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Founder & Chairman at Nuclio Venture Builder
Carlos Blanco is the Managing Partner at Encomenda Smart Capital, a leading early-stage venture capital firm. He is also a renowned serial entrepreneur known for founding several successful tech companies and his significant contributions to the Spanish startup ecosystem.
Carlos Blanco, through Encomenda Smart Capital, primarily invests in early-stage technology startups. His focus areas include Software as a Service (SaaS), online marketplaces, fintech, e-commerce, and mobile applications, predominantly within the Spanish market.
Carlos Blanco works as the Managing Partner at Encomenda Smart Capital, a venture capital firm based in Spain.
Carlos Blanco is the Managing Partner at Encomenda Smart Capital and Co-founder of Nuclio Venture Builder, based in Barcelona, Spain. He began his entrepreneurial career by founding Grupo ITnet in 2001 before launching Akamon Entertainment, a social gaming company that he sold for approximately 23 million euros in 2015. As an active business angel and venture capitalist, Blanco has invested in over 140 early-stage technology startups, holding early stakes in recognizable consumer companies like Glovo and Deporvillage. Through Encomenda Smart Capital, he recently launched a second seed fund targeting 40 million to 50 million euros to back emerging European technology ventures. He previously received the Best Business Angel award from the Spanish Association of Business Angels Networks in 2014. His current focus remains on seed-stage venture capital investments and venture building within the broader European digital ecosystem.
Carlos Blanco stands as a pivotal figure in the Spanish startup ecosystem, renowned for his dual role as a successful serial entrepreneur and a discerning venture capitalist. As the Managing Partner at Encomenda Smart Capital, he leads a prominent early-stage investment fund dedicated to fueling the growth of innovative technology companies. Blanco's unique perspective, honed over decades of building and scaling his own ventures, makes him an invaluable asset to the startups Encomenda supports.
Encomenda Smart Capital, under Blanco's strategic direction, primarily focuses on seed and early-stage investments within the digital sector, with a strong emphasis on the Spanish market. The firm seeks out companies demonstrating strong potential for disruption and scalability, often in areas such as Software as a Service (SaaS), online marketplaces, fintech, e-commerce, and mobile applications. Carlos Blanco is instrumental in identifying these promising opportunities, leveraging his deep industry knowledge and extensive network to pinpoint the next generation of market leaders.
Blanco's career background is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit. Before co-founding Encomenda Smart Capital, he established and successfully exited several significant companies. His journey began with Grupo ITnet, one of Spain's first internet companies, which he grew into a major player. Later, he co-founded Akamon Entertainment, a social gaming company that achieved significant success before its acquisition. Perhaps one of his most impactful contributions to the ecosystem prior to Encomenda was the creation of Conector Startup Accelerator, an initiative that provided crucial mentorship and funding to numerous early-stage projects, solidifying his reputation as a key enabler of startup growth.
This rich entrepreneurial history directly informs his approach as an investor. Carlos Blanco doesn't just provide capital; he offers strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to a wealth of experience in navigating the challenges of startup development. His involvement helps founders refine their business models, scale operations, and prepare for subsequent funding rounds. While specific individual investments are often part of Encomenda's broader portfolio, Blanco's influence is evident in the firm's track record of backing companies that go on to achieve significant milestones in the tech landscape. He is widely recognized for his ability to spot potential and his commitment to fostering a vibrant and competitive startup environment in Spain. His work at Encomenda Smart Capital continues to shape the future of digital innovation in the region.
