Innovation is not enough, you need to know where and with whom
In a world where technology advances at lightning speed, having a good idea is not enough: you need the right environment for it to grow, be validated, and reach the market with real impact.
That environment is what the Clusters of Innovation (COI) theory describes as an ecosystem where companies, talent, capital, and knowledge work together with a culture of collaboration and agility.
At Goo Ventures, we’ve taken this proven model from places like Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv and adapted it to our verticals: Digital Health (HealthTech), Sports Technology (SportsTech), and Digital Wellbeing (WellnessTech).
What is an Innovation Cluster?
An Innovation Cluster is a community where two key elements converge:
- Ecosystem: the components (companies, universities, investors, government, talent, etc.).
- Culture: the way these actors interact, collaborate, and compete constructively.
The COI model identifies core components: entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, and large corporations, and supporting components such as universities, public institutions, specialized professionals, and incubation programs.
As Engel and Figlioli put it: “Culture rules.” It’s not just who is in the cluster, but how each actor behaves that determines success.
Key COI components applied at Goo Ventures
In our case, we integrate and strengthen each component within the Venture Studio:
Core
- Senior entrepreneurs: we select teams with more than 10 years of experience in their sectors.
- Venture Capital and Business Angels: we co-invest alongside specialized technology and health investors.
- Large corporations: we collaborate with pharma, medical device manufacturers, and sports & wellness organizations to scale solutions.
Support
- Universities and hospitals: framework agreements with leading institutions such as Hospital Gregorio Marañón and the University of Oviedo, among many others.
- Government: leveraging European and national innovation programs.
- Specialized professionals: lawyers, consultants, technical mentors, and experts in healthcare regulation.
Hybrids
- In-house accelerators: such as Break The Gap 2025, which combines training, mentoring, and co-investment.
- Corporate Venture Capital: partnerships with corporates to co-invest in strategically aligned startups.
Break The Gap: a driver of talent and diversity within the cluster
One of our flagship programs is Break The Gap, designed to reduce the gender gap in tech and strengthen female leadership in innovation.
- Focus areas: Health, Sports, and Wellbeing.
- Strategic partners: Barcelona Health Hub, Indescat, hospitals, foundations, research institutes, and many others.
- Key venues: Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau and Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
In practice, Break The Gap 2025 acts as an entry point into the Goo Ventures Innovation Cluster because it:
- Attracts senior female talent with extensive professional experience.
- Offers early validation of ideas in real environments (hospitals, sports centers).
- Connects startups with investors and corporations committed to diversity and technology.
Thus, Break The Gap 2025 is not just an event but a mechanism for sourcing and activating startups within the Goo Ventures ecosystem.
Why this model is perfect for health, sports, and wellbeing
In these sectors, innovation requires:
- Scientific validation.
- Regulatory compliance.
- Fast time-to-market.
The COI model accelerates these elements by fostering collaboration among those who provide knowledge (universities, hospitals), capital (investors), and scaling capacity (corporates).
Examples like the AI & mHealth Challenge 2024 or Break The Gap 2025 demonstrate our ability to turn ideas into viable, validated projects in just a few months.
The role of artificial intelligence as a catalyst
Across all our verticals, AI acts as a cross-cutting driver:
- HealthTech: assisted diagnostics, telemedicine, predictive personalization.
- SportsTech: injury prediction, biomechanical analysis, augmented reality for training.
- WellnessTech: personalized self-care, gamification of habits, and emotional biomarker tracking.
This approach amplifies the sweet spot of the innovation S-curve, where technology is mature enough to create high value with limited resources.
Win–win, not zero-sum culture
The COI spirit promotes collaboration even among competitors when mutual value exists.
At Goo Ventures, we foster this mindset in every startup we co-create:
- Sharing technical knowledge.
- Cross-access to investor networks.
- Joint validations with strategic partners.
Conclusion: Innovating together to transform lives
Applying the COI model allows us not only to launch startups but also to build sustainable innovation ecosystems in health, sports, and wellbeing.
With Goo Ventures, entrepreneurs are never alone: they are part of a living cluster with direct access to capital, knowledge, and a global collaboration network.
