The 10 most important entrepreneurial ecosystem events in 2025
With the new year just released, we are beginning to see how little by little the season of entrepreneurial ecosystem events, aimed at innovative startups, entrepreneurs, investors... In 2025, these events are distributed throughout the year and throughout the Spanish territory, reinforcing the country's position as a reference when it comes to providing value to the world of startups and entrepreneurship.
In Santalucía Impulsa we have prepared a list with the information that is known so far from some of the most relevant events in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, the reality is that the calendar is much longer and new events emerge every year. So, in order not to miss any, follow us on our social networks. There we announce from the place, to the date, time and registration deadlines for those appointments that we consider interesting.
4YFN
March 3-6, 2025 | Fira Gran Via, Barcelona
4YFN is the event of the world's largest mobile and connectivity industry fair (Mobile World Congress) aimed at startups. Its objective is to support startups, investors and companies to connect and launch new business initiatives together.
This time, 4YFN will take place from March 3 to 6 in Barcelona. And, as every year, the event will offer the opportunity to meet and connect with like-minded people for promote innovative ideas that transform the world, increase the visibility of startups and organize their own events as catalysts for innovation.
The event is aimed at bold and resilient founders who have launched new digital companies that are transforming the market. Leading companies that stand out for breaking the boundaries of conventionality through innovation.
It is also worth noting the celebration of 4YFN Awards, the most prestigious startup competition in the world to discover the best on the planet. How do they work? Investors select 20 leading startups in 5 categories, where there is a finalist for each category to present their projects. The 20 best startups receive a cash prize of 1,500€, the finalists of 2,500€ and the winner of 20,000€.
Mobile World Congress
March 3-6, 2025 | Fira Gran Via, Barcelona
As we mentioned before, the Mobile World Congress is the most influential connectivity event in the world. The 2025 edition will be held under the motto 'Converge. Connect. Create', since it is the definitive encounter between technology, people and ideas, creating the model to follow for the industries and societies of the future.
At MWC25, the world's largest emerging companies and great technological innovators will showcase their latest innovations to leading investors and risk specialists. Also there solutions that will revolutionize business and society will be promoted. In addition, there will be a unique intersection of ministerial programs, social policies, business leadership and technological development, all united in the mission of achieving sustainable progress.
The 2024 edition brought together more than 100,000 attendees and nearly 3,000 exhibitors, sponsors and partners, and more than 200 countries and territories were present. And 2025 is expected to be even bigger!
Transfer
March 12-14, 2025 | FYCMA (Palace of Fairs and Congresses), Malaga
Another event in the entrepreneurial ecosystem is Transfer. The European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation will celebrate its fourteenth edition this year.
We are talking about largest European event on R+D+i and knowledge transfer. An annual event that connects the entire Spanish innovation system and promotes its international projection. Talent, scientific-technological development, access to investment and business in a meeting with high potential to generate global alliances and synergies.
This call will promote the participation of the main national tractor companies that carry out R+D+i, reinforcing their role as one of the fundamental pillars within the Spanish innovative ecosystem.
This year, Transfer will also enhance its multisectoral nature, with the prominent presence of areas such as energy and environmental consulting, infrastructure, engineering, mobility and companies providing advanced technological services, among others.
The participation of companies with specific solutions for public administration will also be highlighted, including providers of advanced technological services such as hardware and software, IT and telecommunications services, as well as those related to technology consulting.
The content program of Transfer 2025 will have an exhibition area, networking areas and an extensive program of thematic panels and presentations. Open innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, internationalization, financing and public-private and private-public collaboration they will be the backbone axes.
The Way Startup Summit
May 7-9, 2025 | Palacio de La Oliva, Vigo
The Way Startup Summit celebrates a new edition from May 7 to 9, making Vigo once again the largest forum for entrepreneurship, innovation and investment in the northwest of the peninsula.
This reference event in the national startup ecosystem returns with three large rooms with simultaneous and uninterrupted presentations, keynotes, startup pitches, workshops and discussion tables. As a novelty, there will be a private meeting space between investors, startups, corporations and institutions.
Networking spaces will also be available with the objective of establishing contacts, exchanging knowledge and promoting synergies between the main players of the investment ecosystem, corporations, venture capital and startups.
During the three days, topics such as the future challenges faced by fintech, mobility, food, retail, tourism, sports and the textile industry, among other areas, will be addressed.
IOT Solutions World Congress
May 13-15, 2025 | Fira Gran Via, Barcelona
This 2025, promote technological transformation in the industrial sector and improve digital protection in an increasingly interconnected world will be the great challenges that will be addressed by IOT Solutions World Congress (IOTSWC).
On its tenth anniversary, IOTSWC will show, under the theme 'Connect to the Next Level', the latest technological innovations to enable the complete transformation of the industry in the digital environment, including IoT, artificial intelligence, digital twins, Edge Computing, augmented and virtual reality, 5G connectivity, renewable energy, cloud computing, big data analysis and robotic process automation.
