Startup OLÉ Salamanca will return from October 19 to 21, 2027, to continue connecting talent, investment, and innovation on an international scale.

After three days of intense activity, investment meetings, and international networking, Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026 concluded another successful edition, consolidating its role as a meeting point for talent, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship on a global scale.
Held from October 13 to 15, 2026, the thirteenth edition once again turned Salamanca into a hub connecting startups, scaleups, investors, major corporations, and institutions, fostering new opportunities for collaboration and business growth.

The event, held at the Castile and León Conference and Exhibition Centre and the University of Salamanca, was expected to welcome more than 5,000 attendees, over 500 international speakers, and more than 500 companies, with representation from over 40 countries.
The programme combined conferences, investment meetings, startup competitions, specialised forums, and networking activities, further strengthening the international reach of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026 Awards and Recognitions

One of the highlights of the thirteenth edition was the presentation of the Startup OLÉ Recognition Awards, which honoured the track record and contributions of leading institutions, companies, investors, and organisations to the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The award winners included Fundación ONCE, recognised for its commitment to social impact and its company growth programme; Caja Rural de Salamanca, for Best Initiative; Mondragon Ventures, for Best Corporation; the Community of Madrid – madri+d, for Best Public Administration; Agencia EFE, for Best Media Outlet; and Bcombinator, for Best Investor.

Other award recipients included CDTI Innvierte, recognised for its global impact; AABAN, as Best Investors’ Association; Miranda Empresas, for its public-private collaboration initiative; RTVE Impulsa Visión, as Best Accelerator; Women Invest in Women, for its international leadership; Marbella City Council, as Best Hub; and BME, for its participation in the Reverse Pitch.

In the startups and scaleups category, the competition recognised ten winning projects across different technology verticals: Ositos (agri-food and rural development), TimeUp (biotechnology and digital health), Alongwave (energy and sustainability), Pixmetric AI (mobility and space), Superiority HR (education and universities), Basesport (media and e-sports), CS Sphere Technologies (GovTech), Weblym (artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and fintech), Extraordinary, a startup in Bcombinator’s portfolio (infrastructure, logistics, and tourism), and Always Everyone (social and humanitarian technology).

The top honour went to Ositos, winner of the Startup OLÉ Pitch Competition and Best Startup of the edition, in a competition linked to the Startup World Cup by Pegasus Tech Ventures. Basesport took second place, while MiFood completed the podium in third, highlighting the innovative potential and international growth opportunities of the participating startups.

International Leaders in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The thirteenth edition brought together leading figures from the international technology and business ecosystem, including Jere Erkko (Angry Birds), Vincent Rosso (BlaBlaCar Spain), Rodrigo del Prado (BQ), Carlos Moro (Bodegas Familiares Matarromera), Kwamara Thompson (Thompson Education Consulting), Vicente Milanes (Renault Group), Lucca Schmitz (Volkswagen), David González (European Investment Fund), Gani Kassymov (EA Ventures), and Hrish Lotlikar (SuperWorld).

The participation of these professionals fostered the exchange of experiences and knowledge on innovation, investment, business development, and internationalisation, providing startups and entrepreneurs with fresh perspectives and new opportunities to connect with the global ecosystem.

Strong Institutional, Corporate and International Support

Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026 received extensive institutional and corporate support, both nationally and internationally. At the local and regional levels, participating organisations included the University of Salamanca, Salamanca City Council, the Provincial Council of Salamanca, and the Regional Government of Castile and León.

At the national level, organisations represented included CDTI, ICO-AXIS, Red.es, and ENISA, alongside the Community of Madrid, the madri+d Knowledge Foundation, the Regional Government of Extremadura, Fundecyt-PCTEX, Andalucía Emprende, and APTE.

The event’s international dimension was further strengthened by the participation of the European Investment Fund (EIF), Hélio Forjaz Rodrigues, Counsellor at the Embassy of Brazil in Madrid, and Eva Deible, Innovation Officer at the Embassy of Austria. Representatives from Germany, Bosnia and Romania also attended, alongside the Franco-Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry and organisations connected to the US ecosystem, such as Broadline Capital and Women Invest in Women.

Institutional representatives also took part, including Zijad Lugavić, Mayor of Tuzla, and José González, Vice President of STRIVE305 at the Miami-Dade Beacon Council.

The event also brought together a strong representation of the business and financial sectors, including organisations such as Fundación ONCE, Impulsa Visión RTVE, Iberdrola, Enagás Emprende, Renault Group, BME, SpainCap, Mondragon, Caja Rural de Salamanca, Grupo Mirat, Gonvarri, Hiperbaric, Fundación Caja de Burgos, POLO positivo, Buenavista Equity Partners, Cardumen Capital, Bcombinator, Sploro, Axon Partners, EA Ventures, Sherry Ventures, and Innventuur, among others.

Three Days of Innovation, Investment and International Networking

Over the three days, Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026 delivered an extensive programme of conferences, roundtables, meetings and investment sessions, networking activities, and a technology exhibition, covering strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, dual-use technologies, cybersecurity, digital health, sustainability, biotechnology, and deep tech.

The programme also featured dedicated sessions on women’s leadership, inclusion and disability, youth entrepreneurship, European funding, and rural development, highlighting the role of innovation as a driver of economic and social development.

The agenda began on October 13, with a particular focus on investment, business acceleration, and knowledge transfer. On October 14, the official opening ceremony and BME’s Official Bell-Ringing Ceremony took place, alongside the panel discussion “Entrepreneurship for Transformation: Lessons from Great Founders,” featuring Jere Erkko, Vincent Rosso, Rodrigo del Prado, and Carlos Moro. The day also included the pitch competition and meetings with international investors.

On October 15, the programme focused on business innovation, social impact, inclusion, women’s leadership, and territorial development, completing three days of knowledge exchange and the creation of new opportunities for collaboration.

Another major highlight was the international startup competition, linked to the Startup World Cup (SWC) by Pegasus Tech Ventures. It gave participating companies the opportunity to pitch their projects to international investors and experts and compete for a place in the Grand Finale in San Francisco, where a $1 million investment prize is at stake. Other awards included opportunities to participate in Startup OLÉ Miami 2027 and Startup OLÉ Marbella 2027.

Startup OLÉ Salamanca Sets Its Sights on 2027

Following the success of its thirteenth edition, Startup OLÉ Salamanca is already looking ahead to 2027, with the aim of further strengthening connections between talent, capital, technology, and institutions, while fostering new opportunities for investment, collaboration, and internationalisation for startups and businesses.

The next edition will take place from October 19 to 21, 2027, when Salamanca will once again become a meeting point for the international innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. It will be a new opportunity to bring together startups, investors, corporations, universities, and public administrations, share knowledge, and turn connections into projects and business opportunities.

See you at Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2027 as we continue connecting talent, investment, and innovation!