Madrid Ciudad de Oportunidades

It's no longer just about macroeconomic figures or the many international rankings placing it among the best cities in the world to live or invest in. Today, Madrid is a meeting point: of talent, visions, cultures, and above all, opportunities.

At the event organized by REF alongside the mayor, it became clear that Madrid’s true capital is its people. As the speaker firmly stated: “Madrid is the place where dreams turn into achievements. Where people come to thrive.” And we’re not just talking about Spaniards: this is a city built by many nationalities, where 18% of the population is foreign-born and over 75% of recent population growth comes from abroad. REF is living proof of this.

What sets Madrid apart isn’t a global architectural icon like Big Ben or the Sagrada Familia. Its unique value lies in something less tangible but more powerful: a city model that combines quality of life, institutional stability, and an entrepreneurial community that multiplies with every breakfast, every conversation, every new company born.

Are there challenges? Of course. Housing access, declining birth rates, and the need to attract and retain qualified talent are all concerns. But they’re also fertile ground for innovation. Madrid leads Europe in building affordable housing, invests in innovation districts like Madrid Nuevo Norte, and promotes pioneering family support policies.

One of the strongest messages was the emphasis on how easy it is to do business. Compared to the regulatory fragmentation of other regions, Madrid focuses on simplicity, institutional trust, and political continuity. It’s not just about attracting investment: it’s about enabling those who are already here — like us — to grow, collaborate, and leave a mark.

The city offers political stability, a business-friendly regulatory framework, and a unique blend of quality of life and economic growth. As an international community of entrepreneurs, we know this isn’t common. Madrid allows us to be part of change and progress. It gives us the freedom to create — but also the responsibility to contribute.

At REF, we don’t talk about networking. We talk about building community. And doing so with generosity, persistence (as the mayor humorously noted), and the conviction that together it’s easier to turn ideas into impact. Madrid unites us, but it’s diversity that defines us. The shared vision from the event is clear: what Madrid is experiencing today shouldn’t be a passing boom. It must become a solid foundation, a model city for the future. And to achieve this, it needs more voices, more ideas, more networks. It needs REF.

From our various countries, sectors, and personal stories, we bring a fresh perspective to a city that is reinventing itself. Like REF, Madrid isn’t a place you just pass through. It’s a place to stay, to build, and to belong. As Santiago Pagès Carballeda, Partner at RocaJunyent Corporate M&A and one of our members, said: “REF is that space where one not only connects, but feels part of something greater.”