FundaciĂł Joan MirĂł (Barcelona)
Roberto Albaladejo, Head of BBVA Spark, and Jordi Valls Riera, 4th Deputy Mayor of Barcelona City Council, will kick off the new edition of the Spark Summit, an event dedicated to bringing together some of the most inspiring figures in Spain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Roberto Albaladejo
- Jordi Valls Riera
Venture capital investment has shifted towards moderation following the record figures achieved just a few years ago, with a growing focus on company profitability. In Spain, startups raised âŹ2.2 billion in 2023âalmost 48% less than in 2021, according to Dealroomâs recent report, ‘The Spanish Tech Ecosystem Report‘, in which BBVA Spark collaborated. How are entrepreneurs navigating this paradigm shift?
In this session, Christhi Theiss, Executive Director of Debt Investments at BBVA Spark, will moderate a discussion with Nils Henning, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Casafari; Ander Michelena, General Partner of Acurio Ventures and former Co-founder and CEO of Ticketbis; and José Manuel Villanueva, co-founder and co-CEO of 011h, on how entrepreneurs can adapt to the changing financial landscape and explore the financing alternatives available in a volatile and uncertain environment.
This session will be in English.
- Christhi Theiss
- Nils Henning
- Ander Michelena
- José Manuel Villanueva
Cleantech technologies are ushering in a new era filled with both challenges and business opportunities for technology companies. According to Atomico, 27% of venture capital investment in Europe in 2023 will be directed towards climate tech startups, a figure that has tripled since 2021.
Santiago Muguruza, Head of Bilbao Vizcaya Investments, will moderate this panel featuring two investors in growth-stage climate companies: Jamie Gilbert, Principal at TPG Europe, and Bastien Gambini, Managing Partner at Klima (Alantra). The panel will address the main challenges faced by climate companies when scaling their businesses, as well as the preferences of investors specialized in scaleups when choosing which companies to back.
This session will be in English.
- Santiago Muguruza
- Jamie Gilbert
- Bastien Gambini
Achieving a successful exit is often seen as a major milestone for a scaleup and its founders. In Spain alone, 52 companies reached this milestone in 2023, while across Europe, 1,234 companies did the same, according to Dealroom data. But what comes next for the founder of a company after selling it? Dive back into entrepreneurship? Or start investing, become a mentor, or perhaps take a sabbatical to travel the world?
In this session, Ainhoa Campo Nieto, Managing Director VC Investments at Bilbao Vizcaya Investments, will moderate a discussion with entrepreneurs who will share their personal journeys before and after selling their startups. Speakers will include Enrique Linares from PlusPartner and Letgo, Xavier Pladellorens from Deporvillage and Pladecom Investments, Andrea Barber from RatedPower, and Javier Fondevila from Holded.
This session will be in Spanish.
- Ainhoa Campo Nieto
- Enrique Linares
- Xavier Pladellorens
- Andrea Barber
- Javier Fondevila
Spainâs entrepreneurial ecosystem has undergone significant growth, establishing itself as a leading hub in Europe. In 2023, it surpassed a combined value of âŹ100 billion for the first time, marking a 7% increase over the previous year. Itâs also the second fastest-growing ecosystem in Europe, expanding at 2.7 times over the past five years, with only Norway ahead. Additionally, Spain ranked fourth in the number of funding rounds in 2023, with 764, according to the latest ‘The Spanish Tech Ecosystem Report‘.
In this session, LucĂa Hojman, Head of Business Development at BBVA Spark in Spain, will lead a panel discussion exploring the factors behind Spainâs success and the future outlook for the countryâs entrepreneurial ecosystem. Panellists include Carlos Torres Vila, Chair of BBVA; Laura Urquizu, President and CEO of Red Points; Aquilino Peña, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Kibo Ventures; and Felipe NavĂo, Co-founder and co-CEO of Job&Talent.
This session will be in Spanish.
- Carlos Torres Vila
- LucĂa Hojman
- Laura Urquizu
- Felipe NavĂo
- Aquilino Peña
Carlos Torres Vila, Chair of BBVA, and Roberto Albaladejo, Head of BBVA Spark, will bring to close BBVA Spark Summit, the meeting place for key entrepreneurs and investors, with which BBVA Spark continues to strengthen its position as the bank of the technology ecosystem.
- Carlos Torres Vila
- Roberto Albaladejo
