Companies in Spain appreciate the theoretical training of university graduates but criticize the lack of practical skills such as problem-solving and innovation. A report shows that fear of failure has risen over the past decades, hindering entrepreneurship. Experts highlight cultural differences with the United States and suggest educational improvements.
In Spain, fear of business failure has risen from 35% in 2000 to 51% today, according to the Spain Entrepreneurship Observatory 2024/2025. This places the country 31st out of 51 in a global study on how fear limits entrepreneurial initiative. Entrepreneurs like Albert Nieto, founder of Seedtag, a digital advertising multinational valued at 500 million dollars three years ago, recall negative family reactions to choosing entrepreneurship over stable jobs. “I remember when I told my mother I was leaving Google to start my own thing. She almost died. For her, only those who couldn't get a job became entrepreneurs,” recounts Nieto, a 40-year-old economist trained at Pompeu Fabra University.
Miguel Fernández Larrea, CEO of Capchase, a company providing financing to businesses, explains that in Spain entrepreneurs are seen as seeking a 'quick win,' and failure is penalized more than in the United States. There, companies seek profiles with failed startup experience for their initiative and ambition. A survey by AQU Catalunya of 1,400 companies hiring recent graduates shows 53% see a need to improve problem-solving, 46% practical training, 40% planning, 36% critical thinking, and 34% teamwork. Only 13% criticize the theoretical foundation.
The new curriculum under the Ley Celaá aims to integrate these competencies transversally, and the PAU will require demonstrating them. The OECD also emphasizes resilience and creativity. Javier Agüera, 33, who created Geeksphone at 16, attributes the lack of initiative to missing life experiences, comparing it to early jobs in the United States. “There are no social mechanisms that make one take initiative,” he states. These entrepreneurs, gathered at the South Summit in New York by IE University, agree that university provides structure and connections, but Spain lacks practical tools and capital access.
