The growth of the Valencian tech ecosystem in recent years has been accompanied by the consolidation of major companies that have successfully scaled from Spain to international markets. In this context, the experience of tech companies such as Glovo provides valuable insight into entrepreneurship, global expansion, and brand building in highly competitive environments.
On the occasion of his participation in the latest edition of VDS, we spoke with David García, Head of Glovo in the Valencian Community, about the company’s evolution from its early days as a startup to becoming one of Spain’s leading entrepreneurial success stories, as well as the role that cities like Valencia now play in the new European tech landscape.
From its early days as a startup to becoming Spain’s second unicorn, how has Glovo evolved and what did reaching that milestone mean?
Glovo was founded in 2015 in Barcelona with the ultimate goal of making cities more accessible through technology. It began as a very simple app that told users: «Order whatever you want and we’ll deliver it flying». At the beginning, we were a team of just six people who would deliver orders at night on our own bicycles. Soon, we realised we could reach a larger audience and innovate within the delivery sector. That’s when we doubled down on our ambition and, in just ten years, we went from a pilot errand project to a multicategory app available in 22 countries and 1,800 cities worldwide.
From your experience, what is it like to build and scale a global tech company from Spain?
In Spain, we are in a strategic position: no other European country has the expansion capacity toward Latin America that we do, thanks to language and culture. Moreover, expanding across Europe is not complicated for us either. Geographically, we are in a much stronger position than American companies and even other European players. In addition, there is talent: cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia are becoming magnets for international talent because people enjoy living here.
Glovo could have chosen to operate solely within Spain, but we decided to build a very, very large company.
What are Glovo’s main strategic objectives in the short and medium term?
The objective for 2026 is clear: to consolidate our position as the favourite multicategory app when users think about delivery. To achieve this, content is key. We currently collaborate with more than 50,000 establishments of all kinds, from small local businesses to major brands that rely on our app to connect more closely with their users. We now have a full year ahead to ensure that users of Glovo can find everything they need within our app.
You participated as speakers at the eighth edition of VDS. How would you define the experience?
Taking part in the eighth edition of VDS was an incredible experience. It is an event that brings together people with an innovative vision who are eager to continue transforming the digital economy. Being able to share Glovo’s story, our lessons and challenges, while also listening to so many inspiring leaders, was truly enriching.
How do you assess VDS’s global positioning and its role within the European tech ecosystem?
VDS, organised by Startup Valencia, is a global benchmark that positions the city as one of Europe’s leading tech hubs. With more than 12,000 attendees from 120 countries, it stands out for connecting local startups with international investors of the highest level.
The Valencian startup ecosystem surpassed €200 million in funding in 2025. How do you evaluate its evolution in recent years?
The Valencian startup ecosystem is experiencing a qualitative leap, evolving from a local hub into an international powerhouse with more than 1,000 startups and record valuation levels. This transformation is driven, among other factors, by the sector’s maturity, public-private collaboration, and the success of events such as VDS. Surpassing €200 million in 2025 confirms that Valencia no longer attracts only talent, but also capital for increasingly competitive funding rounds.
What led you to become supporters of Startup Valencia and what are your expectations from this collaboration with its community?
For Glovo, supporting Startup Valencia means backing the Valencian entrepreneurial ecosystem and giving back part of our experience to the community. With Startup Valencia, we share a common vision: to foster entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and talent across the Valencian Community and beyond.
