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StepOne Brings Spanish Technological Innovation to Silicon Valley
25% of Spanish tech companies analyzed by StepOne have potential for success in the U.S. market; the corresponding figure for cleantech companies is 50%
March 27, 2009 (Madrid, Spain)
With the support of D. Carlos Martínez Alonso, the Spanish Secretary of State for Innovation, the formation of StepOne Ventures was announced today at the CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). StepOne Ventures is a Spanish company that guarantees other Spanish technological firms a successful introduction to the US market.
With offices in Madrid and Silicon Valley, StepOne Ventures will provide its services to Spanish companies specializing in Information Technology, Internet, Cleantech and Biotechnology. StepOne strives to serve Spanish companies that, despite their innovative potential, have failed or are reluctant to make the jump into the heart of global innovation.
“Although investment in innovation in Spain has increased, exports of tech companies to the U.S. market have declined over the past five years to less than half of what they once were,” says Germán Loperena, co-founder of StepOne. “Therefore, the mission of StepOne is to change this trend, by helping those companies that can really succeed in this market. And,” he ended, “25% of Spanish tech companies analyzed by StepOne have potential for success in the U.S. market; the corresponding figure for cleantech companies is 50%.
The goal of StepOne is to fill the gaps that hinder the implementation of Spanish technology projects in United States. StepOne assists Spanish firms in managing the entire process of internationalization: from the preparation and alignment of strategy and business plans, to the preparation of management teams to face U.S. business culture, through to the matching of strategic and venture funding in the North American market.
“I believe in the ability of StepOne to translate success from the potential of Spanish technology companies and bring that success to the forefront of the U.S. market,” says Bernardo Hernandez, co-founder of StepOne. “In many cases, however, success is hampered by the lack of a thorough knowledge of the US market and the appropriate preparation for success,” added Hernandez.
“Working with StepOne, a Spanish company with great new talent, as exemplified by the two co-founders, Bernardo Hernández and Germán Loperena,” notes D. Carlos Martínez Alonso, Secretary of State for Innovation, “is evidence of the stable cooperation businesses and government agencies have to achieve a common goal: to foster technological innovation and globalization. This combined effort will ensure the success of Spanish technology companies in the United States, and thus, the economic revitalization of Spain in these times of global recession.”
The two founders of StepOne were also accompanied by Mrs. Ellen Lenny-Pessagno, the American Counselor for Commercial Affairs, Mr. Miquel Valls, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona, and Mr. Alvaro Lopez Medrano , CEO of the Spanish company TOT, a firm that is in the process of internationalization with StepOne.
Press Contact:
Rosa Gómez-Acebo
(Consultores de Comunicación)
steponeprensa@gomezacebo.com
+34 91 564 28 78