More than 8,000 entrepreneurial projects from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Spain and Portugal have taken part in Explorer since its launch 11 years ago.

The 14 most outstanding initiatives in this new edition will take part in Explorer Trip in Valencia, Spain, next May.

With the United Kingdom and Uruguay joining, there are now eight countries participating in this entrepreneurship programme.

Applications can be submitted to Santander X until 11 August.

Madrid, 18 May 2022.
Banco Santander, together with the Santander International Entrepreneurship Centre (CISE), launches the XV edition of the Explorer programme, which aims to promote youth entrepreneurship and help to turn ideas into projects and solutions. With the United Kingdom and Uruguay now involved, the programme is being expanded to eight countries this year.

As a result of Explorer's success in Spain during its early years, a number of Latin American countries enthusiastically adopted the programme: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. In Europe, Portugal joined the programme in the previous edition.

During Explorer's 11-year history, Banco Santander has supported more than 8,000 entrepreneurial projects and more than 6,00 are from Spain. Last year, the programme boasted a total of 1,000 entrepreneurial projects and the level of female participation hit 43.1%, above the average for previous editions, which was around 30%.

On the Explorer programme, which lasts 12 weeks and is aimed at young people aged between 18 and 31, participants can connect with an international community, receive "learning by doing" online training, mentoring from experts, validate their business ideas and develop the skills that they need to transform them into viable and sustainable solutions. Participants can register to take part at this link until 11 August. 

As part of the international networking community, you can enjoy Q&A sessions with experts, opportunities to network with Explorer alumni and interaction on social-media platforms. These forums reinforce concepts such as validation of business models, financial projections, creation of landing pages and making business pitches. Participants also talk about entrepreneurship and present their ideas to start-up founders and relevant experts.

Patricia Araque, executive director of Explorer, stated that the programme "is not just a pathway designed to teach participants how to navigate the early stages of entrepreneurship, but also a unique opportunity to be part of a really ambitious and enthusiastic global community. That's why we say that you don't simply take part in Explorer, you become an Explorer. Irrespective of  their project's direction, Explorers leave the programme with a hugely useful set of skills and networks for their future, whether they become entrepreneurs or not."

This was confirmed by Jazmín María Gedikian, who took part in Explorer last year with the Maiti project, an app aimed at increasing quality of life for people with Alzheimer's. She noted that, "A big community formed out of the programme: we keep ourselves motivated all the time and encourage each other. When anybody feels stuck, there is always someone who will help them to keep going.”

There is an added incentive to this entire learning process: the teams behind the most outstanding projects in this edition will get to be part of Explorer Trip, an immersion week with hundreds of entrepreneurs at a renowned European innovation hub.

Banco Santander and its support for higher education

Banco Santander, the leader in responsible banking, is firmly committed to progress and inclusive sustainable growth. It has a pioneering and long-standing commitment to education, entrepreneurship and employment through Santander Universities, which has been operating in this area for over 25 years, setting it apart from the world's other financial institutions. Since its launch, the bank has allocated over €2.1 billion and supported more than 790,000 students, professionals and entrepreneurial projects through agreements with around 1,000 universities and institutions in 15 countries.

CISE

The Santander International Centre for Enterprise (known as the CISE) champions enterprise and helps start-ups get off the ground. Backed by Banco Santander, the University of Cantabria and the Cantabrian Regional Government, it runs several programmes to stimulate people's creativity, promote company creation and drive innovation.