More than 60 people gathered for the 29th edition of Techstars Startup Weekend Sevilla, a transforming experience where, during three straight days, talent, technology, and purpose were connected to build the minds of early-stage entrepreneurs.
In the beautiful city of Seville, where the heat was at least 40 degrees, but with a focus on building great things, the Fundación Valentín de Madariaga y Oya became the home of an inspiring entrepreneurial community looking to push forward innovative ideas and build dreams. I had the amazing privilege of participating as a judge on such a memorable weekend and seeing firsthand Ideas transformed into viable solutions, strong teams created in record time, and a community betting on collective knowledge.
A weekend to build the future
Amazing partners and collaborators who are invested in Sevilla’s local ecosystem, such as Luis García de Tejada Ricar, Director of Fundación Valentín de Madariaga y Oya, Julio Estalella, from Programa Curious Minds, and Jaime Aranda, President of SevillaUP, highlighted the critical role of entrepreneurship as a force of innovation and social cohesion. This edition took a very timely approach to the cybersecurity field by Incibe Emprende and Sherpa Tribe, the National Institute of Cybersecurity. This was a very relevant bet and a necessary step that created a safe approach for each developed project.
Mentorship and Community
During the whole weekend, each team was guided by exceptional mentors who provided their knowledge in business model, design, marketing, and technology, and helped to create an aesthetic vision behind every idea; among the mentors were Carmen Brioso, Patricia Davis, Jhovanna Pumarol, Domingo Leal, Jonathan Taibo, Víctor Martínez Calvo, and Miguel Troncoso, among others.
They also receive an informative capsule on relevant topics for any young entrepreneur, such as the Business Model Canvas, hypothesis validation, pitches, and, of course, cybersecurity.
Winning Projects
On the last day of the event, it was time for the final pitch presentations, during which each team presented its business proposal with structure and growth projections. As a judge, I share tremendous responsibility with other exceptional professionals from the tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as Irene Andreu Carrera from 42 Fundación Telefónica, INCIBE Emprende by Sherpa Tribe, Carlos Delgado, creator of UpAndalus and partner of SevillaUP, and colleague Catalina Carvajal, VP at Publicize.
Each review was made with a long-term vision and empathy, knowing that behind each pitch was much more than an idea. It was also a lot of teamwork, passion, and the vision to make a true impact.
The first prize and special Cybersecurity mention went to KahuPET, an AI-integrated app that monitors pet health, detects symptoms, and provides recommendations. In second place was Lazos, a platform that connects older populations with activities to create a relationship and companionship environment. And third place was for ServConnect, an innovative solution that connects homeowners and renters with special technicians to solve every house problem.
An event that changed lives
Techstars Startup Weekend Sevilla is a valuable opportunity for young minds with an entrepreneurial spirit to become part of a community. It opens the doors to meeting incredible, passionate people who can inspire any project. For each participant, it was a space to transform and to learn how to approach the ever-changing business world, especially in a technology environment. This event was an invitation to create, make mistakes, connect, kick off, and believe that passion is the fuel to build amazing things.