At VDS 2025, the collaboration between Club GLOBALS and Startup Valencia activated one of the event’s most dynamic programs: two days designed to connect talent, investment, and global vision—with a clear focus on diversity, collaboration, and internationalisation.
On October 22 and 23, Valencia became the epicentre of global innovation. VDS welcomed over 12,000 professionals from 120 countries, 3,000 startups, nearly 1,500 corporations, and around 800 investors managing more than €300 billion in assets. Within this framework, Club GLOBALS deployed an agenda that pushed the boundaries of what high-impact connections can look like.
Day 1 — From Speed Dating to Pitch on the Bus
The day began with a Speed Dating session hosted at the E-Residency box of the Government of Estonia, where entrepreneurs from different regions pitched their projects to Baltic investors. Leading early-stage funds such as Tenity ($100M), Trind VC (€90M), Cocoon Capital ($90M), Superangel ($56M), and Specialist VC (€50M) took part in this fast-paced, high-value exchange.
In the afternoon, the spotlight turned to female leadership. Valencia Tech Women hosted a dedicated Speed Dating session for female founders, mentors, and investors, further strengthening the ecosystem through gender-focused connection building.
One of the most unique moments of the day was the Pitch on the Bus, where a moving bus transformed into a rolling stage. Founders pitched their ideas while investors listened and evaluated in motion. The ride ended at the Sesame Afterwork, one of the official VDS activities designed to transform informal moments into real alliances.
The day closed with the exclusive “Tech in Action” dinner at Palau de les Arts, hosted by DLD. High-level guests included Steffi Czerny (DLD Media), Alexander Gerfer (Würth Elektronik), Christian Teichmann (Burda Principal Investments), Nacho Mas (Startup Valencia and VDS), and Krloos Rivera (Startup Valencia). The evening blended conversation, creativity, and strategy, with a clear message: community is the foundation of growth, and innovation is born in shared spaces.
Day 2 — Women, DeepTech, and Global Expansion
The second day kicked off with “Women Going Global & DeepTech,” co-organised by EmpoWomen, Women TechEU, Sploro, and Club GLOBALS. Held at the Lake Meeting Point, the session aimed to foster international expansion for tech startups led by women.
Evolving Therapeutics was named the winning startup, earning a Club GLOBALS membership and a place in the Xcellerator program, which includes mentorship, investor connections, and global expansion support.
Later that day, the GLOBAL Growth Open Mic gave founders the chance to pitch their startup in just 60 seconds to a group of active investors. With no slides, filters, or moderators, the format delivered a raw and highly effective connection between capital and talent.
The second round of Speed Dating for women followed in the afternoon. Many of the connections sparked the day before evolved into tangible outcomes—from collaborations and advisory roles to hires and investor meetings.
Startups Spotlight: Scale, Impact, and Diversity
The selected startups represented sectors that are shaping the future. Standouts included: Tina Assistant, focused on AI for biotechnology; Shin Rai Robotics, building next-gen manufacturing solutions; 2 Helios, innovating in nanotech and clean energy; Wasit, blending fintech, Web3, and AI to drive financial inclusion; Levox, advancing green technologies; Heecap, combining biotech and agritech; Miramoon Pharma, developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases; and SkinFuture, redefining sun protection with natural and sustainable materials.
A Partnership to Scale What’s Possible
This collaboration between VDS and Club GLOBALS proved that the most valuable connections don’t always happen on the main stage. Sometimes they begin on a bus, over a drink, during a dinner conversation, or in a rapid-fire meeting with the right investor. But they all share one trait: intentionally designed spaces where talent and capital meet with purpose.
VDS and Club GLOBALS share the same vision—creating contexts where opportunities aren’t waited for, they’re sparked. And this partnership has already led to real-world collaborations that are helping scale ideas, connect regions, and open new international pathways for high-impact startups.
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Connect with the international tech ecosystem, increase your visibility and grow your business by meeting new partners, clients and hundreds of potential prospects.
