DayOne is the division of CaixaBank that specialises in technological companies and their investors. Its aim is to support all technology-based companies that are rapidly developing and operating globally, undertaking value-added activities, and primarily financing their early-stage growth with their own funds. It also offers specialised investor services that support the growth of the ecosystem.
DayOne also engages in relational banking with several actors in the ecosystem, facilitating relationships, synergies, knowledge, and innovation through strategic partnerships. This is how CaixaBank enhances its strategy of offering a specialised banking model by segments tailored to the needs of each customer profile. Gonzalo Saenz Basterra, director of DayOne Madrid, discusses the functioning and role of DayOne, as well as the collaborative work they do with Elewit to support startups with high technological value.
How does DayOne function within CaixaBank?
DayOne centres are designed to be hubs for bringing talent and capital together. Their main function is as a meeting point for technology company founders, partners who will help make their businesses grow, and investors interested in innovative companies with growth potential.
DayOne currently has physical venues in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Zaragoza, Bilbao, and Málaga and has business managers in Murcia, Castilla y León, the Canary Islands, Seville, Galicia, and Catalonia.
As financial agents, what leads you to invest in an entrepreneur or a startup?
DayOne teams specialise in the innovation segment, and they consider variables such as the experience of the founding team and their commitment to the project, the optimisation of the processes addressed, the investors involved, and the degree of scalability, among other aspects. We focus our expertise on qualitative variables that we identify through our close relationships with our clients.
What are the benefits for CaixaBank when collaborating with a company like Elewit?
The DayOne project is founded on a comprehensive philosophy, providing solutions and support to all types of companies with high technological value. As a result, it is essential for DayOne to partner with strategic allies across each innovation vertical, and Elewit brings us closer to projects that are highly focused on technological transition and universal connectivity.
Moreover, Elewit stands out as a key player within the ecosystem, investing in projects that add value and supporting them until they evolve into viable market products. In this context, we can offer parallel support, with project-level assistance and development provided by Elewit, and financial support with specialised advice from DayOne.
Looking to the future, how do you see the role of technological startups in the great challenges of the energy transition and digitalisation?
The greatest challenge facing energy companies is finding solutions to develop new methods of clean energy generation. Digitalisation has been a crucial catalyst in this transformation process, providing solutions that enhance decision-making through data analytics and process automation. The result is more connectivity in infrastructures, along with new ways of working using agile methodologies and a company culture centred around innovation. In this context, startups play a vital role and can serve as the seed that leads to this change.
