28/10/2022
Entrepreneurship is part of our DNA, and we want to ensure that all our students who want to start their own businesses have the best possible opportunities to do so.
Our aim is to help students cultivate sharp entrepreneurial skills throughout their time with us, through training and resources, both inside and outside of the classroom. And to put those skills into practice, we organize events and initiatives which give you the chance to help solve real-world problems, network with corporations and investors and gain a competitive edge in today’s rapidly-evolving business world.
An entrepreneurial mindset
At IE University, we have a proud tradition of entrepreneurship, dating back to our foundation in 1973 by a group of ambitious entrepreneurs. We aim to foster an entrepreneurial spirit in all our students, whatever their career ambitions—and 25% of our alumni go on to found their own companies after graduating.
For me, entrepreneurship means creating a company that benefits both society and yourself. – Cayetano Ortiz, IE University alum and founder of Wii Hotels
As well as our on-campus incubators such as the Startup Lab and the Venture Lab, we also organize, or collaborate on, a number of events designed to give aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to tackle real-world challenges. Here’s an introduction to three of these initiatives.
Venture Days: innovative pitches in a competitive environment
Our Venture Days are open to all students and alumni who have founded, or are in the process of founding, a startup and are seeking funding or strategic partnerships. After developing their ideas and receiving guidance from business mentors, student-led teams pitch their projects to a group of international investors. In the past nine years, the best startups have attracted funding worth €80 million.
Venture Days take place in cities around the world, with Madrid hosting two Venture Days annually to celebrate the winners of the Venture Lab Accelerator program. You can see the July 2022 Madrid event here. So far, more than 35 International Venture Days have been held in locations including Shanghai, Miami and London, with many more planned in the near future—stay tuned for announcements!
South Summit: showcasing the best talent in Europe and South America
South Summit is one of the leading conferences for entrepreneurship in Europe, that connects startups with investors and global corporations. A close partner with IE University, South Summit was founded in response to the Spanish economic crisis of 2012, with the objective of being “the reference hub that shapes the future via initiative, entrepreneurship, open innovation and business opportunities.”
We’re proud to have been part of this exciting initiative from its inception: it’s been a resounding success, with over 25,000 participant startups, 23 international and sectoral events and more than $9 billion in investment for finalists. Events now take place not only in Spain but also in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.
Featuring conferences, debates and meetings with international investors, South Summit has much to offer startups: valuable connections with potential clients, access to business expertise and exposure to a wide entrepreneurial ecosystem. The tenth-anniversary event in Madrid featured world-renowned speakers, including Al Gore.
As South Summit expands, there will be an increased focus on sustainability—the upcoming Bilbao event, for example, is aimed at startups tackling energy transition.
Tech4Democracy: entrepreneurship to support democratic values
Tech4Democracy was born in early 2022 as a partnership between IE University and the U.S. Department of State. Its goal is to implement the ideas presented in President Joe Biden’s Summit for Democracy, a virtual event emphasizing how technology can further democratic values and fight against authoritarianism, misinformation and fake news.
As well as an applied research component, the initiative includes a series of startup/scaleup competitions, known as the Global Entrepreneurship Challenge.
It’s aimed at entrepreneurs who focus on democracy-affirming technologies, such as responsible AI and machine learning, digital identity and trust, and transparency of government data.
We believe in the power of the entrepreneurial mindset to change the world for the better. – Diego del Alcázar Benjumea, CEO, IE University
The first official Tech4Democracy Venture Day was held in Madrid in June 2022, with similar events to be held in North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia throughout the rest of the year, and in 2023. The winners will share their innovations at a Global Venture Day in December 2022.
So you want to be an entrepreneur?
Here at IE University, we have plenty of resources to help you foster your entrepreneurial spirit and achieve your goals. Why not try out our Entrepreneurship Evenings or take part in the Venture Networks at Area 31? Or visit the Startup Lab and Venture Lab, where you can test out your idea and get feedback in a challenging yet safe environment? Whatever your entrepreneurial goal, we’re here to help you reach it.
