ConexiONEs Cuenca, beyond entrepreneurship

After its debut in the Canary Islands, ConexiONEs arrived in Cuenca to continue building bridges between entrepreneurs, innovative organisations, public institutions, and other ecosystem stakeholders. A gathering designed to exchange ideas, share real experiences, and generate meaningful connections.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about raising funding or scaling fast. It’s also about holding on when everything feels shaky, finding calm in the midst of chaos, and supporting one another through uncertainty. And that’s exactly what happened on 22 May at the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Education at UCLM in Cuenca.

The day began with the presentation of the ONE Platform — an open, free, and collaborative space in service of entrepreneurship and innovation in Spain. Two panel discussions followed, exploring one of the most relevant yet least visible aspects of entrepreneurship: emotional management and the early stages of starting a business.

The less visible side of entrepreneurship

The first panel, moderated by Thais Glod Núñez, CEO and founder of INNBOUND, featured Guillermo Gómez (CEO of Enarti), Ester Somolinos (co-founder of Fetén), and Jaime Rodríguez (COO of Caranva Sports). Despite their different journeys, all three agreed on one key idea: entrepreneurship is a demanding process that requires strong support systems and attention to emotional wellbeing.

Guillermo Gómez captured this idea with a sentence that resonated across the room: “impostor syndrome is the best thing that can happen to an entrepreneur — because it forces you to reflect and grow.” He also shared a simple but effective strategy for moments of overwhelm: “when you’re overdoing it, a notebook and a pen to write down why you started can save you.”

From the perspective of a growing startup, Jaime Rodríguez spoke candidly about moments of doubt: “there are days when you feel like giving up. But listening to your customers, seeing how they grow with you — that keeps you going.” His insight shed light on the intensity of the early years, when pressure often peaks.

Ester Somolinos offered a perspective focused on what’s usually hidden: “entrepreneurship isn’t always pretty. It’s full of falls, doubts, sleepless nights. That’s why spaces like this are necessary — to share, to feel less alone, to regain strength.” Her words underscored the need to create environments where we can speak openly about the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship.

During the conversation, panellists also shared strategies ranging from “shouting in the car” to release tension, to relying on an advisory board — “that circle of trust that sees your project from the outside and tells you the truth with kindness.”

It was an honest and necessary discussion that made one thing clear: emotional wellbeing isn’t secondary in entrepreneurship — it’s essential to sustain projects over time.

Getting started is tough, but there’s always a reason

In the second panel, again moderated by Thais, the speakers were David Pedroche (CEO of Pluviis), Marta Guillem (digital entrepreneur at Metricsalad), Marta Garrido (founder of MOBHU), and Andrés Saboya (engineer at TUVATIO). The central theme: what drives you to start, and how do you validate an idea when the journey is just beginning?

Each speaker shared different motivations, but all were united by a common thread: identifying a need and deciding to do something about it.

Andrés Saboya explained how his first project was born in a gym — a stationary bike that could generate energy. When regulations changed, he had to rethink everything. That experience led him to pivot towards the solar sector, where he found a more scalable model: “it wasn’t just about having a good idea, but about building a viable, scalable one,” he said.

Marta Garrido spoke from a more personal place: “i felt like I was working eight hours a day without leaving a mark. Starting my own project was a way to recover a sense of meaning — to feel useful and create real impact.” Her story highlighted entrepreneurship as a way to reconnect with professional purpose.

David Pedroche shared his transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship: “i went from working in a highly structured company to standing alone in the chaos. And yet, I prefer it. Because every problem I solve brings me closer to my project.” His contribution illustrated a common truth: while entrepreneurship brings uncertainty, it also offers deep engagement and learning rarely found elsewhere.

Finally, Marta Guillem emphasised the importance of continuous validation in the early stages: “the idea might seem great, but if something similar already exists, you need to find your differentiation. Believing in it isn’t enough — you need to adapt to the market, pivot with intention, and listen to feedback without losing focus.” Her message was especially clear on the need to balance intuition with data — a crucial skill for making sound decisions.

This second discussion offered a candid view of what starting out really looks like: how tough it is to begin, but also how powerful it can be to have a clear purpose. In all cases, the first step is to observe, challenge the status quo, and dare to build something new. And above all, to accept that entrepreneurship isn’t a sprint — it’s a journey of constant learning.

Connection, community, and trust

The event closed with a networking session designed to go beyond the usual card-swapping. People who hadn’t met before shared insights, concerns, challenges, and resources. Bonds were formed, ideas emerged, and — most importantly — many participants left feeling they were not alone in this.

If Cuenca taught us anything, it’s that entrepreneurship isn’t about superheroes — it’s about real people with doubts, fears, the will to change the world… and the willingness to be changed in the process. And when there are spaces where people can speak openly, where emotions are seen not as weaknesses but as compasses, and where doors open to shared knowledge — entrepreneurship becomes more human, more mindful, and more sustainable.

ConexiONEs will keep travelling across regions, listening to diverse voices, and nurturing community. Thank you to everyone who took part and made these conversations possible. Cuenca reminded us that the most valuable connection is the one rooted in truth.