Moving abroad as an entrepreneur involves both personal and business decisions. This session will explore Spain’s Start-Up Visa framework, requirements for establishing a business, and key tax considerations for U.S. founders.
Whether you have an innovative venture ready to launch or are assessing Spain as your next base, you’ll gain practical insights to evaluate your options and plan your next steps.
Jorge Friend
Born on October 4, 1974, in Madrid, Jorge Friend Mergelina holds a degree in Law from San Pablo-CEU University in Madrid. He joined the Diplomatic Corps on June 23, 2005. His first post in the Foreign Service was as Head of Service in the Subdirectorate-General for Trade and Customs Affairs (State Secretariat for the European Union) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Madrid. In August 2006, he was appointed First Secretary in charge of consular and administrative affairs at the Embassy of Spain in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). In 2009, he became Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain in Pretoria (South Africa), responsible for consular and cultural affairs. In 2012, he served as Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain in Montevideo and as Acting Director of the Spanish Cultural Center in Montevideo from August 1, 2013. In 2015, he was appointed Senior Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of State for International Cooperation and for Ibero-America (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Madrid), and in 2016, he became Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for International Cooperation and for Ibero-America and the Caribbean. From May 31, 2019, to 2024, he served as Consul General of Spain in Guayaquil (Ecuador). He currently serves as Deputy Consul at the Consulate General of Spain in New York.
Anna Klevtsova
Anna has more than 20 years of legal practice in International Law, and is a Certified Lawyer with the Bar Association of Barcelona. After receiving her Law Degree “Cum Laude” at the age of 20, she worked in Public Sector and several EU International Cooperation projects in various countries, specializing in particular, in Central Asia. She also worked in several multinational private businesses in real estate and hospitality sectors. She focuses in bringing best international practices in every project she carries out.
