In 2012, South Summit, together with IE University, saw opportunities for entrepreneurs at a time when the crisis had hit hard. They believed that entrepreneurs would be the driving force of a revitalized economy. South Summit, born as Spain Startup, is a leading company in the identification, organization, and promotion of all types of initiatives with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship, generating business opportunities, and fostering the development of talent and innovation. South Summit is the leading business and innovation platform where cutting-edge entrepreneurs connect with the most influential investors and corporations seeking to improve their global competitiveness through innovation. In just four years, South Summit has become the world’s leading event focused on innovation, with more than 20,000 attendees from over 120 nationalities, 1,300 investors, and more than 160 companies. South Summit startups have received more than $8.3 billion in funding.