In this era of hyper-digitalization, remote work, and rapid technological advancements, all essential to addressing humanity’s future challenges, great in-person events provide an oasis for inspiration, motivation, and networking. This is especially true at venues such as Bellver Blue Tech Zone, where GoHub Ventures recently held the 2024 edition of its Founders Day.
Located on the Mediterranean coast of Castellón, the Bellver Blue Tech Zone is a place where technology merges with new ways of living, working, and experiencing harmony with the environment. It was the perfect setting to host our 2024 edition of Founders Day, bringing together an inspiring mix of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts for two days of immersive learning, networking, and future-focused discussions.
(And let’s be honest, it also included plenty of fun, sports, and delicious food!).
During two days, attendees enjoyed sessions on emerging markets such as healthtech or defense, technology trends, and practical advice on challenges like burnout, managing international teams or scaling a SaaS startup. The event provided invaluable takeaways for participants looking to navigate the complex, fast-paced startup ecosystem.
Here’s a full recap of the highlights from GoHub Ventures Founders Day 2024.
What’s New? ‘The Future of Healthcare’ and ‘The Geopolitics of Technology’
As keen observers of innovation and capital trends, GoHub Ventures strives to be where breakthrough ideas emerge. With this in mind, we invited José Mesa (Columbus Venture Partners) and José Ignacio Torreblanca (ECFR) to deliver keynotes on The Future of Healthcare and The Geopolitics of Technology, respectively.
On the one hand, José Mesa discussed a tech-driven future for healthcare where wearables, AI, and genetic testing enable proactive, personalized care. His vision includes faster, remote diagnostics and gamified therapies, though challenges like regulation and data center energy demands remain significant.
On the other hand, José Ignacio Torreblanca explored how technology now defines global power dynamics, especially between the U.S. and China. He described a shift from globalization to “weaponization” with tech resources increasingly shaping international influence and potential conflicts.
Follow our blog for soon to be published in-depth insights from both sessions.
Market Outlook: Fundraising, Growth, Exit Strategies and New Markets
As an investment fund, GoHub Ventures knows that remaining up to date on market dynamics is essential to taking informed decisions. Thanks to an experienced in-house team and a network of partner funds and industry experts, we’re able to keep a close eye on shifts in fundraising, growth strategies, and exit opportunities.
At our Founders Day 2024, the audience gained valuable insights from industry leaders and entrepreneurs, including Rocío Pillado (Adara Ventures), Jaime Sendagorta (GP Bullhound), Pablo Perea (GoHub Ventures), Joaquín Durán (BlueBull), Juan Pablo Tejela (Metricool), and Paco Micó (Finametrix).
In terms of fundraising and growth perspectives, representatives from Adara Ventures, GP Bullhound, and GoHub Ventures highlighted a recovery in funding activity, driven by a more mature startup ecosystem in Spain and resulting in larger deals. They also noted a clear shift in VC selection processes, emphasizing a stronger focus on profitability over pure growth.
On the other side of the funding cycle, speakers from BlueBull, Metricool, and Finametrix shared insights on exit strategies in M&A. Key advice included the importance of recognizing the right time to sell a company, while encouraging entrepreneurs to stay focused on growth over immediate exit plans. They also emphasized the importance of remembering those who supported the journey: team incentives and strong legal support during M&A processes are essential for a successful sale.
In the last session of this annual meetup, Connecting Regions: LatAm & Emerging Markets, Miguel Arias (Kfund), Andrés Pesce (Kayyak Ventures), Begoña Ortiz (Cometa), and Rafael Martín (GoHub Ventures) emphasized the critical role of local teams, particularly for sales, highlighting Brazil as a key market. They stressed the importance of not simply replicating the U.S. venture capital culture but rather cultivating a distinct Latin American approach tailored to Spanish-speaking regions. The speakers cautioned against the assumption that fluency in Spanish alone guarantees successful expansion into any Spanish-speaking country, urging a deeper understanding of each market’s unique dynamics.
Founder’s Perspective: What (Almost) No One Talks About
In the inspiring surroundings of Bellver Blue Tech Zone, where the focus is on discovering new ways of living, working and achieving harmony with the environment, open talks about stress, burnout, mental health, and team management became a natural part of the conversations.
Speakers like Carlota Mateos (Ancla), Cristina Vila (Cledara) and Guillermo Flor (GoHub Ventures) discussed the importance of these topics for fostering a culture of well-being among entrepreneurs while they try to build successful organizations. “Entrepreneurship is like an endless marathon”, expressed Carlota Mateos stressing the importance of self-care, meditation, and quality sleep to maintain resilience over time. Her insights underscore the value of redefining the founder journey to prioritize well-being.
During the conversation between Cristina Vila and Guillermo Flor, attendees learned about the challenging journey of fundraising as a non-technical female solopreneur. However, as Cristina from Cledara stated, “there are investors for everyone” and sometimes you only need one ‘yes’ to secure funding. From that point forward, focusing on value-driven hiring and aligning company values with those of investors can simplify the race.
Also, Jaime Barba (Idrica), specialist in digital transformation for the water industry, shared a retrospective of their journey along parent company Global Omnium in a session with José Ignacio Ruiz (GoHub Ventures). He emphasized the importance of aligning sales and marketing efforts, persevering, and demonstrating generosity and patience in management, plus building international teams composed of local talent.
The 2024 edition of GoHub Ventures Founders Day underscores its role as a valuable summit for networking, learning, and collaboration among entrepreneurs and investors in the tech ecosystem. Looking forward to our Founders Day 2025!
