The Institut Català de Finances (ICF) has invested 1.4 million euros in eight Catalan start-ups through the co-investment facility with private investors to promote the creation and growth of micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Catalonia.

Through this public-private co-financing facility, the ICF invests in newly created innovative companies through participatory loans of up to 200,000 euros. The Catalan public financial entity undertakes this jointly with private investors - networks of business angels, venture builders, accelerators and venture capital funds - that invest additional funds in these companies.

Up to July, the ICF has invested in Housfy, together with the venture builder Nuclio; in Roomonitor, together with ESADE’s business angels network; in Trendy, jointly with Antai Business Angels; in Joyners, together with IESE’s business angels network; in Photoslurp, together with Inveready; and in Carnovo, together with the venture builder Antai.

The investment in each of these start-ups was 200,000 euros. As a novelty, part of this investment was in a participatory loan and part (10%) in capital.

Within the framework of the Corporate Entrepreneurship Programme, promoted jointly with ACCIÓ, the ICF has also invested in Imicroq (€ 86,300) together with Vento (Suez Group) and in Devicare (€ 133,000) jointly with Peroxfarma.

With these new investments, the ICF has already invested 11.3 million euros in 72 start-ups through this co-financing facility established in 2012.