Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026 will reopen its doors as one of the premier hubs for the international ecosystem of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. In this edition we will see prominent figures among the speakers, such as 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), Octaviana Marincas (Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism of Romania) and David González (European Investment Fund).
From October 13 to 15, Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026 will bring together, at the Castilla y León Conference and Exhibition Palace and the University of Salamanca, more than 5,000 attendees, 800 international speakers and over 500 companies, in addition to a broad representation of investment funds, corporations, public administrations, universities and media.
The thirteenth edition will enjoy broad institutional and corporate backing, both nationally and internationally. Locally and regionally, the University of Salamanca, the City Council of Salamanca, the Provincial Council of Salamanca, and the Junta de Castilla y León will participate. At the national level, leading public entities such as CDTI, ICO-AXIS, Red.es and ENISA will be present, along with institutions such as the Community of Madrid, the madri+d Knowledge Foundation, Junta de Extremadura, Fundecyt-PCTEX, Andalucía Emprende and APTE. International outreach will be strengthened with the participation of the European Investment Fund (EIF), the embassies of Brazil and Austria, delegations from Germany, Bosnia and Romania, the Franco-Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and representatives from the American ecosystem such as Broadline Capital and Women Invest in Women.
Moreover, the event will feature a prominent business and financial representation, with entities such as Fundación ONCE, Impulsa Visión RTVE, Iberdrola, Enagás Emprende, Renault Group, BME, FACSA, 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.
Among the confirmed authorities and institutional representatives are Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones, Councillor for Industry and Universities of the Junta of Castilla y León; David González, senior regional representative for Spain and Portugal of the European Investment Fund (EIF); Carlos García Carbayo, mayor of Salamanca; Guillermo Santamaría, Councillor for Economy, Employment and Digital Transformation of the Junta of Extremadura; Francisco Javier Iglesias, president of the Provincial Council of Salamanca; and Marina Villegas, Director General of Research and Technological Innovation for the Community of Madrid. Their participation reinforces the institutional dimension of the event and underscores public administrations’ commitment to technological development, innovation and entrepreneurship. Emilio Corchado, CEO of Startup OLÉ and professor at the University of Salamanca (USAL), will serve as master of ceremonies during the official opening, which will take place on the morning of October 14.
Planned Activities
Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026 will offer a broad program of conferences, roundtables, meetings and investment rounds, pitch competitions, matchmaking, B2B meetings and networking, in addition to a technology fair that will connect startups and scaleups with investors, corporations, universities and institutions. Participating companies will present solutions in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, dual-use technologies, cybersecurity, digital health, sustainability, biotechnology and deep tech.
One of the main attractions will be the matchmaking program, designed to facilitate private meetings between startups and scaleups, investment funds, corporations and heads of open innovation, fostering business deals, technology pilots, investment processes and strategic alliances. The selected companies will also have the opportunity to present their projects before investors and international experts in the pitch competition, linked to Pegasus Tech Ventures’ Startup World Cup (SWC).
On the other hand, the event will feature a broad schedule of specialized forums. Female leadership will be represented by initiatives such as Women Invest in Women, FUTUR Innovation and Business Women Council, the latter with the panel “We All Have AI. And Now What?”. Inclusion and disability will also have their own space with ASEMDIS, while artificial intelligence and digital innovation will be prominent in gatherings such as AI Summit and Salamanca Tech, with sessions like “New Agentic Operating Model.”
Genyus will focus on talent and youth entrepreneurship, while Impulsa Visión will strengthen the link between universities and entrepreneurship through its forum on university chairs. Sploro will address European funding and access to funds for innovative projects, with sessions such as “Access to Finance & Cascade Funding.”
Dual-use technologies and cybersecurity will play a prominent role in this edition, with experts such as CN. Tomás Dolarea Fernández, head of the Cyber Operations Combat Group, and sessions focused on their application to innovation, such as “Cybersecurity and Dual-Use Technology at the Service of Innovation.” In this vein, APTE will address the role of science and technology parks in developing strategic technologies with the panel “Dual-Use and Disruptive Technologies.”
Finally, the Salamanca Province Forum will focus on rural innovation and regional development, with sessions such as “Strategic Projects of the Salamanca Provincial Council – Innovation in Rural Areas” and “Generational Relay Project.”
The program will be completed with networking sessions, cocktails and concerts, creating a dynamic environment that fosters connections between entrepreneurs, investors and other ecosystem players.
Awards and International Startup Competition
The international startup competition will again be one of the main attractions of Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026. The selected companies will present their projects before investors and international experts, expanding their opportunities for visibility, investment, growth, and internationalization.
The competition will be linked to the Startup World Cup (SWC) of Pegasus Tech Ventures, which hosts more than 100 regional competitions across six continents. The regional winner can compete in the Grand Final in San Francisco for a $1 million investment prize, as well as gaining visibility before investors and international corporations.
The competition will also offer recognitions such as access to Startup OLÉ Miami 2027 and Startup OLÉ Marbella 2027, in addition to exhibition spaces and participation in networking, matchmaking and meetings with investors and corporations, connecting entrepreneurial talent, capital and opportunities for international growth.
