South Summit 2025: Madrid In Motion and the GLOBALS On Tour Recap
South Summit Madrid 2025 concluded its 14th edition as the definitive gathering point for Europe’s innovation ecosystem, bringing together over 600 speakers, 150 investors, and 19 unicorns under the theme “In Motion.” The three-day event, held from June 4-6 at La Nave in Madrid and co-organized with IE University, showcased the transformative power of entrepreneurship while highlighting Spain’s emergence as a European innovation benchmark.
Royal Recognition and Government Support
The event received its highest institutional recognition when King Felipe VI officially inaugurated South Summit Madrid 2025, declaring that “thanks to entrepreneurs, Spain is becoming a benchmark in Europe”. His Majesty emphasized Spain’s impressive position as the seventh country in venture capital investment and fourth in number of operations, reflecting the creation of a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The royal endorsement was accompanied by significant government support, with Minister Óscar López announcing a €5 million call through Red.es to fund AI projects aimed at improving quality of life for people with disabilities. Minister Carlos Cuerpo highlighted Spain’s disproportionate economic contribution, noting that while representing only 10% of the eurozone by size, Spain contributes 50% of economic growth.
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Take Center Stage
The summit’s opening day featured groundbreaking discussions on AI and robotics with world-renowned experts. Dennis Hong, UCLA professor and leading robotics expert, shared his journey from childhood dreams inspired by Star Wars to creating over fifty robots for the entertainment industry, including BALLU, featured in Netflix’s “The Electric State”.
Dorothy Chou, Director of Policy & Public Engagement at Google DeepMind, emphasized AI’s potential beyond automation, particularly in healthcare applications. She predicted significant positive impacts through more accurate diagnoses, new medical solutions, and improved understanding of diseases like Parkinson’s.
The fashion industry’s AI transformation was highlighted by Adriana Pereira from The Fabricant, who revealed that only 10% of smart tools have been adopted in fashion over seven years, resulting in 12-month go-to-market times and 50% inventory waste. She positioned AI as the solution for automating complex processes and enabling deep sector transformation.
Netflix Co-founder Shares Innovation Philosophy
Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix, delivered one of the summit’s most anticipated presentations, emphasizing that “success doesn’t come from having a good idea, but from having a culture that allows you to fail”. The Silicon Valley veteran, who served as Netflix CEO for six years, stressed that the platform’s greatest achievement was building a corporate culture that enabled experimentation with all ideas, even unsuccessful ones.
Randolph’s philosophy resonated throughout the event: “To become an entrepreneur, you don’t need a good idea—you need hundreds of bad ones. The more failed experiments you run, the faster and cheaper you innovate”. Since leaving Netflix, he has founded seven additional businesses, reinforcing his belief that action trumps planning.
Sustainability and Impact-Driven Innovation
The Summit dedicated significant attention to sustainable innovation and social impact. Marci Zaroff, CEO of EcoFashion Corp and sustainable fashion pioneer, highlighted the fashion industry’s environmental crisis, noting its responsibility for 20% of global freshwater pollution and 8-10% of greenhouse gas emissions. She emphasized that 70% of environmental and human impact occurs at the fiber and material stage, underscoring the urgency for production model transformation.
Mateo Salvatto, the 25-year-old founder of Asteroid Technologies, represented the new generation of impact-driven entrepreneurs. His startup’s first product, Háblalo, provides free communication support to over 400,000 people with disabilities worldwide. Salvatto argued that “the time to invest in accessibility is now—not just out of social responsibility, but because it represents a massive business opportunity” with over 1 billion people worldwide living with disabilities.
Competition Results and Startup Excellence
The Summit concluded with Lain Tech from Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, winning the overall Startup Competition. This revolutionary mining startup developed the E-LIX hydrometallurgical process, an innovative leaching method that recovers complex metals like copper and zinc directly from deposits using sustainable electrochemical processes. Their technology reduces carbon footprint by 94% while using 100% electric energy, extending mine life by 700%.
