VDS has concluded its ninth edition in Valencia with more than 30,000 business opportunities generated through the official platform of the international tech event organized by Startup Valencia. A total of 6,444 1:1 business meetings and 23,951 business connections were recorded through the platform, demonstrating the event’s ability to connect startups, investors and major corporations, create new business opportunities and strengthen Valencia’s position as an international tech hub.
Held on October 21–22 at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, VDS 2026 combined this business activity with the announcement of new initiatives in strategic areas of the technology industry. Valencia’s semiconductor roadmap, the first major activation of VDS Defense and the creation of Startup Valencia’s International Advisory Board were among the highlights of an edition focused on developing critical technologies, fostering corporate collaboration and opening up new markets.
Under the theme “GENESIS. Origin of What’s Next”, the event explored a new era of technological transformation shaped by advances in artificial intelligence, the growing importance of European industrial autonomy and the need to turn innovation into economic activity, investment and new businesses.
According to Juan Luis Hortelano, President of Startup Valencia, the results of this edition “reflect the maturity of Valencia’s tech ecosystem and its growing capacity to build international connections.” He added that “the event has helped strengthen relationships with companies, investors and leading figures from major global markets, expanding opportunities for technology companies to grow from Valencia and compete internationally.”
Nacho Mas, CEO of Startup Valencia and VDS, also highlighted how the event has evolved since its launch in 2018 and its ability to generate business opportunities that extend well beyond the event itself. As he stated during the Opening Ceremony, “We don’t want this to be just a place where people talk about what’s next. We want it to be a place where what’s next begins.”
Semiconductors, Defense and Artificial Intelligence: Initiatives for Europe’s Future
One of the most significant announcements at VDS 2026 was the presentation of Valencia’s semiconductor roadmap and the Valencian Regional Government’s technical contributions to the European Chips Act 2.0 strategy. The initiative aims to strengthen the Valencian Community’s participation in European value chains within an industry that is essential to sectors such as artificial intelligence, automotive manufacturing, telecommunications and defense.
The proposal brings together public authorities, universities, research centers, companies and industry organizations to develop a shared strategy covering specialized talent development, research, technology transfer and industrial growth. Its goal is to build on the region’s existing capabilities to attract new projects and increase its role in a sector that is critical to Europe’s competitiveness and technological autonomy.
Defense, space and dual-use technologies also took center stage through VDS Defense, the strategic initiative driven by Spain, Finland and the Netherlands, which held its first major activation during the event. Designed to connect the European Union’s 27 Member States and 14 strategic allies, the initiative seeks to facilitate collaboration among startups, major industrial companies, investors and institutions to accelerate the development, validation and deployment of critical technologies.
Artificial intelligence was another central focus of this edition, with particular attention paid to its integration into production processes, the development of autonomous agents and the infrastructure required for large-scale deployment. Discussions explored how these technologies are transforming business models and creating new opportunities in sectors including healthcare, education, finance and industry.
Valencia Strengthens Its Connections with Leading International Markets
Another major announcement at VDS 2026 was the creation of Startup Valencia’s International Advisory Board, a new international advisory body established to strengthen ties between Valencia’s technology industry and the world’s leading innovation and investment hubs.
The new board was introduced during the event with three of its founding members in attendance: Ann Hiatt, former Chief of Staff to Eric Schmidt at Google, who also worked alongside Jeff Bezos at Amazon; Laura Urquizu, CEO and President of Red Points; and Christian Teichmann, CEO of Burda Principal Investments and a member of the Executive Board of Hubert Burda Media.
Through this board, Startup Valencia aims to help technology companies access international capital, customers, strategic partners and new markets, reinforcing Valencia’s role as a business bridge between Europe, Latin America and the United States.
Regional collaboration also took a step forward with the launch of the Federación Comunitat Startup, an initiative promoted by Startup Valencia, XarxaTEC and Alicantec to strengthen cooperation among entrepreneurial communities across Valencia’s three provinces.
VDS also saw the announcement of an expanded collaboration between Startup Valencia and CaixaBank DayOne to promote open innovation and encourage joint projects between startups and major corporations.
Nanogrow Named Best Startup of VDS 2026
The ninth edition culminated in Nanogrow being named Best Startup of VDS 2026. The company, which develops nanobody-based therapies targeting cancer and immune-related diseases, won the VDS Startup Competition, organized in collaboration with Plug and Play.
The competition received 1,560 applications from 87 countries, with 25 startups selected as finalists. Participating companies presented solutions in fields including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, sustainability, smart mobility, robotics and industrial technologies to investors and representatives of the international technology industry.
The Closing Ceremony also honored Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play, with the City of Valencia Award, and José Carmena, a senior scientist and pioneer in neurotechnology, with the VDS Honorary Award in recognition of his contributions to the development of brain-computer interfaces.
In addition, Prisma Clima received the NextTalent Challenge Award, Mitiga Solutions won the Startups x Climate category, and Mentelem was named the winner of the Pitch Battle.
