OFFICIAL GUIDELINES – RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM SPAIN 2026
Registration Opens: April 01, 2026 at 10:00 pm CEST
Deadline: May 14, 2026 at 12:00 pm CEST
Announcement of the 16 Selected Projects: Jun 2, 2026
Table Of Contents
Entrepreneurship Call Purpose
Participant Profile
Required Documentation
Programme Phases
Benefits for Participants
Evaluation Criteria
Legal Information
The Rural Entrepreneurship Program Spain 2026 aims to empower, support, and strengthen women entrepreneurs living in rural areas of Spain by providing them with the tools, resources, and guidance needed to launch, consolidate, or scale their businesses, while contributing to the economic and social revitalization of their communities.
This call for applications was created to address rural depopulation and promote real local development opportunities. Rural women entrepreneurs are change agents capable of generating employment, boosting local economies, and preserving the social and cultural fabric of rural Spain. Our mission is to support them on this journey, regardless of the stage of their initiative.
Entrepreneurship Call Purpose
Focus Areas
The program includes any economic activity developed in rural environments, grouped into seven categories to facilitate the application and evaluation process.
Tourism and Hospitality
Includes:
· Rural houses and accommodations
· Restaurants, bars, and cafés
· Tourism activities: routes, guided tours, and local experiences
Key sectors for employment and tourism development in rural areas.
Culture, Arts, and Heritage
Includes:
· Handicrafts, ceramics, and textiles
· Cultural programs and workshops
· Heritage restoration and preservation projects
Promotes local identity and the creative economy.
Education, Training, and Technology for Rural Development
Includes:
· Educational workshops
· Digital literacy initiatives
· Technological solutions for management, bookings, and logistics
Helps reduce the digital gap between urban and rural areas.
Environment, Sustainability, and Circular Economy
Includes:
· Composting, recycling, and organic gardens
· Natural resource management
· Reforestation and animal protection
· Reuse initiatives and bioeconomy
Essential sectors for sustainable development.
Local Commerce and Services
Includes:
· Retail businesses
· Professional services (photography, design, accounting, marketing)
· Skilled trades and repair services
Essential activities for the functioning of rural communities.
Food, Local Production, and Agroindustry
Includes:
· Agriculture, livestock farming, and organic gardens
· Artisanal food production
· Local product shops
· Food processing (preserves, bakery, cheese, cured meats)
A key economic driver in small rural communities.
Well-being, Health, and Personal Development
Includes: yoga, meditation, natural therapies, beauty services, and physiotherapy.
Essential services that improve quality of life in rural areas.
Eligible Participants
Women entrepreneurs who meet the following requirements may apply:
General Requirements
✔ Be a woman over 18 years of age.
✔ Reside in a rural area or in a peri-urban municipality with rural characteristics in its surroundings.
✔ Have an idea, project, or active business in any of the eligible sectors.
✔ Be self-employed or a business owner (if applicable).
✔ Demonstrate commitment to participating in the mentorship program and related activities.
2. Participant Profile
Eligible Project Stages
To ensure full inclusion, projects at any stage are welcome, from initial ideas to established businesses:
Idea Stage (No Active Business Yet)
✔ A clear idea explained in a maximum of one page
✔ A clearly identified product or service
✔ A rural challenge or problem the project aims to address
✔ Mandatory residence in a rural area
Ideal for women who have not yet started their entrepreneurial journey.
Pre-Entrepreneurship
✔ Basic research on the rural market
✔ Participation in workshops or training sessions
✔ A first prototype or initial pilot test
Sales or a formal business structure are not required.
Early-Stage Venture
✔ Business operating for less than 2 years
✔ Low but verifiable sales
✔ Small or informal businesses are allowed
Focused on projects that need support to grow.
Established Business
✔ More than 2 years of operation
✔ Employment creation or demonstrated impact within the community
✔ Real potential for expansion
A key segment for generating economic impact in rural communities.
3. Required Documentation
Applications must include:
1. Completed Registration Form
Available on the official platform.
2. Verifiable Documentation (if applicable):
· Proof of self-employment or business registration (CIF)
· Images of the project, premises, products, or services
· Personal photo of the entrepreneur
3. Mini-Deck (Simple Project Summary in Spanish)
A mandatory 1-page document that should include:
1. Business Purpose
· What you aim to achieve
· Why the project exists
· Expected impact on the rural community
2. Local Problem or Need
· What rural problem it addresses
· Why it is relevant
· Consequences of not addressing it
3. Product or Service
· What you offer
· How it works
· The value it provides
4. Target Audience
· Residents, tourists, farmers, local businesses, etc.
5. Revenue Model
· How it generates income
· Or how you plan to generate revenue
6. Current Status
· Idea, initial tests, active business, or established business
7. Support Needed for Growth
· Training, financing, digitalization, equipment, permits, etc.
· For reference, we can fund self-employment fees, training or workshops, websites, assets, among others.
8. Personal Story (Optional)
· Who you are
· Why you started
· Your motivation
9. Languages Spoken Besides Spanish
4. Program Phases
Registration Opens
April 01, 2026
12:00 p.m. CEST
Submission Deadline
May 14, 2026
12:00 p.m. CEST
We will contact the 16 finalists.
Jun 2, 2026
5. Participant Benefits
Number of Beneficiaries:
16 rural women entrepreneurs
Funding Awarded:
€1,256 per participant (fixed funding)
· Personalized mentorship for 5 months
· Access to group training workshops
· Visibility and promotion through Tara for Women’s channels
· Access to networking and professional contacts
· Support from additional specialists (marketing, sales, finance, AI, hospitality, etc.)
· Assessment of strengths and weaknesses of your project
Additional Benefits:
6. Evaluation Criteria
Each project will be evaluated on three main criteria:
Impact
Contribution to the rural community
Potential to create employment
Ability to boost the local economyl
Innovation
Innovative nature of the project
Differentiated approach within the territory
Viability
Clarity of the business model
Alignment between objectives and resources
Economic sustainability
Selection Process
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official form.
Submissions via email or social media will not be accepted.
Accepted formats:
· PDF (documents)
· JPG/PNG (images)
· Links (if applicable)
All information must remain accessible until the application deadline.
By submitting their application, participants agree to the terms and conditions of the call.
The funding awarded is subject to the current tax withholding for individuals (self-employed) of 19%.
Tara for Women may request additional information to complete the process.
Participants must:
Sign a confidentiality agreement.
Sign a consent agreement for the use of images, allowing us to feature their project on our website and social media channels.
Sign a collaboration agreement between both parties to receive the non-repayable funding.
Recommendations for a Successful Application:
Carefully review this guide before starting.
Prepare all documents in advance.
Be clear, concrete, and concise in your responses.
Do not leave the application for the last minute.
Make sure the links to your documents and videos work correctly.
7. Legal Information
Ready to Apply?
Technical Support
For questions related to the application process, you may contact our team at:
This will be the only official communication channel.
Inquiries sent via social media or personal channels will not be answered.
Inquiries will be answered within a maximum of 2 business days.
Requests received after the 48 hours prior to the call deadline will not be addressed.