The business fabric of Gipuzkoa, predominantly composed of SMEs, is often constrained by its small size, which can hinder ambitious projects aimed at boosting competitiveness. To address this, the Basque Innovation Agency Innobasque has coordinated the Tras100de program, organized by the Cre100do Foundation. This initiative connects executives from medium-sized companies with smaller businesses seeking to grow and access broader markets.
This year's edition, held between March and April, saw the participation of ten Gipuzkoan SMEs, all with a recognized track record and strong business results, providing a solid foundation for this strategic step. The program is based on the understanding that for a territory, in this case Gipuzkoa, to grow, it requires a robust business network capable of competing in global markets.
Participating SMEs include CH Group and Multiverse Computing from Donostia, Krean and LKS Next from Arrasate, and the cooperatives Ulma Embedded and Ulma Servicios de Mantenimiento from Oñati. They are joined by Gaindu from Elgoibar, Illargui from Urretxu, Pasaban from Tolosa, and Urkabe Benetan & Ameztoi from Errenteria. Executives from some of these companies serve as mentors, sharing their experiences and key insights gained during their transition to the intermediate market.
“"It is the medium-sized companies themselves that explain what they have done to make that leap. Our role is to provide inspiration."
Rafael Vaquero, director of the Cre100do Foundation, explained that the program's six sessions cover crucial aspects for an SME, with an annual turnover between 20 and 50 million euros, to evolve into a company with sales ranging from 50 to 500 million and a workforce of 250 to 3,000 employees. Key areas include vision and strategy, governance, financing and inorganic growth, internationalization, productivity, and innovation.
According to Vaquero's experience, the reasons small businesses enter the intermediate market are varied. Among the most common are family businesses seeking to secure their future or SMEs aiming to strengthen themselves as an initiative to attract talent.
