On October 22 and 23, the Metropolis of Arts and Sciences in Valencia will host VDS 2025, the worldwide assembly level for startups, traders, corporates, and policymakers. Now in its eighth version, the summit is anticipated to draw greater than 12,000 contributors from 120 international locations, together with over 3,000 startups, 1,500 corporates, and 800 traders.
VDS has grow to be probably the most necessary know-how and innovation occasions in Europe, positioning Spain as a key connector between European, Latin American, and international markets. On the identical time, the summit strengthens Valencia’s repute as a fast-growing hub for entrepreneurship and funding, highlighting its position as a bridge metropolis the place worldwide founders, traders, and corporates meet.
Unicorn founders, scaleups, and international tech leaders
For the primary time in Spain, the founders of eight international unicorns will take part. Amongst them are Creditas, the Brazilian fintech chief; Glovo, the Spanish supply platform; Distant, a U.S. firm enabling distant work; and Letgo, the Spanish-born second-hand buying and selling pioneer. Becoming a member of them are Mews, remodeling lodge tech; Exoticca, an innovation-driven journey enterprise; Qonto, the French fintech for SMEs; and ElevenLabs, a U.S. chief in generative voice AI.
As well as, VDS will characteristic three firms that, after attaining unicorn standing, at the moment are publicly listed tech giants: Reserving.com, Simply Eat Takeaway.com, and Adyen. Their presence underscores Europe’s capability to construct globally related firms. Past unicorns, the summit will spotlight 22 European scaleups rising at over 20% yearly, spotlighting names from sectors resembling journey, AI, house, fintech, and sustainability. Rising stars at Sequence A, resembling Shakers and PropHero, will even current.
Influential voices on stage
The worldwide tech convention will even convey collectively among the most influential voices in innovation and tradition. Amongst them:
- Kelly Rutherford: Hollywood actress, startup investor, and magnificence icon, will talk about aligning private objective with skilled ambition, displaying how ardour and authenticity can form significant investments and drive change.
- Sol Campbell: Legendary England captain, Premier League champion, and three-time World Cup participant, will share his perspective on resilience and the successful mindset. From the Netherlands,
- Gillian Tans: Former CEO and Chairwoman of Reserving.com, will provide insights on management, scaling progress, and digital transformation after having led the platform to grow to be the world’s largest on-line journey firm.
Different confirmed visionaries embrace Aubrey de Gray, gerontologist and President of the LEV Basis, a pioneer in longevity therapies; Minh Le, creator of Counter-Strike, probably the most influential video video games in historical past, with a imaginative and prescient for the way forward for gaming and esports; Ana Peleteiro, VP of Information & Utilized AI at Preply, selling a “Human-first. AI-enabled” technique; Enrique Linares, co-founder of Letgo and associate at Plus Companions; Gwen Kolader, former VP DE&I at Hexaware and International Folks & Tradition Chief; and Ella McCann-Tomlin, VP ESG at Mews, who will showcase the best way to combine sustainability and company governance in tech enlargement.
International traders managing €300 billion in belongings
On the funding aspect, VDS 2025 expects greater than 800 enterprise capital funds managing over €300 billion in belongings. This contains greater than 50 top-tier international funds resembling Cathay Innovation (with over €2.5 billion beneath administration), Flashpoint (~$500 million), Antler (over $1 billion), Burda Principal Investments, IDC Ventures, and Armilar Enterprise Companions. Additionally confirmed are Vsquared Ventures, Marvelous DeepTech VC, LUMO Labs, HV Capital, Earlybird, NGP Capital, and Brighteye. On the Spanish aspect, Samaipata, JME Ventures, Kfund, Kibo Ventures, Bonsai Companions, and Nauta Capital will play key roles, additional connecting the native ecosystem with international capital.
Themes, range, and Valencia’s rising position
Keynotes, panels, and workshops will provide perception into the whole lot from AI as new infrastructure to sustainable city resilience. VDS 2025’s agenda will unfold throughout seven thematic tracks, addressing:
- Sensible cities
- AI and infrastructure
- Shopper tech
- Well being and longevity
- Vitality and inexperienced tech
- Deep innovation
- Aerospace/cybersecurity
The summit additionally strengthens its dedication to range and sustainability, with over 35% of audio system being girls and a give attention to local weather challenges. Specifically, the occasion will current the successful resolution from Hack the Future, a global hackathon promoted by Estonia’s e-Residency and Startup Valencia, in collaboration with the cities of Tallinn and Valencia. Its purpose: tech concepts for city resilience and catastrophe response within the wake of occasions just like the DANA storm that hit Valencia in October 2024.
Institutional and company help in Spain and past
This yr, VDS is supported by Banco Santander as the primary sponsor, Valencia Innovation Capital (Metropolis of Valencia) because the host associate, and e-Residency of the Authorities of Estonia because the twinned nation. As well as, quite a few tech firms, startups, and organisations have joined as strategic companions, contributing to the occasion’s international success and attain: Wayra Telefónica, EY, Fundación LAB, CaixaBank DayOne, PowerCo, Volkswagen, IBM, OVHcloud, MWC GSMA, Bit2Me, Adigital, ESTECH, Opentop by Valenciaport, and MAPFRE. Among the many tech companions supporting the occasion are Microsoft, Amazon, Google for Startups, and HubSpot for Startups.
VDS 2025 additionally enjoys the backing of main establishments that reinforce its place as a global benchmark in innovation and know-how. These embrace the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of Spain, the Regional Authorities of Valencia (Generalitat Valenciana) via the Division of Innovation, Trade, Commerce and Tourism, the Valencian Institute of Finance (IVF), the Metropolis of Arts and Sciences, TechFabLab, the College of Valencia (UV), the Science Park of the College of Valencia (PCUV), the Science Park of the Miguel Hernández College (UMH), the Polytechnic College of Valencia (UPV), ENISA, CDTI, ICEX, and Renfe.
Collectively, they actively collaborate to strengthen Valencia’s place as a world innovation hub and a key house for the trade of concepts, expertise, and technological options.
That is the heartbeat of #VDS2025
