At 4YFN, smiles and handshakes are constant, along with distant waves when we cross paths in the halls and hugs when we meet. Now more than ever, we’re incredibly fortunate to say that the Tech Barcelona stand has become a meeting point for everyone: from partners, collaborators, and institutions, to any initiative, known or yet to be discovered, with an interest in boosting the tech and digital ecosystem in Barcelona.

At the big startup celebration, more than 20 entrepreneurs, members of the association, took to our stand’s stage to showcase their most disruptive projects. This also included those powered by BlueTechPort, such as AllRead, Envjoy, Metarina, Seabots, and Grasshopper Air Mobility, along with Skilia, Safebox, and Ciberia, the latest creations from Iris Ventures. In this international environment, connections with potential clients, collaborators, and investors are multiplying.

Also, there are plenty of opportunities to go live on a TV program… right, Omnios?

Also, Miquel Sàmper, the Minister of Home Affairs, and Jaume Baró, Secretary of Business and Competitiveness of the Generalitat de Catalunya, have passed by, accompanied by Jordi Aguasca, Director of Innovation and Technological Transformation at ACCIÓ. Also present were Jordi Garcia Brustenga, Director General of Industrial Strategy and SMEs at the Gobiero de España; Lorenzo Di Pietro, Director General of Barcelona Activa; and the delegation led by Josep Sánchez Llibre, President of Foment del Treball, together with Maria Mora, Director of Innovation, who was recently appointed a member of the Tech Barcelona Board of Directors.

Numerous visits from major corporations, association partners, such as Nestlé, Ferrer, Saba, Michael Page… and RCD, who have completely taken over the stand.

Corporations are increasingly approaching startups, and a clear example of this is ERIA InnoHub, Estabanell’s Corporate Venturing vehicle, which has had discussions with Clever Solar Devices. We flew from our stand to Vueling’s to continue exploring this interest, in a roundtable moderated by Mind the Bridge, featuring Mango, HP, Naturgy, and Vueling itself. The key formula for driving innovation: through pilot projects with startups, testing the technology, and verifying its functionality.

We’re talking about Barcelona, but also about Sant Cugat and its innovation alliance ‘BIVA’. This time, on the stage of Mobile World Capital Barcelona.

And we wrap up with the star of the day: The Blue Box, the startup winner of the EmprendeXXI Awards powered by CaixaBank through DayOne. Congratulations Judit Giró & team!!