La Lonja de la Innovación has been driving technological development and entrepreneurship in Huelva for over three years, making a difference in the ecosystem. Do you want to know what makes us unique? Rocío Díaz, director of La Lonja de la Innovación, and Lisandra Tamayo, FIWARE expert and dynamizer, will talk about it in this interview.

The value of La Lonja de la Innovación

Lisandra Tamayo explains the mission of La Lonja de la Innovación briefly: "we guide companies to grow in the shortest possible time. We mentor them and are their support during the most complicated moments". This accompaniment work is crucial for the success of the companies that have passed through La Lonja de la Innovación. She also adds, "we are the connecting thread between the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Puerto de Huelva and the community in general".

Rocío Díaz highlights how La Lonja de la Innovación causes a direct impact on the companies that go through our program, "the word that describes the companies that have gone through La Lonja de la Innovación is growth. Many companies have passed through and we see how they came with a small MVP and are now invoicing and reaching different cities, even different countries where they sell their service". The ability to transform ideas into profitable products and services is a great proof of the value that La Lonja brings to companies.

When asking our director about the impact that La Lonja de la Innovación can generate on companies, she defines it as transformation. Because through what we offer, "we help them transform their ideas into real services and products that ultimately large corporations or SMEs can buy and grow their products".

An idea supported by Ignacio Morales, innovation consultant at Telefónica Territorio Sur, who states that what characterizes the companies that go through La Lonja de la Innovación is their maturity.

Why Huelva?

Now then, why Huelva? The choice of Huelva as a technological base is not a random decision. Lisandra Tamayo emphasizes that "it has one of the best human and professional capitals that exist". Given this outlook, "La Lonja is driving that technological awakening here in Huelva, something it needs and will be thankful for over time".

Our director agrees with her, and also affirms that this is a challenge for her both personally and professionally: "it means helping my homeland grow technologically, making it grow and turning it into the pioneering place where FIWARE technology is used within the port logistics sector".

Rocío Díaz emphasizes that the choice of Huelva as a base is largely due to the fact that "there are no barriers to innovation. The port is strongly committed to digitalization and giving all entrepreneurs the opportunity to use its facilities to test these new products they are creating". She adds that from La Lonja de la Innovación they are "creating an ecosystem with people, startups, and large corporates, to be able to improve this quality when it comes to innovating and ensure there are no limits".

She also highlights a key objective of La Lonja de la Innovación: "to create a new place where the citizens of Huelva can see that in their own city they can find a place to innovate, bring their projects and scale them without having to go to other major centers that were previously seen as benchmarks".

Growth and collaboration ecosystem

Although, as Rocío Díaz explains, the moment of greatest satisfaction is "seeing companies grow and how those small ideas can finally grow and get clients", the impact of La Lonja de la Innovación goes beyond the growth of its companies. Lisandra Tamayo emphasizes that "we are also creating a network of collaboration, networking, business growth, entrepreneurship and innovation". An ecosystem that fosters synergy and the exchange of knowledge.

An idea that our director reinforces by saying that we see how "more and more companies from outside, from other regions of the country, arrive and create synergies with local companies to be able to have much more competitive services and products".

In short, La Lonja de la Innovación has consolidated itself as an essential engine for the technological and business development of Huelva. Through mentoring, constant support, and the creation of a collaborative ecosystem, we have managed to transform ideas into successful businesses and position the province as a benchmark in innovation, demonstrating that in Huelva there are no limits to innovating.

Do you want to know La Lonja de la Innovación from the inside and discover some of the solutions in our ecosystem? Our Demo Day & Meet the Investors is coming soon, a key event for innovation. Save the date and secure your spot. We look forward to seeing you!