The event will be structured around four areas:
1. Una exhibition area with leading companies.
2. El StartUp Pavilion, where the most disruptive emerging projects will be highlighted.
3. The Dome, which will host several papers.
4. And the Congress with experts from all over the world who specialize in digital transformation.
The program will focus on three main thematic axes: the power of Innovation, emerging technologies and 5G, and wireless connectivity. The central themes will be the following:
· Digital transformation strategy.
· Emerging technologies and processes.
· Work in space and other adverse environments.
South Summit
June 4-6, 2025 | La Nave, Madrid
South Summit is, without a doubt, one of the most important events in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This 2025 will celebrate its 14th edition, bringing together all the actors of the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to promote the development of business opportunities among all of them.
The Madrid event is the main one, co-organized by IE University. Over the course of its thirteen previous editions, more than 42,500 startups have passed through it. From its Startup Competition, from which 7 unicorns were born, more than 1,000 finalist startups have emerged, with a survival rate of 90% and 16.2 billion dollars in investment raised.
Currently, South Summit is the Global entrepreneurship's most valuable connection network. It uses the power of connections as the key engine for generating business opportunities. Therefore, it is aimed at both startups and large corporations, investors, public institutions or any other actor in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In addition, your contest South Summit Startup offers these companies the opportunity to join the exclusive Top 100 Startups. Thanks to it, they gain unprecedented visibility and connect with investors, companies and innovation leaders who can take their business to the next level.
This year's program is, more than a theme, a movement: 'In Motion'. It recognizes that everything we do is connected and constantly changing, constantly evolving with each decision we make. To move forward, a clear direction is needed that aligns companies, humanity and the planet.
South Summit Madrid 2025 will delve into the forces that shape our future. From sustainability and human-centered innovation to the dynamic growth of ecosystems and revolutionary technologies. Topics that highlight the interconnectedness of progress will be addressed: sustainable action, humanity 2.0, ecosystem growth and technological horizons.
Digital Enterprise Show (DES)
June 10-12, 2025 | FYCMA (Palace of Fairs and Congresses), Malaga
Digital Enterprise Show It is the place where talent, technology and business converge to drive innovation and transform industries with the help of great experts.
During these three days in June, Malaga will be the center of digital innovation, paving the way for the discovery and creation of extraordinary business and professional opportunities.
In addition, the event will feature participants from more than 40 countries, which will make DES a unique and differential platform for the international exchange of knowledge, the promotion of inspiration and the sharing of remarkable success stories.
DES 2025 will cover the AI-driven business success. How companies and leaders with a new mindset will be able to harness the connecting power of AI to gain a competitive advantage, operating with the agility and intelligence of a well-coordinated body in the business ecosystem.
Al Andalus Innovation Venture
September 24 and 25, 2025| Palacio de la Navegación, Seville
After a successful third edition with more than 2,300 attendees, a strong presence of investment funds and the participation of Spanish corporations, Al Andalus Innovation Venture returns with its fourth edition the last week of September 2025.
El National reference event for scaleups and Open Innovation in Spain will once again position Seville as the center of innovation and scaleups in the Iberian Peninsula.
The event will focus on future technologies, such as artificial intelligence. It will also continue to attract invited countries and will expand the most disruptive sectors and technologies, as well as the number of startups and scaleups, which in the 2024 edition exceeded 600 tech companies attending.
Startup Olé
October 15-17, 2025 | Palacio de Congresos, Salamanca
Startup OLÉ Salamanca is one of the largest entrepreneurship and technological innovation events in Europe and Ibero-America, which returns from October 15 to 17, 2025.
This is an initiative that is held annually and that connects investors, corporations, unicorns, accelerators, media, governments/public administrations and universities/science and technology parks. This is how it gives rise to a enabling environment for doing business and obtaining investment, with the ultimate goal of creating wealth and employment.
In addition to a large number of high-level speakers and round tables, Startup OLÉ hosts a large startup fair, pitch competition, matchmaking, and all kinds of networking activities and cultural activities.
B-Venture
October 20 and 21, 2025 | Euskalduna Palace, Bilbao
B-Venture It is considered the largest entrepreneurship event in Northern Spain, and will celebrate its next edition in October 2025 with some of the largest corporations, venture capital firms and investors in the country.
The meeting, already established as one of the most important events dedicated to startups in Spain, provides an exhibition space, a space set up for meetings and networking and a space where investors and entrepreneurs will talk about the current state of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
This year, B-Venture is looking for 25 companies that will be presenting at the conference. Those selected will be able to obtain benefits such as a pitch to investors and companies, a private lunch with investors and corporations, a report about their company in EL CORREO, a training program at the University of Deusto and a stand in the exhibition area.
