The eighth version of VDS introduced the worldwide tech group collectively within the Metropolis of Arts and Sciences, turning Valencia into the point of interest of European innovation. Over two days, the occasion gathered greater than 12,000 founders, buyers, and enterprise leaders from 120 nations below the theme “Collaborate At this time. Remodel Tomorrow.” Organised by Startup Valencia, VDS 2025 showcased how collaboration, objective, and know-how can drive optimistic impression throughout industries and borders.
A record-breaking gathering of worldwide innovators
This yr’s summit set a brand new milestone for worldwide participation, with 45% of attendees coming from overseas, a 41% improve in comparison with 2024. Greater than 3,000 startups, 1,500 companies, and 800 buyers managing over €300 billion in property joined a program that featured 600 audio system throughout seven themed levels. From DeepTech and AI to sustainability, well being, and area innovation, the classes explored how Europe can lead the subsequent decade of technological progress.
Innovation with a human coronary heart
The 2025 version was impressed by the solidarity proven after Storm DANA, which hit Valencia in 2024. Reflecting on how the native tech group responded with initiatives corresponding to DANA Assist and Undertake a College, Juan Luis Hortelano, President of Startup Valencia, mentioned the expertise proved that innovation could be each resilient and compassionate.
This human-first perspective was current all through the occasion. Scientist and entrepreneur Pilar Mateo introduced “Ladies Paint Too”, an initiative encouraging ladies to rework challenges into creativity. Variety, inclusion, and sustainability have been recurring themes, with greater than one-third of audio system being ladies and lots of classes devoted to social and environmental progress.
World voices and daring concepts
VDS 2025 hosted a unprecedented combine of worldwide innovators and cultural figures. Actor and investor Kelly Rutherford spoke about aligning objective and enterprise, whereas former England captain Sol Campbell shared insights on management and resilience. Longevity researcher Aubrey de Gray mentioned advances in rejuvenation science, and Minh Le, creator of Counter-Strike, mirrored on the evolution of gaming and digital creativity.
Unicorn founders from Creditas, Glovo, Distant, letgo, Mews, Exoticca, Qonto, and ElevenLabs joined leaders from Reserving.com, Adyen, and Simply Eat Takeaway.com as an example Europe’s capability to construct and scale globally related startups. Gillian Tans (Reserving.com), Sacha Michaud (Glovo), and Enrique Linares (letgo, Plus Companions) supplied sensible insights into what it takes to develop from early stage to international scale. Ana Peleteiro (Preply) explored how synthetic intelligence is reworking training via a “human first, AI-enabled” method.
AI, DeepTech and smarter scaling
Synthetic intelligence was one of many central themes of the summit. Christian Teichmann (Burda Principal Investments) and Iñaki Berenguer (LifeX Ventures, Coverwallet) examined how AI is reshaping funding, healthcare, and innovation infrastructure. Blockchain, cybersecurity, and defence have been additionally in focus, highlighting Europe’s rising affect throughout rising applied sciences.
Scalability Day, organised by Adigital and EsTech with the help of ICEX, introduced collectively worldwide founders and buyers to share classes on sustainable progress. The occasion highlighted 22 European scaleups reaching annual progress above 20%, underlining the maturity and ambition of Europe’s tech ecosystem.
Valencia’s rising tech momentum
Throughout the opening ceremony, Mayor Mª José Catalá introduced that the Metropolis Council will proceed supporting VDS for 2 extra years, calling the summit a defining second in Valencia’s rise as a European tech capital. The renewed partnership between Startup Valencia and Estonia’s e-Residency programme additional deepened cross-border cooperation throughout Europe’s digital ecosystems.
The Valencian Startup Observatory 2025 report confirmed this momentum. The area now counts 1,689 energetic startups, up 11.3% yr on yr, with €160 million raised in 2025, a 66% improve over 2024. Greater than 70% of Valencian startups secured funding this yr, solidifying the town’s repute as considered one of Europe’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial communities.
Celebrating excellence and impression
Innovation and collaboration took centre stage on the VDS Worldwide Startup Competitors, the place Spacebackend from Luxembourg and Zibra AI from Ukraine have been named winners within the Early and Progress Stage classes. Particular recognition went to Marina de Empresas for its post-DANA restoration undertaking “Alcem-se,” to Espai Aero CV for advancing aerospace innovation, and to Iñaki Berenguer, who acquired the VDS 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award for his international entrepreneurial impression.
Institutional and company backing
VDS 2025 was backed by Banco Santander as the principle sponsor, Valencia Innovation Capital because the host companion, and the e-Residency of Estonia because the partnering nation. A broad alliance of companions, together with Wayra Telefónica, EY, Fundación LAB, CaixaBank DayOne, PowerCo, Volkswagen Group Providers, IBM, OVHcloud, Cellular World Capital, Bit2Me, Adigital, EsTech, Opentop (Valenciaport), and MAPFRE, performed an important position within the occasion’s success. Key know-how companions corresponding to Microsoft, Amazon, Google for Startups, and HubSpot for Startups additional amplified the summit’s worldwide attain. Institutional supporters, together with Spain’s Ministry of Business and Tourism, the Generalitat Valenciana, ICEX, CDTI, ENISA, Renfe, and a number of other main universities, strengthened VDS’s standing as a European benchmark for innovation and know-how.
Europe’s collaborative spirit on show
Closing the summit, Spain’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, highlighted how shared effort drives progress: “VDS reveals what occurs when Europe’s innovators work collectively: we speed up concepts that make the world higher.” From renewed partnerships and file participation to tangible progress in sustainability and inclusion, VDS 2025 as soon as once more demonstrated that Europe’s way forward for innovation is collaborative – and Valencia is main the way in which.
