From Malasaña Workshop to Global Stage: How María Ruiz is Redefining Madrid's Design Tech Startup Scene

In a converted loft on Calle Espíritu Santo in Malasaña, María Ruiz has built something quietly remarkable. DecoAI, her three-year-old startup blending artificial intelligence with interior design, has just secured €8.5 million in Series A funding—a significant vote of confidence in both the founder and Madrid's increasingly competitive innovation ecosystem.

The achievement matters beyond the funding round itself. In a city where the startup scene has historically struggled to compete with Barcelona's tech corridor or Valencia's innovation district, Ruiz's success signals a shift. DecoAI's latest investment round included backing from Madrid-based venture firm Impulsa Capital and Berlin-based Earlybird VC, a partnership that underscores the capital's growing appeal to international investors.

"What we're seeing is a maturation of the ecosystem," says Ruiz, whose team has grown from four people two years ago to 47 today. The startup occupies two floors of a renovated building near Plaza dos de Mayo, strategically positioned between the bohemian creativity of Malasaña and the financial services cluster closer to Paseo de la Castellana. It's a location that epitomizes Madrid's emerging innovation geography—blending artistic heritage with professional ambition.

The timing reflects broader currents in Spain's tech landscape. Madrid's startup funding totalled €2.1 billion in 2025, according to recent venture capital reports, representing a 23 percent increase year-on-year despite global economic headwinds. While this pales beside London or Paris figures, the trajectory suggests Madrid is carving out its own identity rather than imitating established hubs.

DecoAI's product—software that uses machine learning to generate personalized interior design concepts—addresses a €487 billion global design services market. The platform has already attracted clients from across Europe, though the company maintains its headquarters operations firmly rooted in Madrid. Ruiz has been deliberate about building talent locally, partnering with programmes at Universidad Politécnica and recruitment networks across the city.

Perhaps most significantly, DecoAI's trajectory is influencing how Madrid's broader startup community thinks about scaling. The company has deliberately avoided relocating to Silicon Valley or London, instead investing in its local infrastructure and community presence. This choice carries symbolic weight in a city still proving itself as a serious tech destination.

As Madrid's innovation district continues consolidating around neighbourhoods like Chamberí, Salamanca, and yes, still-bohemian Malasaña, founders like Ruiz are actively shaping what that future looks like. It's a reminder that Spain's startup story isn't written in Barcelona alone.

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