Supporting young talent was also a major priority through VDS NextTalent, developed in collaboration with the Universitat de València and the Universitat Politècnica de València. Among its activities, The Challenge stood out as a hackathon that brought together more than 50 participants to develop technological solutions to real-world innovation challenges.
International Leaders in Technology, Investment and Entrepreneurship
The VDS 2026 program brought together prominent business leaders, founders, investors and international sports figures. One of the highlights of the opening day was a session featuring Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist recognized as World Athlete of the Century, who shared his experience and insights into leadership, resilience and high performance.
In the technology sector, Chris Cunningham, Co-Founder of ClickUp; David Shim, Co-Founder and CEO of Read AI; and Dong-Su Kim, CEO of LG Technology Ventures, addressed some of the biggest challenges surrounding artificial intelligence, business growth and international investment.
The second day featured Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play, who explored how regional tech ecosystems can evolve into platforms capable of supporting globally competitive companies. Another notable session featured Dmytro Voloshyn, Co-Founder and CTO of Preply, who discussed the potential of artificial intelligence to transform learning and education.
Sport and its connection to technology and entrepreneurship were also represented by Víctor Claver, former NBA player and basketball world champion, and César Azpilicueta, professional footballer and UEFA Champions League winner, who shared their experiences in investment, innovation and high performance.
The agenda also included sessions on cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, energy, healthcare, digital finance and space technologies, alongside specialized gatherings such as the fourth edition of the Port Entrepreneurship International Congress, organized by Opentop, Fundación Valenciaport’s innovation hub.
VDS Announces Its 10th Edition for October 2027 and Reveals Its 2028 Dates
During the Closing Ceremony, Startup Valencia announced that VDS will return to Valencia on October 20–21, 2027, for its 10th edition. The organization is preparing a special edition to mark this milestone, featuring new formats, surprises and further opportunities for connections and business development among leading players in the international technology industry.
To celebrate this milestone, VDS has already opened applications for a free Community Pass and launched a Super Early Bird offer with a 75% discount on Business and Investor Passes.
The Closing Ceremony also confirmed the dates for VDS 2028, which will take place on May 17–18 in Valencia. With this announcement, the organization has revealed the dates of its next two editions and confirmed that VDS will move to spring in 2028, following several years of being held in October.
Institutional and Corporate Support for VDS 2026
The ninth edition of VDS welcomed significant institutional representation, led during the Opening Ceremony by María José Catalá, Mayor of Valencia; Susana Camarero, First Vice President of the Valencian Regional Government; Juan Luis Hortelano, President of Startup Valencia; and Nacho Mas, CEO of Startup Valencia and VDS.
The second day was also marked by a visit from Infanta Elena de Borbón, Director of Projects at Fundación MAPFRE, who attended the event with MAPFRE to learn more about the activities of startups, major corporations and investors, as well as the event’s international reach.
VDS also welcomed representatives from the Spanish Government, the Valencian Regional Government and other institutions, including Jordi García Brustenga, Secretary of State for Industry; José Luis Díez, Second Vice President and Regional Minister for the Presidency of the Valencian Regional Government; and José Antonio Rovira, Regional Minister for Economy, Finance and Public Administration.
Support from Major Corporations and Institutions
VDS 2026 received support from major corporations, technology companies and national and international institutions. Banco Santander participated as Diamond Sponsor, while Valencia Innovation Capital, an initiative of Valencia City Council, served as Host Partner. The Valencian Regional Government joined as VDS Defense Partner, Plug and Play as VDS Competition Partner, and the Universitat de València and Universitat Politècnica de València as NextTalent Partners.
Supporting Sponsors included the Republic of Estonia, Work in Estonia, Tallinn, Fundación LAB, CaixaBank DayOne, Malta Enterprise, OVHcloud Startup Program, IBM, Lãberit, Opentop by Valenciaport, BStartup by Banco Sabadell, EY, Burda Principal Investments, Suma Capital, PropHero, Wayra Telefónica, Aquaservice, MAPFRE, Microsoft, TEMU, OMN Hub, RRHH Digital and Orange, among other organizations.
The event also featured companies associated with Startup Valencia’s Corporate Innovation Club, including HP, BBVA Spark, Marina de Empresas, Naturgy, Sesame, Zinco and Santalucía Impulsa, alongside other companies already involved as sponsors.
At the institutional level, VDS received support from Valencia City Council, Valencia Innovation Capital, the Valencian Regional Government, the Universitat de València, the Universitat Politècnica de València, the Science Park of the Universitat de València, the Valencian Institute of Finance (IVF), the City of Arts and Sciences, CDTI, ENISA, Red.es, ICEX, Madrid Innovation and the Science Park of Miguel Hernández University, alongside Spanish Government institutions.
With its ninth edition, VDS strengthens its role as an international platform connecting technology, capital and industry, aiming to turn the relationships established during the event into new investments, business agreements and collaborative projects that extend well beyond its two-day program.
