On 2nd October 2015, during a trip around Spain, I visited the workINcompany (http://workincompany.com/) co-working space in Calle Rioja, Seville. I had reached out before my trip to the space and Jaime Aranda was kind enough to invite me in to have a chat. Jaime is also an organiser for the Silicon Drinkabout Sevilla, a great and well attended meetup, well worth attending if you are in Seville.
workINcompany is sponsored by the Seville Chamber of Commerce and the University of Seville.
workINcompany is sponsored by the Seville Chamber of Commerce and the University of Seville.
workINcompany has more than 500 square metres, including a large bright main space, a cool balcony looking down on the Calle Rioja, and a big meeting room. You can have anything from a casual day for 15 euros up to a private office. To have a really good snoop, look them up on Google Maps and check the 360 degree view. Calle Rioja is in a surprisingly fancy part of town, amid designer dress shops and chic bars.
Jaime organised for me to give a talk that evening about my journey in starting, growing and selling my software company. It was well attended and, like throughout Spain, I was impressed at the level of English, especially with the younger Spaniards. Certainly 100% better than my menu-level Spanish.
Coincidentally it was an anniversary of the opening of the space so after the talk there was a get-together where I met more members. Being Seville, out came the tapas and cava. The event was well attended and there was a great buzz, and not just from the booze. I found the people friendly, welcoming and very curious about the Sydney scene.
Coincidentally it was an anniversary of the opening of the space so after the talk there was a get-together where I met more members. Being Seville, out came the tapas and cava. The event was well attended and there was a great buzz, and not just from the booze. I found the people friendly, welcoming and very curious about the Sydney scene.
From chatting to Jaime and others, I got the impression that there was a strong startup scene in Seville, above and beyond the members of workINcompany. Looking just now in Crunchbase, there are 59 startups listed.
Throughout Spain unemployment is high especially with the young, so the more gung-ho of these have decided to give a crack at starting their own businesses. I got pitched to several time during the evening as well as later in the week at the Silicon Drinkabout Sevilla which was at the Merchant’s Malt House. Apparently they select different bars each Friday which is fun.
So if you’re visiting Seville try to make time to pop in and introduce yourself to Jaime, and say hi from me.
Throughout Spain unemployment is high especially with the young, so the more gung-ho of these have decided to give a crack at starting their own businesses. I got pitched to several time during the evening as well as later in the week at the Silicon Drinkabout Sevilla which was at the Merchant’s Malt House. Apparently they select different bars each Friday which is fun.
So if you’re visiting Seville try to make time to pop in and introduce yourself to Jaime, and say hi from me.