EESummit 2025
Learn, connect and GROW!
Entrepreneurship to the next level
The Esade Entrepreneurship Summit brings together some of the most knowledgeable and experienced founders and industry leaders, fostering honest discussions under a 'no-bullshit' approach.
Designed to maximise value for every participant, the 2025 Summit took entrepreneurial excellence to the next level. Building on the success of previous editions, we focused on raising the bar with renewed content and format, more networking opportunities, and a strategic focus for founders and investors.
We discussed opportunities, talent, growth, exits, and founder wellbeing. We explored how to find your personal venture, build international brands, scale with purpose, raise smart capital, and build teams that last. We learned from legends like Steve Blank and Milda Mitkutė. We witnessed friendships spark, future co-founders meet, investors connect, and the spirit of entrepreneurship during a sailboat tour along the Barcelona coast.
How was it?
powerful days
of bold conversations
attendees
from Barcelona to California and beyond
international speakers
and moderators
powerful sessions
and 4 additional activities
pitching startups
and 1 winner
Don't miss our next 2026 edition!
Real Insights From TOP Voices
At EESummit25, one theme kept resurfacing across panels, conversations, and coffee breaks: growth isn’t just about moving fast, it’s about moving with intention. Founders and investors shared what they’ve learned from building (and rebuilding) companies that matter. The kind of lessons you don’t find in pitch decks, but in the day-to-day grind of building something real.
Some truths stood out: product–market fit is everything, and it only happens when you’re willing to listen, really listen, to your users. The right team, one that shares values and vision, can carry a startup through almost anything. And while no founder has all the answers, those who succeed tend to possess something else: stamina, self-awareness, and the courage to persevere when things become uncomfortable.
Who did they meet?
|
Founder & Chairwoman at Vinted |
Founder at Flink |
Serial founder (Sedo, Adblock/Eyeo, SaaS.Group, WorldFund.vc, Ecosia.org) |
Advisor, serial founder (Gladly, Vontu, Kana) & Portfolio Advisor at Point Nine |
CEO at SunStrong |
Founder & CEO at Cooltra |
|
Serial founder & Godfather of Lean Startup Movement |
Co-founder at Transform Capital, CEO at Fifty Five Financial, Investment Cimmitee at Quona Capital & Professor at Berkeley |
Founder & President at Grupo Intercom |
Co-founder & CEO at Holaluz |
Co-founder & CIO at Afori (fomer WeFox Group) |
CEO at Softonic |
|
Global CBO at CUPRA |
Founder & Member of the Supervisory Board at Model Management |
Co-founder & CPTO at Ontruck |
Co-Founder & CEO at Nelly Solutions |
Serial founder (Tempest, Spigot) & Investor |
COO at Exoticca & Founder at Smartech Capital |
|
CEO at Thermondo & |
Serial founder & CEO (Imacon, Hasselblad, DPA Microphones) & Chairperson of the board at Spottune |
Founder & CEO at The Hotels Network |
Partner at b2venture |
Founder & CEO at informed |
Co-founder at bunch |
|
Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures |
Founding Partner at Plus Partners |
Co-Founder and CEO at SandwiChez |
Partner at Plug and Play |
Co-Managing Partner at YPOG |
Co-founder at Honest Greens |
|
Founder and President at Wildlife Works |
Serial Founder & Investor at Penneo, Sepior, Recon Instruments, Pento, Capdesk Etc. |
Serial Founder & CEO at Crosstown H2R AG / JOIN.com |
Our activities
Main stage & networking
Real discussions under a 0-bullshit policy with the most knowledgeable founders and experienced professionals in entrepreneurship.
Startup Competition
We identified 6 promising startups to pitch on the main stage of the EESummit.
What did they get? They gained visibility, connected with top investors and founders, and received valuable feedback from a panel of industry leaders.
Networking Sailboat Experience
A special experience that fosters meaningful connections between entrepreneurs, Esade talent, investors, founders, and professionals in a relaxed environment.
Talent Track
For those seeking their dream job at a fast-scaling European startup, the EESummit 2025 provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with world-renowned founders and VCs through premium networking access and scheduled one-on-one meetings.
