Board members who invest in, build and back companies.
We invest in growing companies and take a seat at their table. More than 40 board members and senior executives put their experience at the service of every founder.
Capital and, above all, advice from people who have been there.
Capital
From members who have run companies, alongside a lead investor and alongside funds, family offices and business angels.
A reference board member
A member with board experience joins your board or advisory board and supports you after the round.
A network of 40+ board members
Leadership experience across ten sectors to open doors to customers, partners, talent and future rounds.
A clear answer
The committee reviews every company against our thesis. If it is not a fit, we tell you so, and why.
- We do not lead rounds. We invest alongside a committed lead investor.
- We are not a fund. Each member decides whether and how much to invest, deal by deal.
- We are not passive capital. If you do not want active advice, we are probably not your investor.
What we look for, and what we don't.
We publish our criteria so founders know from the start whether they fit. It saves everyone time.
What we like
- Founders who have built companies before
- Teams with experience in high-growth startups
- Prior backing from venture capital funds
- Founders with their own capital at stake
- Companies that want active advice, not just funding
Sector focus
Where our members' experience and our investment thesis meet.
We do not invest in
- Ideas without a product or paying customers
- Solo founders or part-time teams
- Consumer hardware without recurring revenue
- Consulting or non-productised services
- Capital-intensive models or ones that live only off the next round
Who reviews and proposes.
Seven members study each opportunity, meet the founders and propose it to the club. The decision belongs to the members: if together they do not reach the minimum ticket, the club does not invest.
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Luis Ángel Gómez Izaguirre
ChairmanSenior advisor and former President of XPO Logistics Europe. Executive with extensive international experience in transport and logistics, corporate strategy, transformation and growth. Independent board member, member of the Social Council of the UC and trustee of the Corell Foundation.
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Marc Falguera Von Niessen
Managing DirectorFormer partner and CEO of Vertis, a leading European carbon markets firm, until its sale. Board member of Som Energia and MasterSpain Private Equity II; invests in startups and funds through his family office.
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Miguel Fresneda
Investment CommitteeSerial entrepreneur with several exits, including Woffu and Doctoralia. Board member of startups across Europe. PhD in Business and director of the Master's in Financial Markets at the University of Barcelona; postgraduate studies at Harvard.
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Manuel Matutes Mestre
Investment CommitteeInvestor and entrepreneur. Runs the family office of one of Palladium's shareholder branches and drives its corporate venturing in travel tech. Board member of Palladium Hotel Group, Laminar Pharmaceuticals and ViroFend Therapeutics.
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Pablo Penichet García
Investment CommitteeInvestor, entrepreneur and board member with over 20 years in finance leadership, M&A and business transformation. Founding partner of Iberia NCA NF, co-founder of Draper B1 and partner at Nacera.
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Elena León
Investment CommitteeBoard member with over 25 years in energy and infrastructure, in senior global leadership roles. Has chaired eight boards of directors in Europe, the United States and Latin America.
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Juan Francisco Gallego Arrechea
Investment Committee · Board SecretarySenior advisor with over 30 years of experience. At Telefónica Group he was Chief Audit & Risk Officer and, before that, Chief Accounting Officer. Board member across several sectors, with extensive experience on audit committees.
- The club as an investor team
Board members and top executives combining general management, finance, M&A and risk across energy, health, banking, industry, consumer and mobility, with founders who have already sold companies.
More than 40 board members. This is the experience we bring to the table.
Almost all our members already sit on boards of directors. That is the experience we put at the service of every company.
- 01
Energy and energy transition
Renewables, grids, energy efficiency, and carbon and environmental markets.
- 02
Health, pharma and biotech
Hospitals, pharmaceuticals and healthtech.
- 03
Banking, insurance and asset management
Corporate and investment banking, insurance and funds.
- 04
Industry
Steel, materials, inspection and certification.
- 05
Mobility, transport and logistics
Automotive, rail and European logistics.
- 06
Software, telecom and data
SaaS, telecom infrastructure, AI.
- 07
Consumer and food
FMCG, beverages and agri-food.
- 08
Tourism and hospitality
Hotel chains and hospitality groups.
- 09
Family business and family office
Governance, wealth and generational transition.
- 10
M&A, private equity and audit
Corporate transactions, risk and compliance.
Some of our members
- Christophe CanlerFormer senior banking executive, venture capital expertBoard member of Encomenda Capital Partners SGEIC and Underwatergardens Internacional
- Menchu GuerreroFormer CEO of Orchard Fruit Co.Vice-chair of Orchard Fruit Co. and board member of Fresh Roots Ltd.
- Joaquín M. López GómezFormer General Manager of HM HospitalesAdvisory board of Canon Iberia and Alan España
- Mirko MasiFormer Director of Technology and Product Lines at CellnexFormer board member of Cellnex Italia; advisory board of TowerLink Poland
- Manuel Parra MartínezFormer partner at KPMG Transaction ServicesBoard member of Topco Longwood and Mindshore
- José Manuel Romero RodríguezCEO of PDH Fairlight Holdings, Peter de Haan's family officeBoard advisor at Levantina Techlam
- Jesús Tejero RecioManaging Director of Vink Plastics SpainBoard member of Arcusin Group; Industry Board of CECOT
Does it fit our thesis? Let's talk.
For founders, and also for investors and advisers who lead or prepare a round and seek co-investors with board experience.
The committee reviews every company against our thesis and replies within one week, even if it is not a fit.
If you are an investor or adviser looking for co-investors who bring board experience, use the same form or write to us at dealflow@smartcapitalcouncil.es.
The club grows by referral.
We are a small group and want to stay that way. Membership is open to:
- Alumni of IESE's Executive-to-Board programme (PDC).
- Board members referred by a member of the club.
Thank you. Your company is now on the table.
The investment committee will review it against our thesis. If it fits, a committee member will propose a first conversation; if it does not, we will tell you so, and why.
In the meantime, if you want to add anything, write to us at dealflow@smartcapitalcouncil.es.
Thank you. We are glad you want to join this table.
Your application goes to the founding team. A committee member will contact you to get to know you, have a coffee and explain how the club works from the inside.
If you want to tell us anything beforehand, write to us at socios@smartcapitalcouncil.es.