Additional category winners included:
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Most Disruptive: Bankuish (Miami, USA)
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Most Sustainable: Hera Materials (Chile)
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Most Scalable: NeuralTrust (Catalonia)
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Best Team: Remuner (Catalonia)
The South Summit Kids Competition, organized with Genyus School, was won by Alcaste – Las Fuentes School from Logroño for their Smart Cart project—an intelligent shopping cart that organizes purchases and provides product information.
The Mobility & Smart Cities vertical at South Summit Madrid 2025 was won by Hoop Carpool from Madrid—a revolutionary carpooling platform that transforms empty car seats into certified energy savings, generating income for users while tripling vehicle occupancy to make car sharing as accessible and reliable as taking the bus.
Eva, co-founder of Lain Tech
In our exclusive interview, Eva, co-founder of Lain Tech, shares how her company emerged as one of only five finalists selected from over 4,500 startups at South Summit. Her leadership has been key to developing the Helix process—a clean, cost-efficient technology that enables the production of pure metals directly at mine sites, replacing traditional smelters with a more sustainable alternative.
With an industrial plant already operating at a Rio Tinto mine, Lain Tech is now preparing to scale further. Ava outlines bold expansion plans, including a micro plant in southern Spain and international ventures on the horizon. Her vision blends innovation with sustainability, positioning Lain Tech as a driving force in reshaping the future of mining.
Jose Maria, Director of Growth from ICEX
In our exclusive interview, Jose Maria, Director of Growth at ICEX, breaks down Spain’s fast-paced tech evolution and the strategic efforts fueling its growth. His leadership has been vital in tackling three key ecosystem challenges: scaling startups internationally, closing financing gaps, and building stronger alliances between corporates and startups—an essential trio for long-term innovation success.
With VC investment in Spain up 80% in Q1 2025 and over €300 million raised by startups, Jose Maria unveils an ambitious initiative launching this September. The program will integrate 25 Spanish corporations into the open innovation space, providing mentorship and real-world case studies to foster impactful tech partnerships. His vision? A thriving ecosystem where public-private collaboration accelerates international growth and positions Spain as a European innovation powerhouse.
Lucía Calabria Tasa, the SAP Director of Entrepreneurship from Valencia Innovation Capital
In our exclusive interview, the SAP Director of Entrepreneurship from Valencia Innovation Capital shares her comprehensive vision for transforming Valencia into a leading European innovation hub through strategic public-private partnerships and groundbreaking urban innovation initiatives. Her leadership has driven the city council’s flagship initiative, transforming a 10,000m² innovation center into a thriving ecosystem in just 18 months. By fostering public-private partnerships and building a sandbox city model, she has enabled startups to pilot solutions in AI, tourism, health, and sustainability with real-world impact.
Backed by strong financial support—€400,000 in initial grants, €600,000 in 2024 seed funding, and €1 million for scaleups—Valencia is becoming a launchpad for ambitious entrepreneurs. Lucia highlights how startups gain not only funding but also access to municipal infrastructure, from festivals to Europe’s fastest marathon, as live testing grounds. Her roadmap culminates in the major tech event on October 22–23, positioning Valencia and La Harinera as global benchmarks in urban innovation and startup acceleration.
Irene and Oscar, Director and Deputy Director of Entrepreneurship for the Madrid Community
In our exclusive interview, Irene and Oscar, Director and Deputy Director of Entrepreneurship for the Madrid Community, lay out their vision for turning Madrid into a global innovation hub. Their hands-on, community-first leadership has reshaped the startup landscape, replacing red tape with a simple question: “How can I help you?” This shift has been key in building a reputation for Madrid as one of Europe’s most welcoming ecosystems for entrepreneurs.
With a new €5 million grant program set to launch in early 2026—offering up to €150,000 per company in non-repayable funding—Madrid is doubling down on growth-stage support. Eden and Oscar’s strategy combines financial aid with expert mentoring and policy incentives, all streamlined through the madrid.org portal. As founding partners of South Summit and active global tech players, they position Madrid not just as a Spanish leader, but as a top-tier destination for innovation-driven businesses worldwide.
