The MIT Alumni Entrepreneurship Forum of Spain (MITEFS) successfully concluded its 13th Annual Investor’s Forum yesterday November 22nd, centered on the timely theme “Deep Tech Investment & Tech Transfer: The Time is Now!” The landmark event brought together several hundred participants, including 30 top VC and corporate investors and 60 carefully selected deep tech startups, creating an unprecedented gathering of Spain’s innovation ecosystem.
The day began with inspiring welcome remarks from Ana Cebrián del Pino, Vice President of Fundación Rafael del Pino, and Juan A. Latasa, President of Entrepreneurship Forum Spain setting a dynamic tone for the day’s proceedings. A special video message from Amy Nordrum, Executive Editor of MIT Technology Review, provided valuable insights into current technology trends and opportunities.
A highlight of the forum was the compelling keynote address delivered by Nico Goulet, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Adara Ventures. Drawing from his extensive experience in venture capital, Goulet shared Adara Ventures’ entrepreneurship investment journey, providing invaluable insights into deep tech investment strategies and success stories.
The morning featured an engaging panel discussion on “Deep Tech Investment Success Stories,” skillfully moderated by Clara Pombo, VP Co-founder of MITEFS. The distinguished panel included leading industry figures:
– Paloma Castellano (Managing Director, Telefónica Wayra Spain)
– Marta Gil de la Hoz De La Hoz (Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, SACYR)
– @Juan_lopezsantamaria (Partner, Kibo Ventures)
– Cruz Mendigutía (VC Principal & Investment Analyst, BeAble Capital)
The forum’s centerpiece was an intensive speed-dating session, facilitating over 200 focused meetings between investors and startups, creating valuable opportunities for future collaboration and investment in the deep tech sector.
The event maintained strong ties with MIT through an enlightening live video session featuring Professor Macauley Kenney from Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, bringing valuable insights directly on Tech Transfer from MiT to Madrid.
The forum concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing excellence in three categories:
1. Most Disruptive & Scalable Start-up: Kriba
2. Most Sustainable & Impactful Start-up: CEDRION
3. Most Innovative Start-up led by Women: PROSPERA BIOTECH
The MITEFS team extends its deepest appreciation to all who contributed to making this forum an outstanding success, including all at the Fundación Rafael del Pino and the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. An special thanks too to the MITEFS organizing team and volunteers, working tirelessly behind the scenes (in particular Chaymae Mesbahi, Jose Rosado, Luca Van Osta, Alberto Donà and Alfonso Unzurrunzaga Chávarri), who ensured the smooth running of this complex event: Go MiT!!!