More people to meet?
|
Principal, Investor at Seaya Ventures |
Co-founder & CEO at Signatrix & |
Associate, Investor at Abac Nest Ventures & VC Associate and Sustainability Lead at Abac Capital |
Serial Founder & CTO at arol.dev |
Co-founder & CEO at Jamie |
Co-founder at bunch capital |
|
Co-founder & CEO at Kini |
Co-founder & CEO at margin |
Co-founder and CEO at Bel Community, & BA at Swiftable |
CEO at Methinks AI |
Co-founder & CTO at Kini |
Founder & CEO at CareerOS |
|
Managing Partner at Everesting |
Founder & CEO at ForceManager |
Principal at Yellow & investor |
CEO at Sheetgo |
Co-founder & COO at Marfeel |
Co-Founder and CEO at arol.dev |
|
Founder at EtherMail & BCNBCN |
Co-Founder & CEO at Anything |
CPO at Urban Sports Club |
Co-founder at AirDNA |
Co-founders & Managing Partner at 4Founders Capital |
Principal, Investor at Redalpine |
|
Co-Founder & CEO at Evermood |
Co-founder at Samy Alliance and SamyRoad |
Product Manager at Methinks AI |
Director General Iberia at Suncom Energy |
Founder & CEO at El Secreto Brewing |
Co-founder at Vera AI |
Agenda
Practical insights, tips and founder stories echoed throughout 3 amazing days. EESummit25 was a space where honesty mattered more than hype, and where founders left not just inspired, but grounded in what truly drives long-term success.
MAY 22nd
13.30 | Registration & Coffee
14.30 | Welcome
14.35 | Institutional Welcome with Daniel Traça, Esade's Director General
14.45 | Panel “Opportunities & Business Models: How to find your dream personal venture opportunities”
15.15 | Panel “Behind the Brand: From the Creators Building International Brands”
15.45 | Meet the panelists & Networking Coffee Break
16.15 | Content and Distribution: The New Frontier for Entrepreneurs
16.45 | Panel “On Early steps: Getting going & getting unstuck”
17.15 | Meet the panelists & Networking Coffee Break
17.45 | Panel “On Finding Product Market Fit Fast & Early Scaling”
18:15 | Steve Blank on the Present and Future of Starting Up (live video conference from California)
18.45 | Sebastian Mejia on From Zero to Billions How I Started Rappi
19.15 | Closing & Networking with beers at Esade: Cheers 🥂 to the ones we do not know yet!
21:00 | AFTER PARTY!
MAY 23rd
13.30 | Registration & Coffee
14.30 | Welcome
14.45 | Panel “Teams & Talent: Building the Dream Team”
15.15 | Panel “On Finance: Getting the cash & scaling”
15.45 | Meet the panelists & Networking Coffee Break
16.15 | Meet the VCs: Reverse Pitch
16.45 | Panel “On Growth and Internationalisation: How to Optimise Impact”
17.15 | Meet the panelists & Networking Coffee Break
17.45 | Panel “On Happiness, Exits: How to Live the Fulfilled Life”
18:15 | Final Startup Pitch Competition: Do they have what it takes?
18.45 | Closing
19.00 | Networking with beers at Esade: Cheers 🥂 to the ones we do not know yet!
21:00 | The last AFTER PARTY!
MAY 24th
13.00 | Join us at Barcelona’s Port & registration check
14.00 | Let’s start the Networking Sailboat Tour!
EESummit Startup Competition
Together with Esade BAN, we sought 10 promising startups to join us! On May 23rd, the TOP 6 startups pitched live on stage to investors, founders, and the Esade community. After the pitch, a jury of top investors and founders provided them with feedback and shared valuable recommendations to help them grow.
Each of the TOP6 finalists demonstrated what it means to build with purpose. Congratulations to Foxtery, Loomee, HAPTIKA Medical Technologies, TMA, NForce AI, and Tasweeqly!
KUDOS to the winner of the EESummit Startup Competition 2025 👉 TMA, The Hazardous Goods Companion!
Join the next EESummit in 2026!
Whether you're a top founder looking for new talent or investors, a seasoned entrepreneur or expert looking to expand your network and connect with like-minded individuals, or a new talent seeking to join a great project, the EESummit is the perfect forum to explore the exciting world of entrepreneurship.
- Position yourself as a top entrepreneur.
- Connect with investors and like-minded people.
- Meet TOP experts and professionals from different industries who will help you grow.
- Find a talent fit for your startup.
Our team: Jan Brinckmann (Full Professor of Entrepreneurship at Esade Business School, Builder, Board Member, Business Angel with a Passion to Empower Entrepreneurs), Davide Rovera (eWorks Manager), Gül Cenkçiler (Project Manager), Josep Alías (EEI manager), Silvia Torres (EEI/ eWorks marcom) and Patrik Schulcz (EEI researcher).