What the data say
Self-employed registrations and deregistrations, business demography, entrepreneurial activity and European comparison, with sources cited.
Speaking topic
The state of entrepreneurship in Spain
A diagnosis based on official data and first-hand experience: what is happening to those who start businesses, what fails in the support system and what works when it is done well.
+200projects led
7companies founded or managed
+100businesses created or invested in
+€1Mof investor and media interest in Bella Idea
Where I have worked
Approach
Between the optimistic headline and the reality of those who register as self-employed.
Every year, figures on new self-employed registrations and newly incorporated companies are published, and every year they are used as proof that entrepreneurship is in good health. Martín Díaz Cuadrado proposes reading those data alongside the ones that do not make the headline: closures in the first few years, entrepreneurship out of necessity, dependence on bank credit and the scant management training with which most businesses open.
The keynote combines official sources with the lessons of more than 100 businesses created or invested in and of management committees in large companies. The result is a useful map for those who design support policies and for those deciding whether to start a business.
Who it is for
- Entrepreneurship days and economic forums.
- Public bodies, development agencies and chambers of commerce.
- Business associations and professional bodies.
- Universities, business schools and vocational training colleges.
What is covered
Content of the session
Six blocks, adaptable in order and depth to the audience and the time available.
01
02
What the data leave out
Registering is not the same as having a business: survival, real income and the difference between entrepreneurship by opportunity and by necessity.
03
The four gaps
Management training, pricing and margin, customer acquisition and financing: where most projects fail.
04
The support ecosystem
Grants, incubators, programmes and advice: what genuinely helps and what amounts to attending an event.
05
What works
Validating with customers before investing, practical training, continued support and inexpensive technology put to good use.
06
Judgement for deciding
A simple framework for those considering starting a business now: when to go ahead, when not yet, and how to reduce the risk.
Formats
Formats for this topic
Quote according to format, length and city. In Spanish, Catalan or English.
Keynote
60–90 min
Events, conferences and conventions, with Q&A.
Talk
45–60 min + Q&A
Schools, municipal events and employment days.
Hands-on workshop
2–4 hours
Applied work on each participant's own situation.
Programme
Depending on scope
Several sessions with mentoring and a results report.
What the audience takes away
- A rigorous reading of entrepreneurship figures, without triumphalism or alarmism.
- The real causes of business closures in the first few years.
- What a viable business requires before a grant.
- Which support programmes produce measurable results.
- A clear criterion for deciding whether to start a business, and when.
- Summary material for the organisation, on request.
How to book
Four steps, with a proposal within 48 working hours.
01
Request
Form stating type of organisation, audience, expected date, city and objectives.
02
Proposal
Format, content, length and quote within 48 working hours.
03
Preparation
Briefing with the organisation to tailor content, examples and messages to the audience.
04
Delivery and follow-up
Keynote, workshop or programme, with materials for the organisation and, for programmes, a results report.
Frequently asked questions
Which audiences is this keynote aimed at?
Organisers of entrepreneurship days, public bodies, business associations, chambers of commerce, universities and vocational training colleges. The content is adjusted to the audience: data and policy for institutional decision-makers; method and judgement for those considering starting a business.
Where do the data presented come from?
From official, public sources: registrations under the Spanish self-employed social security scheme (Régimen de Autónomos), business demography from the INE (Spain's national statistics institute), the GEM Spain report and European statistics. They are updated and cited at every edition, and a clear distinction is drawn between data and opinion.
Is it a pessimistic keynote?
No. It is a realistic one: it describes the difficulties that exist and, from there, what does work. The audience leaves with the judgement to decide, not with an unfounded motivational speech.
Can it be combined with a workshop?
Yes. The 60 to 90 minute keynote can be followed by a 2 to 4 hour workshop in which each participant applies the method to their own idea or business.
How is it requested and what does it cost?
Through the form on this page. The quote depends on format, length and city, and is sent with the proposal within a maximum of 48 working hours.
Request this keynote
Type of organisation, audience, expected date and objective. A proposal follows within a maximum of 48 working hours.