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NOMU LABS

Carlos Delgado and the mission to give visibility to entrepreneurship beyond Madrid and Barcelona

The Spanish startup ecosystem has grown significantly over the last decade, but it still faces a major challenge: the concentration of media, funding, and opportunities in Madrid and Barcelona. In this episode of The Nomu Hour, we talk with Carlos Delgado, founder of UpAndalus, who has dedicated his career to entrepreneurship, community building, and amplifying startups born outside the traditional hubs.


From architecture to entrepreneurship

Carlos began his career as an architect during Spain’s construction crisis, which pushed him to explore the world of business and innovation. After joining programs such as Fundación Cruzcampo, he discovered the startup ecosystem when the term was barely used in Spain. His first venture, B-Tripper, connected travelers with local guides in a collaborative tourism model. While user traction was strong, the lack of monetization and fundraising experience shaped his first lessons as a founder.


Lessons from Footters: scaling the “invisible” football

Later, Carlos joined Footters, a streaming platform for non-professional football. With just nine people, they managed over 70 clubs and 100 matches per weekend, generating millions in revenue and attracting investors. However, regulatory changes and competitive pressure led to an unexpected outcome.

Key takeaways from this stage include:

  • Avoid the “super product”: don’t overinvest in features users don’t value.

  • Iterate fast: launch simple versions and evolve with feedback.

  • Choose partners and investors wisely: a poorly managed cap table can become a burden.


The birth of UpAndalus

After Footters, Carlos founded UpAndalus, which started as a newsletter and has since grown into a community, events, and a podcast. Its mission is clear: to give visibility to southern Spanish entrepreneurship under the motto “because not everything happens in Madrid and Barcelona.”

UpAndalus now reaches over 2,000 weekly readers and 15,000–20,000 impressions across social channels, connecting startups with investors through the exposure it provides. It also organizes the Next events, traveling across Andalusia to stitch together the ecosystem and share real founder journeys.


Decentralization as a growth strategy

Carlos emphasizes the need to decentralize recognition and opportunities. While ecosystems like Málaga Tech are gaining ground, the media and financial gap remains wide. Many high-potential projects struggle simply because they cannot break the “visibility wall” that separates the periphery from Madrid.


Advice for new founders

Carlos leaves three strong pieces of advice for entrepreneurs:

  • Launch a minimal MVP: don’t wait for perfection to go live.

  • Be cautious with co-founders: not everyone should hold equity.

  • Do your homework on investors: talk not only to their success stories but also to the failures in their portfolio.


A future for peripheral entrepreneurship

Today, UpAndalus keeps growing as a voice for entrepreneurs outside the spotlight, combining content with consulting and events. Carlos maintains a guiding principle: what isn’t seen can’t be defended.


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