Civeta was created in March 2013 by a few Spanish business angels from several sectors. By the publication of a 2015 review, the company had experienced "intense activity in 2014"[a] and noted the company among six of "the most active in venture capital" in Spain.[b][1]
Startups are big business in Spain. Between 2013 and 2014, investment in Spanish investment technologies rose by nearly 30% – a total of 320 million euros.[2] As of 2015, startups accounted for half of the venture capital investment in Spain.[1]
A report by the consulting firm Venture Watch found that Spanish technology start-ups drew more than 227 million euros in financing in 2014, and about 29% more – more than 320 million euros – in 2014.[1]
According to its official website, Civeta has made 39 investments since March 2013, and has a unicorn in its portfolio despite the fact that Civeta Investment only invests in seed and pre-seed stage startups.[3]
Civita's startups offer a wide variety of services, from ride-sharing apps to educational sites, sites linking jobseekers with potential employers, smart thermostat systems, and tools for tracking car keys.[3]
According to a 2014 year-end review of SeedRocket's startups, "special attention is required for Sitka Capital and Civeta Investment which have had an amazing year."[2] According to figures from Venture Watch Research, between December 2013 and December 2014, Civeta ranked as SeedRocket's six most successful startups by number of IT operations.[2] Civeta completed eight IT operations during this timeframe – an 800% increase from the previous year's total of one.[2]
In 2016, the first Civeta Fintech Meetings were held in Madrid. Civeta invited "fintech market players, such as associations, investors, and startups, [to] analyz[e] the trends of the sector and the opportunities it offers to entrepreneurs." A review of the summit reported that "the fintech market wanted to dedicate the first of its thematic days [to] Civeta Investments, a venture capital company founded by Daniel Seijo, Menéame CEO, and Gonzalo Ruiz Utrilla, who invests in internet startups."[c][4]
^The original Spanish-language article used the phrase "una actividad intensa en 2014".[1]
^The full quote was "Los más activos en venture capital fueron, entre otros, Conector Startup, Civeta Investments, SeedRocket, Business Booster, Wayra o Plug and Play, todos ellos orientados a potenciar proyectos tecnológicos."[1]
^The original Spanish text reads: "Precisamente al mercado fintech ha querido dedicarle la primera de sus jornadas temáticas [a] Civeta Insvestments [sic], empresa de capital riesgo fundada por Daniel Seijo, CEO de Menéame, y Gonzalo Ruiz Utrilla, que invierte en startups de internet."
