4YFN 2025: Artificial intelligence attracts the next generation of entrepreneurs

The eleventh edition of 4YFN (4 Years From Now), an event held as part of the Mobile World Congress 2025, explored the latest trends related to entrepreneurship, with artificial intelligence (AI) taking center stage.

BBVA Spark did not miss the event, and came with an excellent balance sheet. In just three years since its launch, it is already present in five geographies with more than 1,500 customers and has facilitated more than €600 million in financing. “BBVA Spark is an ally for the expansion of Catalan technology companies in Europe and Latin America,” said Carlos Torres Vila, Chair of BBVA, at the opening of the company’s stand.

For four days, the BBVA Spark stand became a meeting point for entrepreneurs such as Ricard Guillem, founder of Cafler, Pere Vallès, CEO of Exoticca and Ángel Alberich-Bayarri, CEO of Quibim.

“In the last three years BBVA Spark has positioned itself as a very important player for entrepreneurs and investors to connect and thus close the circle of networking, which is so important for the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Miguel Alcalá, head of BBVA Spark in Spain.

Funding perspectives from 4YFN

The consolidation of 4YFN is also a reflection of a European entrepreneurial ecosystem that, over the last ten years, has matured and maintained sustained growth over time. There are now more than 35,000 high-growth companies in Europe and venture capital investment has increased tenfold over the previous decade since 2015, according to Atomico’s State of European Tech Report 2024.

In Europe, after the funding peaks reached in 2021, investments in high-growth companies have remained stable, reaching $45 billion in 2024. In this context, the potential for growth of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem remains: Europe is expected to match the US in tech jobs within 5 years, according to the aforementioned Atomico report, and is implementing regulatory developments such as a 28th regime that allows companies to operate across Europe without bureaucratic barriers.

“The latest generation of entrepreneurs, especially in the last 6 and 12 months, is the best we have seen. We are seeing an increase in funding rounds and we believe there will be more and more quality entrepreneurs and more and more capital to support these companies,” said Alejandra Otero, Investment Manager at Burda Principal Investments.

In this scenario, allies such as BBVA Spark are positioned as a pillar for growth thanks to a tailored offering that supports and boosts high-performance technology companies through alternative financing solutions such as venture debt or asset backed lending. “Throughout 2024, Twinco Capital has consolidated its relationship with BBVA Spark and, going forward, maintaining this alliance will be fundamental to position us where we want to be,” said Jorge Sobrón, Chief Risk Officer at Twinco Capital, which in 2023 reached a financing agreement for up to €50 million of debt from BBVA Spark.

“After a few years of adjustment, in which capital has been a little more contracted, what we see is a return to normality, new rounds of capital and a very positive tone to face a 2025 where we believe there will be more growth,” said Alcalá. According to the head of BBVA Spark in Spain, the key to the success of the Spanish and European ecosystems is that there continues to be available capital and talent “and that we are able to define a regulatory framework and market opportunities that can absorb all this generation of new projects,” he added.

2025: a horizon of possibilities for the entrepreneurial ecosystem

The different 4YFN stages, along with stands such as BBVA Spark’s, allowed attendees to learn about the latest technological trends and witness the evolution of industries such as fintech and deeptech. Artificial intelligence (AI), the undisputed protagonist of 2025, featured prominently on the 4YFN agenda. Jürgen Schmidhuber, considered one of the fathers of modern AI, was present at the event and also shared his perspectives on how AI will evolve in the coming years: “Two decades from now, everyone will have very powerful AI making their lives much easier,” he said.

Companies such as Cocunat are already using it to boost their business with more efficient and simpler processes. “AI allows us to have more control over data and be more agile in decision-making. In our case, it helps us a lot in the creation of new products and in monitoring and choosing new trends,” said Sara Werner, co-founder and CEO of this digital sustainable cosmetics company.

This paradigm shift is increasingly gaining traction in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and among those investment funds looking to back entrepreneurial projects with capital. “We are seeing the emergence of numerous AI startups in our ecosystem, many still at an early stage,” said Anne-Charlotte Philbert, Managing Director of growth equity at private equity firm Eurazeo. In this emergence of tech companies specialising in artificial intelligence, Philbert highlighted the great opportunity for European high-growth companies to lead the field: “In Europe we have great talent: 50% of computer and data scientists come from the region and this will play a very important role in this wave of AI“.

Goal: to support the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Beyond AI, 4YFN has once again established itself as one of the benchmark events for the European entrepreneurial and venture capital ecosystem. In this space, entrepreneurs, investment funds, as well as other entities, have also shared ideas, learnings and new perspectives aimed at promoting the momentum of the ecosystem.

“4YFN brings together all the players in the European entrepreneurial ecosystem and allows companies to meet investors who are investing in their industries. You have to be here because this is where you can really get to know the great opportunities,” said Marc Clemente, partner at the venture capital fund K Fund.

Josep Talavera, CEO and co-founder of Mundimoto, a company specialising in buying and selling motorbikes in a 100% online service, supported Clemente’s vision. “At 4YFN you can make contacts that are very difficult to get during the year. Meeting in person with funds, banks and other entrepreneurs is a great opportunity, especially in a city like Barcelona“.

Once again, 4YFN has served to reaffirm Europe’s role as a key player in innovation and entrepreneurship. Ideal assets for the birth of a new generation of companies that, driven by artificial intelligence, will be able to stand out on an international level.