Carles Franquesa (Sabadell, 1976) is a chemical and industrial engineer but, above all, an entrepreneur. “It’s not a profession or an alternative, it’s a way of being,” he says. With an MBA from ESADE and a PDG from IESE, he took a ‘stratospheric’ leap in 2013 by co-founding Aistech Space, a company that has since become a benchmark in the fast-growing space tech sector.

From monitoring industrial plants to detecting risks in water resources, crops, or forests, the company has developed satellite thermal imaging technology that turns data captured from space into actionable insights for industries like agriculture, mining, and logistics, as well as for space agencies and public institutions.

In 2018, Aistech launched its first satellite with SpaceX. Now, in 2025, the company will take its mission to the next level by deploying a full satellite constellation supported by the European Space Agency’s Copernicus program.

TB: What’s the purpose of your project?

CF: To enjoy it.

TB: Where is the company now and how do you see it in two years?

CF: We’re currently in a phase of growth and expansion. In two years, I’d like to see Aistech Space as one of the global leaders in our field.

TB: A good idea you’ve had.

CF: During the years I was running ultra-distance mountain races, I started making my own nutrition products to help balance my diet, improve my training, and maintain a healthy and nutritious lifestyle. What began as a fun solution to a personal need—because I couldn’t find these types of products on the market—eventually turned into a company that develops and produces a new concept of healthy food.

That said, I never won any of the races I took part in… I just finished them with dignity, the right amount of suffering, no injuries, and enjoying myself.

TB: What has been your biggest challenge?

CF: Raising my children.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever received?

CF: Don’t doubt your intuition.

TB: A role model.

CF: No one in particular. In general, I admire people for what they’ve done (and continue to do), especially those who face challenges and manage success with humility.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

CF: Technologies that ensure a sustainable, efficient, high-quality, and viable food supply.

TB: A startup or company.

CF: Palantir.

TB: How do you disconnect?

CF: I usually don’t disconnect, and I don’t really like to. I’m constantly connected to whatever inspires me or keeps me busy, whether it’s business ventures or any other kind of adventure. I’ve found a balance by integrating all the projects I work on into my daily life.

TB: A book you recommend.

CF: ‘The Physician’ by Noah Gordon.

TB: A series, film, or song that reflects your current moment?

CF: A film: ‘Braveheart’.

TB: A recipe, a restaurant.

CF: I enjoy cooking, and some of my favorite recipes to make are rice dishes and stews. I don’t have a go-to restaurant, but I tend to gravitate toward traditional, local cuisine (no matter where I am). In other words, the kind of places that have always been around.

TB: A place in the world.

CF: Chamonix, France.

TB: Where would you invest €100K?

CF: In cancer research.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

CF: Honestly, I’m not sure. Being an entrepreneur isn’t a job or an alternative, it’s a way of being. For me, entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a business, it’s about having the innate drive to create new and different things, whether inside or outside the professional world.

TB: What does Tech Barcelona mean to you?

CF: Tech Barcelona is a key player in the city’s business, tech, and investment ecosystem. It’s a much-needed meeting point for all the different stakeholders in the sector.