The Madrid City Hall, through Madrid Emprende, is taking a step forward in its commitment to the city’s economic development by launching a new line of services for the One-Stop Entrepreneurship Window (VUE), which expands and strengthens its support for Madrid’s business community with comprehensive guidance throughout the entire lifecycle of companies.
Under the name ‘activaME’, the VUE evolves to offer an integrated, expert, personalized, and ongoing advisory service not only to entrepreneurs in the early stages, but also to established companies that need to maintain, grow, tackle new strategic challenges, or address financial obstacles.
A qualitative leap: from startup to sustainable growth
Since its creation in 2011, the VUE, located at 140 Príncipe de Vergara Street in Madrid, has been a benchmark in supporting the creation and startup of businesses, with more than 117,000 advisory sessions conducted and more than 4,200 companies formed and self-employed individuals registered. Each year at the VUE, an average of 7,600 advisory sessions are attended.
INE data are compelling: nearly half of the companies that are born in Spain do not survive beyond the first three years. And more than 58% do not reach five years, largely due to the lack of a concrete action plan and expert assistance. Furthermore, in just the year 2023, more than 270,000 companies closed in Spain, many of them operating for several years and having validated their business model. Finally, family businesses represent more than 90% of Spain’s business fabric and generate more than 70% of private sector employment. Yet succession remains their main challenge: only about 30% succeed in transitioning to the second generation. They are viable businesses, with history, customers, and employment: business capital that in many cases disappears when it could have been transferred, transformed, or continued.
Now, the Madrid City Hall is addressing this reality in a comprehensive way by expanding the successful VUE model to respond to this growing reality: many companies, once they have overcome the initial phase, need support to move forward sustainably, adapt to new scenarios, or ensure their continuity.
New advisory line to bolster a more stable, competitive business ecosystem
This new line of advisory services broadens the portfolio of offerings provided by Madrid Emprende and creates a 360º coverage of support for both aspiring entrepreneurs and already-established companies, thus addressing a reality: businesses do not only need help to start. The head of the Economy, Innovation and Finance Department, Engracia Hidalgo, has stated that “all measures implemented by the City of Madrid respond to a single idea: to accompany the self-employed and small businesses from inception to consolidation, including when difficulties arise.”
This new service ‘activaME’ comprises three main lines: specialized advisory for SMEs with growth and consolidation needs and challenges; a business-transmission support service, which are economically viable but where there is no planned exit for succession,thereby ensuring continuity and avoiding the loss of economic capital and jobs; and specialized advisory for individual entrepreneurs (self-employed) and SMEs and startups facing adverse financial situations or economic difficulties.
These services combine a structured methodology with a practical, results-oriented approach focused on unlocking the real potential of each business. Expert technical staff will attend each case in a personalized manner, guaranteeing tailored solutions and continuous support.
The service request will be submitted through the website madridemprende.es, and applicants can begin the process with an initial in-person diagnostic session at 140 Príncipe de Vergara Street in Madrid by appointment.
