Jesus Buenafuente is the Director of Catalonia Trade & Investment’s office in Silicon Valley, where he leads the strategic positioning of Catalonia within the technology ecosystem of the San Francisco Bay Area. With a strong background in international business development, he has held various roles across ACCIÓ’s global network, including previous experience in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Jesus holds a degree in Business Management from the University of Barcelona, a Master’s in Innovation and Digital Transformation, and executive training in innovation from Stanford University and EADA Business School. He specializes in corporate innovation, startup funding strategies, and facilitating partnerships between American and Catalan companies.
The Catalonia Trade & Investment office in Silicon Valley (California) office opened initially in San Francisco in 1989 and then moved to Los Angeles in 1991. In 2010 it finally transferred to Silicon Valley with a view to connecting Catalan companies and startups to the world’s main pole of digital innovation. Since 2015, the International Office in Silicon Valley has promoted nearly 150 projects, principally in the ICT-Mobile sector. It also performs projects with companies in the food, industrial systems and experience industries.
International Office of Catalonia in Silicon Valley specializes in helping to establish Catalan companies on the west coast of the United States, where it provides assistance in incorporating companies, offers virtual platform and soft landing services, and recruits specialized personnel. Its international innovation projects are also significant.