20
de Maig
de
2016 - 05:37
Act.
21
de Maig
de
2016 - 16:48
Let's imagine a palace with Catalan arches. Let's imagine terraces with magnificent views of the Barcelona coastline. Also imagine a spacious work space full of light. Actually there is no need to imagine it, as such a place exists and will become a home for entrepreneurs in Barcelona. The Barcelona Tech City cluster will officially inaugurate its new HQ on June 9 in the Palau de Mar, a 10,000 square metre space that will host 70 organisations, including startups, accelerators and investment corporations, and where it is expected 1,000 professionals will eventually work.
On Wednesday evening, the project organisers opened the doors of the new Pier 01 to the press and the institutions that have provided support, such as the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the Generalitat and the Port. "This is a good example of public-private cooperation," said Miguel Vicente, the visible face of the project. "We call it Pier 01 because it better reflects the demand we have," he told the 50 attendees on the tour of the facilities that from next week will become a hive of activity. Pier is a name that openly refers to the entrepreneurial Mecca of San Francisco.
Miquel Martí, director of Barcelona Tech City, adds that the aim is to "bring together all of the talent in a single place," and he offers the suggestion that "22@ has to make it to the sea front." Moreover, he explains euphorically that apart from the offices there will be common spaces to hold events and even "changing rooms, which won't be mixed, for those who want to do sport." What's more, he announces that talks are under way with a historic local sports club to secure membership deals for the tenants.
However, for the moment, the rooms where Antai Venture Builders, Nuclio Venture Builders, 101 Startups, Conector and BeRepublic will work are still covered in dust. The final building work is coming to an end while the new tenants say they will begin moving in between Monday and Friday.
First off the mark are the people of ByHours, who already have their new office up and running headed by Christian Rodríguez. As with any good startup, there is a good area for refreshments, the Bar Ours; and even a few loungers that seem comfortable enough judging by the faces of those trying them out.
All of those making the move will find themselves sharing the Palau de Mar with three top companies that have been working there for a while: HolaLuz, Tiendeo and LetGo. The cofounder of the latter, Enrique Linares, invites the attendees to see his office from the inside. "We do something fairly similar to Wallapop", he says smiling next to Miguel Vicente. Last week the two companies announced a joint agreement for taking on the US market. That explains why everyone laughs when Vicente says he will cover his eyes "so as not to see anything" being done by the employees still working in the LetGo office.
"When they explained the project to us we signed up straight away," says Enrique Linares, who is hopeful about the synergies that could arise from bringing so much talent under one roof. What's more, looking through one of the windows overlooking Barcelona's Port Vell, he admits that "Having such great offices helps when it comes to recruiting people."
Just as enthusiastic is Gina Tost, who announces that Geenapp wants to expand from six to 25 employees in its new home in Pier 01. "We are going from a house and garden in Pedralbes to here, that is the idea." Geenapp's current office, which VIA Empresa visited a few months ago on the occasion of NewCo Bcn, is an idyllic place but in Palau de Mar Tost is aware that "we will be able to take advantage of having so much talent together in one place."
The tour ends on HolaLuz's magnificent terrace, with a beer and with Miguel Vicente exultant in the middle of the group photo. There are hugs and backslapping all around. The strong wind of the Barcelona evening carries away the bowls of crisps laid out. Yet, it's a wind that cannot take away the excitement or the hope of making this dream a reality: to do business with a sea view.
On Wednesday evening, the project organisers opened the doors of the new Pier 01 to the press and the institutions that have provided support, such as the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the Generalitat and the Port. "This is a good example of public-private cooperation," said Miguel Vicente, the visible face of the project. "We call it Pier 01 because it better reflects the demand we have," he told the 50 attendees on the tour of the facilities that from next week will become a hive of activity. Pier is a name that openly refers to the entrepreneurial Mecca of San Francisco.
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| Miguel Vicente presents Pier 01. PGF |
Miquel Martí, director of Barcelona Tech City, adds that the aim is to "bring together all of the talent in a single place," and he offers the suggestion that "22@ has to make it to the sea front." Moreover, he explains euphorically that apart from the offices there will be common spaces to hold events and even "changing rooms, which won't be mixed, for those who want to do sport." What's more, he announces that talks are under way with a historic local sports club to secure membership deals for the tenants.
However, for the moment, the rooms where Antai Venture Builders, Nuclio Venture Builders, 101 Startups, Conector and BeRepublic will work are still covered in dust. The final building work is coming to an end while the new tenants say they will begin moving in between Monday and Friday.
Nerviosos ante el estreno de nuestras nuevas oficinas con @BeAdAgency @antaivb @TalentRepublic cc @bcntechcity pic.twitter.com/APIGttR8Wd
— BeRepublic (@BeRepublic) 18 de maig de 2016
First off the mark are the people of ByHours, who already have their new office up and running headed by Christian Rodríguez. As with any good startup, there is a good area for refreshments, the Bar Ours; and even a few loungers that seem comfortable enough judging by the faces of those trying them out.
 |
| It is not all work in the offices of ByHours in Pier 01. PGF |
All of those making the move will find themselves sharing the Palau de Mar with three top companies that have been working there for a while: HolaLuz, Tiendeo and LetGo. The cofounder of the latter, Enrique Linares, invites the attendees to see his office from the inside. "We do something fairly similar to Wallapop", he says smiling next to Miguel Vicente. Last week the two companies announced a joint agreement for taking on the US market. That explains why everyone laughs when Vicente says he will cover his eyes "so as not to see anything" being done by the employees still working in the LetGo office.
 |
| A game of PlayStation anyone? In the LetGo office gaming is possible. PGF |
"When they explained the project to us we signed up straight away," says Enrique Linares, who is hopeful about the synergies that could arise from bringing so much talent under one roof. What's more, looking through one of the windows overlooking Barcelona's Port Vell, he admits that "Having such great offices helps when it comes to recruiting people."
Just as enthusiastic is Gina Tost, who announces that Geenapp wants to expand from six to 25 employees in its new home in Pier 01. "We are going from a house and garden in Pedralbes to here, that is the idea." Geenapp's current office, which VIA Empresa visited a few months ago on the occasion of NewCo Bcn, is an idyllic place but in Palau de Mar Tost is aware that "we will be able to take advantage of having so much talent together in one place."
The tour ends on HolaLuz's magnificent terrace, with a beer and with Miguel Vicente exultant in the middle of the group photo. There are hugs and backslapping all around. The strong wind of the Barcelona evening carries away the bowls of crisps laid out. Yet, it's a wind that cannot take away the excitement or the hope of making this dream a reality: to do business with a sea view.
 |
| Group photo of the presentation of the new Pier 01. PGF |