Guillermo Chávez García, Head of Spanish Markets at Estonia’s e-Residency program
In our exclusive interview, Guillermo Chávez García, Head of Spanish Markets at Estonia’s e-Residency program, explains how global entrepreneurs can seamlessly open and manage companies in Estonia—completely remotely. With minimal bureaucracy and a tax model that only applies to distributed profits, the program offers a lean, founder-friendly alternative for digital businesses.
Guillermo also shares the inspiring journey of Pipedrive, a €1.5 billion unicorn built by e-residents, and details the program’s recent Latin American expansion. With mobile pickup points now in São Paulo and Buenos Aires—and plans for Mexico, Chile, and Colombia—Estonia is actively bridging ecosystems, offering tailored support and fostering connections between LATAM startups and European markets.
Nicolas Sartori, CEO of Yamana Tech from Argentina
In our exclusive interview, Nicolas Sartori, CEO of Yamana Tech from Argentina, reflects on his participation in the 20-company Argentine delegation at South Summit. Representing a software development firm focused on squad-based methodologies, tailored solutions, and cloud optimization, Nico showcased the strength and adaptability of Argentina’s tech sector to the European market.
He highlights the delegation’s value in unlocking high-level networking and embassy support that would be nearly impossible to secure independently. While acknowledging Argentina’s lack of domestic funding infrastructure, Nico sees this as a forge for resilient founders—”real entrepreneurs” who navigate adversity with creativity. He contrasts this with Europe’s more structured public-private ecosystems, and notes Argentina’s growing international ambitions, including future participation in events like Mobile World Congress.
Investment Landscape and Economic Impact
The Summit highlighted Spain’s remarkable investment trajectory, with Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid, revealing that finalist startups have secured over €17.65 billion in investment since 2012. Madrid-based startups alone have raised €4.268 billion during this period.
Banco Sabadell’s BStartup announced reaching 100 direct startup investments, supporting companies that now generate over 4,200 jobs with combined turnover of €600 million. This milestone reinforces Spain’s position as an active startup investment hub.
Global Expansion and Future Outlook
South Summit’s international expansion continues with successful editions across Latin America. The recent Brazil edition in April 2025 attracted over 23,000 attendees from 62 countries, including 3,000 startups, 800 speakers, and 900 investors with portfolios valued at $215 billion. The next Brazil edition is scheduled for March 25-27, 2026, in Porto Alegre.
GLOBALS On Tour: “In Motion” on wheels
The Summit provided an ideal backdrop for GLOBALS On Tour: Madrid, which ran parallel to the main event on June 4-5. The GLOBALS program offered unique networking opportunities including the innovative Madrid Bus Pitching Tour, where startups presented their innovations aboard a moving pitch bus, transforming the city into a mobile stage for entrepreneurial excellence.
Day 1 featured the E-Residency VC Speed Dating session, connecting startups with Estonia’s leading investors including Trind Ventures, Tenity, Cocoon Ventures, and Superherocapital. The interactive workshop “Beyond the Pitch: What Investors Really Want” provided real-world insights into investor expectations beyond standard presentations.
Day 2’s South Summit Net-Walking Tour allowed participants to explore European tech innovations firsthand, followed by another Bus Pitch Tour and networking reception. The evening culminated at LOGO Circular Luxury Closet’s Investor Day, featuring curated wine tastings by Bodegaza and NI HAO CONECTA (NHC), creating an inspiring environment for investment discussions and future technology partnerships.
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Looking Forward
South Summit Madrid 2025 reinforced the event’s position as Europe’s premier entrepreneurship gathering, with María Benjumea, president and founder, emphasizing that “only by working together, through collaboration and collective commitment, will we ensure the innovation ecosystem continues to grow strongly”. The summit’s success in connecting talent, ideas, and opportunities positions it as the essential catalyst for the next generation of European innovation, with AI and sustainability driving the entrepreneurial ecosystem forward.
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