Yessica Klein
8 min read
09 November 2025
Since joining Captoplastic in July 2020, Raquel Parra has led its transformation from a university patent into a company with scalable pilot systems designed to capture microplastics. Supported by public grants and a partnership with Canal de Isabel II, the startup is now deploying pilot capture plants and quantification devices in real operational environments to address the urgent global challenge of waterborne microplastics.
Before joining Captoplastic, Raquel brought extensive technical and business-development experience from roles in engineering firms in Spain, including strategic and commercial positions. Today, she leads a multidisciplinary team developing practical, high-impact solutions for microplastic detection and removal, transforming scientific research into tools that protect ecosystems and public health.
How did you become involved with Captoplastic?
The idea came from researchers at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. They patented a way to capture microplastics in water, and when the company was formed in June 2020, I joined just two weeks later. My role has always been to help bring that research into the real world, to take a scientific idea and turn it into a working product.
What were some of the biggest technical hurdles in developing the product?
We started with one patent, and now we have eleven. That kind of growth came with serious technical challenges, especially scaling from lab experiments to a device that can treat 100,000 liters of water per hour. It required a lot of iteration, collaboration with research partners, and staying focused on making something useful and measurable. We’ve made strong progress, and we are now working to expand that capacity even further to handle larger flows.
What helped make that rapid progress possible?
A great team, first of all. And a very clear mission. From the start, we knew we wanted to build a product that could help customers detect and remove microplastics. We worked with our partners to validate the technology early on, and we didn’t waste time. It’s been hard work, but we’ve stayed on track.
What have been the most difficult moments so far?
There have been many. You run tests, and sometimes the results don’t come. Or you face pressure from the market. But I believe in this technology. I believe it can have real impact on people and ecosystems. That keeps me going.
And what’s been the most rewarding part?
The team and the daily work. Building something together with smart, committed people makes even the hardest days worth it. It’s exciting, even if it’s also exhausting.
“Madrid is multicultural and very open-minded. That’s something we carry into the company culture as well.”
What are some lessons you’ve learned along the way?
You can’t do everything alone. You have to trust your team and delegate, even when it feels uncomfortable. That’s been one of the hardest lessons for me personally but also the most valuable.
How has Madrid shaped your company?
We’ve had great support here: from local government, universities and public infrastructure partners. Madrid is multicultural, fast-moving and full of talent. That spirit is very much part of our company too. We hope to stay rooted here even as we grow globally.
Do you think Madrid is a good place to build and scale a startup?
Yes. There’s a strong network, and the ecosystem supports growth, not just from the public sector but also from private companies and investors. For internationalization, it’s a great starting point.
What advice would you give to young founders in Madrid?
Start by looking around: there’s more support here than people realize. Believe in what you’re building. If you truly care about your technology, you’ll find a way to make it work.
What’s next for Captoplastic?
Our goal is global expansion. This is a global problem, and our technology can be part of the solution. But we want to keep our base in Madrid. It’s where we started, and where we see a future.
“It’s easy to find great people in Madrid. There’s a lot of talent here—engineers, technicians, researchers. We started with one and now there’s seventeen for us.”