More and more Andalusians are considering starting their own businesses. In 2025, 15% of the population aged 18 to 64 expressed their intention to become entrepreneurs in the next three years, a notable increase from 9.9% the previous year. The study, presented within the framework of Al-Andalus Innovation Venture, highlights that new initiatives are incorporating more technology and innovation, although difficulties persist in growth, international expansion, and reducing the gender gap.
The GEM Andalusia 2025-2026 Report, prepared by the Observatory of the Andalusian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with the participation of university researchers, tracks the different stages of the entrepreneurial journey. Potential entrepreneurship stands at 15%, exceeding the Spanish average (13.8%). Early-stage entrepreneurial activity (nascent businesses and companies up to three and a half years old) grows moderately from 7% to 7.2%, and established initiatives increase from 6.3% to 7.3%.
A significant change is the technological profile of new initiatives: 13% operate in high-tech sectors, more than double the previous year, and half report introducing innovation in both products and processes. 47.7% plan to incorporate more digital technology in the next six months, and seven out of ten believe artificial intelligence will have a relevant impact.
However, presence in international markets is decreasing, with 73.8% of recent initiatives having no foreign sales (compared to 66.3% in 2024). Job creation expectations are also cautious, with just over half of recent projects expecting to remain without employees in five years.
The Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI) improves to 4.8 out of 10, positively valuing infrastructure, support programs, and commercial networks. Nevertheless, the availability of sufficient funding and the dynamics of the domestic market remain weak points compared to Spain and the EU.
The perception of opportunities has increased, with 41.5% of Andalusians identifying good opportunities in their environment (compared to 30% in 2024). 52.5% consider themselves to have the necessary knowledge and skills to start a business.
Despite the greater perception of opportunities, the fear of failure has risen among entrepreneurs, from 32% to 45.6%. The report also warns of an widening gender gap: recent entrepreneurial activity is 8.2% among men and 6.2% among women; for established businesses, the rates are 9.5% and 5.1% respectively.
The results depict a transforming ecosystem, with more entrepreneurial intention, advanced technologies, and greater business consolidation, but persistent obstacles in growth, funding, internationalization, and equality. The importance of supporting different entrepreneur groups with specific measures is emphasized.
