The Pool (often styled “The Pool Marbella” or “The Pool – Entrepreneurship Club”) is a hospitality‑meets‑workspace community and entrepreneurship hub in Marbella that positions itself as a networking, events and business‑building platform for founders, investors, remote professionals and executives. It operates as a members’ business hub and events venue focused on catalyzing deal flow, startup activity and international connections in the Marbella region while offering coworking, meeting rooms and curated programming for its community[6][1].
High‑Level Overview
- Mission: Create a vibrant, international meeting place that connects entrepreneurs, executives, investors and creatives to accelerate projects and investment in Marbella and beyond through workspace, events and curated programming[1][6].- Investment philosophy: Not an investment firm; instead it hosts investor gatherings, pitch nights and an Investor Club to facilitate introductions and deal‑making rather than making direct investments itself[6][3].- Key sectors: Sector focus in programming includes PropTech/real estate, longevity/health & wellness, and general tech/startup sectors that attract digital nomads, founders and investors[3][6].- Impact on the startup ecosystem: By providing a visible physical base, curated events (pitch nights, investor gatherings, founder meetups) and networking with international executives and angels, The Pool has helped seed deal flow and early‑stage activity in Marbella’s emerging startup scene and positioned the city as a business hub for entrepreneurs and investors[3][1].
Origin Story
- Founding and founders: The Pool Marbella launched in May 2023 as a purpose‑built business hub and community space in Marbella; its public materials list co‑founders and partners including Martin Wettergren and Per Roman among the leadership behind the concept[3][1].- How the idea emerged: Founders sought to create more than desks and Wi‑Fi—a place that blends networking, events and community to attract international entrepreneurial talent and local innovators; the conversion of a notable local site (El Corte Inglés El Capricho) helped crystallize the project and physical location[1].- Early traction / pivotal moments: Since opening, The Pool has hosted investor clubs, startup pitch nights, sector meetups (Women in Business, PropTech, Longevity), corporate retreats and a podcast; local press and event coverage note it reached a visible community milestone within two years of opening and is being referenced as part of “Marbella 2.0” business transformation efforts[3][4][6].
Core Differentiators
- Community & Hospitality blend: Designed as both an upscale workspace and social community with wellbeing offerings (yoga, meditation, healthy food) to produce a balanced lifestyle for members beyond traditional coworking[1][6].- High‑profile network: Founders and partners bring strong European tech and investment networks (examples cited in founder bios include connections to investment/scale firms and prior exits), enabling introductions to angels, executives and international investors[1].- Curated programming: Regular sector‑focused events (Investor Club, startup pitch nights, unicorn founder meetings) and thematic meetups create repeat, curated dealflow and knowledge exchange rather than generic drop‑in coworking[3][6].- Destination space & design: The venue emphasizes an inspiring physical environment—noted for glass dome architecture and natural light—positioning it as a flagship business social space in Marbella that attracts corporate retreats and high‑quality members[3][6].
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
- Trend alignment: The Pool rides multiple trends—geographic decentralization of startups (remote work / digital nomads), lifestyle entrepreneurship (work‑life balance + wellbeing), and regional hub formation as wealthy coastal cities attract founders and investors seeking resort‑adjacent bases[3][1].- Why timing matters: Post‑pandemic shifts to remote and hybrid work plus growing interest in alternative European hubs make Marbella attractive for executives, investors and startups seeking quality of life while staying connected to capital and talent[3].- Market forces in its favor: Rising appetite for curated, experiential coworking and in‑person dealmaking; investors and founders value destination venues for retreats, pitching and introductions, which plays to The Pool’s hospitality + events model[3][6].- Influence on the ecosystem: By concentrating events, investors and founders in one venue, The Pool acts as an amplifier—creating serendipity, enabling local startups to meet capital and elevating Marbella’s profile as a place for entrepreneurship[3][1].
Quick Take & Future Outlook
- What’s next: Expect continued expansion of sector programming (PropTech, Longevity, Women in Business), deeper investor programming (more pitch nights, angel syndicates) and partnerships with accelerators or international founder networks to route startups and dealflow through Marbella[3][6].- Trends that will shape it: Growth of remote‑first entrepreneurship, demand for experiential workspaces, and regional capital seeking new deal sourcing will determine success; The Pool can scale by formalizing investor partnerships and introducing dedicated incubator/acceleration services.- How influence might evolve: If The Pool formalizes more structured support (mentoring, demo days, introductions to capital) and sustains a high‑quality membership, it could become a catalytic soft‑landing and fundraising node for founders in Southern Europe, turning Marbella into a recurring staging ground for corporate retreats, investor sourcing and early‑stage deals[3][1].
Quick take: The Pool is less a traditional technology company or VC and more a curated entrepreneurship club and business hub that leverages space, programming and networks to catalyze startup and investor activity in Marbella; its future hinge points are deepening investor integrations and scaling programmatic offerings to convert networking into repeatable venture outcomes[6][3].
