through its acceleration program and receive support from its 50 employees and mentor network:

• Blaffin (ex-TReto), a web and mobile entertainment platform which lets users complete challenges to become leaders of the game’s branded Arenas. The startup’s roadmap includes a mobile app, going global and supporting Madrid’s bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics;
• FashionRoom, a B2B retail site for the fashion sector, which will connect high fashion brands with wholesalers and retailers;
• Habitissimo, an online guide for home refurbishment, created in 2009 and already operating in 3 countries, where it boasts over 150,000 registered professionals;
• Study2Gether, a knowledge management platform for education centers, which lets teachers, parents and pupils safely exchange information;
• Moodyo, a social shopping network that helps you find out what your friends are buying;
• Neventum, which facilitates information on trade fairs and corporate exhibitions around the world;
• PlaceChallenge, a Polish startup that has developed a geolocated mobile gaming platform.

As you can see, the projects cover a large range of sectors, from mobile and fashion to education and e-commerce. Yet, they all have one thing in common: a global mindset.

According to Dubois, this shows the direction Spain needs to follow if it wants to become a startup nation: “We have seen many talented Spanish entrepreneurs with global ambitions, a must-have to enter the Mola program, so now we just need more I+D investment and follow the Israeli model.” However, whether Spain’s cash-strapped governement will follow his recommendation remains to be seen. As for Mola, it plans to invest in another 5 projects by the end of the year.