After the 2011 elections, Garmendia left her post as Minister of Science and Innovation on December 21, 2011, and returned to her business activities in the private sector. During 2012 Garmendia becomes board member at Everis, adviser of YSIOS and shareholder of Genetrix. Roles that she performed along with her job of advisor to diverse public and private entities. Among the noteworthy private activities, Garmendia is a member of the Professional Council of ESADE, Board of Trustees of the University Antonio de Nebrija and the University of Seville, Advisory Council of the Association Madrid Network. and member of the Council of Pelayo, an insurance company. Among the public activities she works with the Government of Colombia, as part of an international advisory board of president Santos. In addition, Garmendia has taken up her interest in promoting the creation of new base technology firms. Therefore, in May 2012, with Andreu Buenafuente and a group of business angels, she invested in the website Bananity. The firm closed it first firm round with €400,000 of capital.
