“Jesús Valero, Managing Director of TECNALIA, is committed to developing deep-tech venture building environments through TECNALIA Ventures”
TECNALIA’s invested companies shared their experiences in deep-tech venture building with the main stakeholders of the Basque Country’s entrepreneurship ecosystem
The event, held at the Carlton Hotel in Bilbao, began with a welcome address by Agustín Sáenz, Director of Strategy, Market and Technology at TECNALIA. Ainara Basurko, Provincial Councillor for Economic Promotion of Bizkaia Provincial Council, highlighted how deep tech is what will keep the Basque Country at the forefront as a region on an international level. She also explained the different tools available to support entrepreneurs and investors.
Asier Rufino, CEO of TECNALIA Ventures, shared the company’s main milestones in 2022; the impact data achieved by TECNALIA’s portfolio of invested companies, as well as the launch of Deeptech4Impact, among other things. Aitor Lizarza, Director of Entrepreneurship at the University of Mondragon, then presented the corporation’s activities in training future entrepreneurs within the framework of the LEINN (Leadership in Entrepreneurship and Innovation) degree.
Invested companies
Javier García, CEO of OPTIMITIVE, spoke about his experience when they had to overcome the valley of death; Gorka Hermoso, CFO of H2SITE, shared details of the €12.5M Series A round of investment closed in 2012 with the entry of international investors as shareholders; and Javier Méntrida, CEO of ACUSTRAIN, explained the special features of having the public administration as a client.
The final and inspirational item on the agenda included Julia Palomo and Javier Serrano, from Banco Santander; Maitane Arezana, Senior Manager of HAYS; and Faÿçal Hafied, General Partner of Klymb. All of them presented the tools and initiatives they have to interact with the entrepreneurship ecosystem. This block ended with a round table on financing schemes for industrial plants moderated by Asier Rufino; including the participation of Naia Eroa, Director of Structured Financing and Advisory Services for the Basque Country at Banco Santander; Asier Ugaldea, CEO and Co-Founder of Iberian Smart Financial Agro; and Borja Filibi, Portfolio Manager at TECNALIA Ventures.
Finally, Jesús Valero, Managing Director of TECNALIA, highlighted TECNALIA’s firm commitment to developing deep-tech venture building environments through TECNALIA Ventures; environments that allow it to enhance the value of its technological assets and increase the return on the centre’s investment in R&D.
