Barcelona, Spain, July 13, 2026 – CriteriaCaixa, the investment holding company that manages the assets of the “la Caixa” Banking Foundation, said on Monday it would overhaul its venture capital operations and commit €300 million by 2030 to early-stage science and technology companies.
As part of the shift, the firm is rebranding its long-standing venture arm, Caixa Capital Risc, as Criteria Capital Risc, aligning it more closely with the parent company’s broader investment strategy. The change is largely symbolic; executives said the unit’s structure and portfolio would remain intact.
The announcement underscores CriteriaCaixa’s growing focus on backing innovation-driven businesses, particularly in biotechnology and advanced technology, as it seeks both financial returns and social impact.
Under the new plan, the investment will be deployed through two specialized funds: Criteria Bio Ventures, focused on health and biotechnology, and Criteria Venture Tech, which targets deep technology sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data infrastructure.
The bulk of the capital will be directed toward Spain and Portugal, with selective investments across Europe and North America. Nearly 70 percent of the firm’s current venture portfolio is already concentrated in Spain, reflecting what the company described as a continued commitment to strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem.
CriteriaCaixa said the revamped strategy is part of its 2030 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes long-term value creation and support for companies developing technologies with the potential to address major societal challenges.
Criteria Capital Risc, founded in 2002, has been one of the most active venture investors in the Iberian Peninsula. Beyond providing capital, the firm typically takes board seats in its portfolio companies and offers strategic guidance, leveraging its network of European and international investors.
The venture unit sits within CriteriaCaixa’s broader alternative investment portfolio, alongside private equity and real estate holdings. The company said this segment is designed to diversify its core investments, which include a controlling stake in CaixaBank and positions in large publicly traded companies such as Telefónica and Naturgy. Under its strategic plan, alternative assets are capped at 10 percent of total gross asset value.
In life sciences, Criteria Bio Ventures is targeting startups developing new therapies, particularly in areas of unmet medical need. Its portfolio includes companies such as Minoryx Therapeutics, which focuses on rare diseases, and NRG Therapeutics, which is developing treatments for neurodegenerative conditions including Parkinson’s disease.
The technology-focused fund, Criteria Venture Tech, is investing from pre-seed to growth stages, with an emphasis on leading or co-leading funding rounds. Its current investments include Ipronics, which develops photonic chips for artificial intelligence, and Barbara, a company specializing in industrial Internet-of-Things software.
CriteriaCaixa, which reported gross assets of €45 billion in 2025, channels returns from its investments into social programs run by the “la Caixa” Foundation, supporting initiatives in research, education and social welfare.
The firm said its latest move reflects a broader ambition: to position Europe, and particularly Spain, as a competitive hub for deep technology and scientific innovation while continuing to generate sustainable returns.
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