VDS, the international tech event organized by Startup Valencia, has received the 2026 Ecosystem Builder Award from Endeavor Spain, recognizing its contribution to the growth and strengthening of Spain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The award was presented during Endeavor Experience 2026, held at Madrid’s Teatro Real, where VDS was a finalist alongside 4YFN, the innovation platform linked to Mobile World Congress, and Málaga TechPark. Nacho Mas, CEO of Startup Valencia and VDS, accepted the award from José María Álvarez-Pallete, a member of Endeavor Spain’s Board of Trustees. Other organizations recognized during the ceremony included BBVA Spark, PLD Space, Itnig and Rastreator.
Since 2018, VDS has brought together startups, investors, leading companies, institutions and leaders from the global tech ecosystem in Valencia every year, creating opportunities for investment, business and international expansion.
For Nacho Mas, the award has a particularly collective significance. “Receiving this award from Endeavor Spain is a source of pride for the entire team, but above all it is a recognition of the tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem we are all building together in Valencia. VDS has grown thanks to a community of entrepreneurs, startups, investors, corporates, institutions and professionals who share the ambition of making Valencia an international meeting point for innovation and technology.”
Recognition for the ecosystem that has grown around VDS
In recent years, VDS has established itself as an international meeting point for startups, scaleups, investors, leading companies and institutions. Its latest edition generated an economic impact of €26 million in Valencia, reflecting both the scale the event has reached and its ability to attract talent, investment and international companies.
Juan Luis Hortelano, President of Startup Valencia, highlights that the award demonstrates Valencia’s ability to build an increasingly connected, mature and internationally positioned tech ecosystem. “VDS is an expression of that collective effort and a platform for continuing to create connections between Europe, Latin America and the United States. Endeavor’s recognition encourages us to keep raising the ambition and international visibility of VDS,” he says.
The award comes less than a month before the ninth edition of VDS, which will take place on October 21 and 22 at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. More than 12,000 professionals from 120 countries, 3,000 startups and scaleups, 1,500 corporates, over 800 investors jointly managing more than €300 billion in assets, and 600 speakers will come together at the event.
Confirmed international voices include leading figures from companies and organizations such as NVIDIA, IBM, Spotify, LG Technology Ventures, Rolls-Royce, AstraZeneca, ClickUp, Read AI, Preply, Harvey AI, Plug and Play, Miro and Hostinger, alongside prominent figures from science, investment, space, defense and sport.
Under the theme “GENESIS. Origin of What’s Next.”, VDS 2026 will address the major transformations redefining the economy and society through eight areas: AI & Deep Tech, Climate & Energy, Defense & Aerospace, Talent & Future of Work, Health, Mobility & Logistics, Digital Wealth and Policy. The program will also feature five Strategic Programs dedicated to Artificial Intelligence, Defense, Health, ClimateTech and Talent.
The Endeavor award adds to another major milestone achieved by VDS this year, following the Spanish Government’s designation of the event as an Event of Exceptional Public Interest. This recognition highlights VDS’s international reach, its ability to attract investment, its impact on the economy and employment, and its role as a catalyst for business growth and innovation.
