Rafael Laguna runs the “chocolate factory” with Sprind, as he says. The startup agency wants to finance technologies so that they survive “the valley of death”. Sprind
After two years it’s finally done: Sprind, a federal vehicle for financing startups that advance our society, has fought for a new law. The so-called Sprind Freedom Act. Sprind is now allowed to invest in young companies in a similar way to a VC. Still with restrictions, but much less complicated than before. Sprind has around 220 million euros at its disposal this year. So far, Sprind’s money has been invested in new types of wind turbines, 3D AI chip technology and the fight against Alzheimer’s.
But why did it take two years until Sprind was now able to operate more independently? “One reason is democracy,” says Rafael Laguna de la Vera. He is an entrepreneur and has headed the Federal Agency for Leap Innovations (Sprind for short) since 2019. “It was my first law, which is always a bit difficult,” says Laguna and laughs. He didn’t know how the processes worked or who had a say. “This is just incredible.”