A more equal society is a better society. Achieving this real and effective equity is one of the main challenges we face, and one that the innovative and technological sector must also address.
It’s not just a matter of quotas; it’s also about leveraging all the talent and innovative ideas that can transform the world. This means including the half of humanity that women represent, giving them a voice, and making their work visible.
Since its first edition in 2018, VDS has committed to valuing women in the field of technology and entrepreneurship, making the ‘Women in Tech‘ topic one of the most prominent at the tech event, alongside artificial intelligence, sustainability, mobility, health, and blockchain. Speakers who can inspire other women, but beyond that, women with great ideas and projects.
We are convinced that seeing prominent women in the tech industry can encourage other women and girls to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Their work and visibility at these events make them role models and prove that women can succeed in fields historically dominated by men.
To see some examples of the potential that female talent has shown at this international tech event, just look at the names of some of the most prominent speakers from the last edition. VDS2023 featured influential women such as Dagmar van Ravenswaay, Advisory and Scientific board member at Lumo Labs; Ann Hiatt, Founder of Hypergiant LLC; Linn-Cecilie Linnemann, CEO at Katapult Group; Sharon Gai, Author & Keynote speaker and Former Head of Global Accounts at Alibaba; Gabriela Macagni, Managing Partner at Matterscale Ventures; Stavriana Kofteros, Founder and Partner at W11 Ventures Ltd, and Anamaria Meshkurti, Partner Europe at Unorthodox Ventures.
Another example of the important role that female talent played at the event was the Weinvest Women Investors Side Event. It is the widest high-impact network founded by women investors internationally and chose VDS2023 to hold its first action in Spain. Marta Cruz (Co-founder of WeInvest and Co-Founder and General Partner at NXTP Ventures), Patricia Pastor (WeInvest Ambassador in Spain and Founder & GP Next Tier Ventures), Guenia Gawendo (GP Telefónica Ventures), and Agustina Ramírez (Head of Strategy at BBVA Spark), presented the organization and shared their insights in the investment field.
And the list of outstanding women who participated in the latest edition of VDS doesn’t end there; it includes Iris Parra, Co-founder & Director at Enlaza; Bárbara Covarrubias, Founder & CEO of #virtualspacehero; Verónica Trapa, General Partner at Swanlaab Venture Factory; Ankita Mathew, Director at Triple G Ventures; Cristina Carrascosa, CEO of ATH21; Alejandra Otero, Investment manager at Burda Principal Investments; Paula Sancho, Managing Director at Finaves; Natalia Álvarez, Open Innovation Sr analyst at Repsol; Coro Saldaña, CEO of Sight Group; Lucía Carriero, CEO of Neuroset Italia; Paula Villamarin, CEO at LinkedAI; Jacqueline Kazmaier, Co-founder & CEO of Autoscriber; Yael Hernandez, CEO of Token City; Esther Molina from D+I El Español, among many others.
To contribute our part in promoting equality, Startup Valencia will continue to highlight the achievements of women in technology to help create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all industry professionals.
We are committed to providing spaces where female talent can thrive and showcasing leading women who can serve as mirrors for entrepreneurs to look into and goals to aspire to. And VDS will be the place where this happens, where predecessors pave the way for new generations and serve as a source of inspiration.
