eMerge Americas 2025: Connections, Opportunities, and Strengthening the Spanish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The eMerge Americas 2025 event, held on March 27 and 28 in Miami, has established itself as a key milestone for Spanish startups in the technology sector. It provided a unique platform to strengthen ties, exchange knowledge, and explore internationalization opportunities. As a result, Red.es and ICEX Spain Export and Investment, in collaboration with the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Miami, organized the Spain Pavilion at eMerge Americas 2025 and various networking and ecosystem knowledge activities. The delegation was comprised of 59 Spanish startups, seven of which exhibited at the fair and participated in the event's pitch competition, along with two regional entities.

The Spain Pavilion stood out as an essential meeting point, facilitating strategic contacts, meetings, and presentations that enhanced internationalization opportunities for the participating startups.

Over the two days of the event, more than 20,000 visitors from 60 different countries gathered in Miami, along with 300 exhibiting companies and 230 international speakers, turning this meeting into a true celebration of technology and innovation. In this context, the Spain Pavilion not only allowed Spanish startups to showcase their products and services but also offered them a set of advantages designed to support their internationalization.

Among the key moments of the event was the session "Spain, A Whole Ecosystem in One Place" held on March 27. It presented the Spanish innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem and the ONE Platform as a strategic space for collaboration and innovation, facilitating connections between startups, investors, and institutions. Its main functionalities were highlighted, and the importance of initiatives like ConexiONEs and participation in international forums was emphasized to strengthen the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem.

On the same day, within the 'Cafecitos' agenda developed inside the Spain Pavilion, a session focused on internationalization and female leadership was held, moderated by Esther Molina from Female Startup Leaders. First, a round of pitches was organized where the delegation's women-led startups presented their projects. Subsequently, an expert panel was developed, sharing experiences on how female entrepreneurs can overcome the challenges of internationalization and grow in global markets. This space was key to highlighting female talent within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, facilitating connections that could be crucial for the international expansion of their startups.

The 'Cafecitos' agenda also included presentation sessions of the initiatives launched by the two participating regional entities, VUI from the Community of Madrid and IVACE from the Valencian Community, offering recommendations for doing business in the United States.

Another highlighted activity of the Spain Pavilion was the Reverse Pitch session, where investment funds from Latin America presented their investment criteria and areas of interest.

As a star speaker, the Spain Pavilion featured Jeff Hofmann, founder of Booking.com, who offered attendees valuable advice on designing attractive products for their customers.

Additionally, on March 26, a group session was organized before the event to explore Miami's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The session took place at the Miami Dade College AI Center, offering an overview of collaboration and growth opportunities in the local environment. Throughout the day, there were several presentations from key institutions in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as Miami Dade College, Miami Dade Beacon Council, and eMerge Americas. Among the highlighted activities, Sofía Yagüe, partner at Next Legal, shared valuable legal strategies for operating and securing investment in the United States, while Matthew Vega-Sanz, co-founder and CEO of GAIL, interviewed by journalist Rosa Jiménez Cano, shared his experience as an entrepreneur in Florida. Additionally, a panel of investment funds operating in Miami was held, with representation from The Venture City, Rokk3r, Palumni VC, and DeepWork Capital. Finally, a panel of Spanish entrepreneurs based in Miami was developed, composed of Gustavo Medina, Andrea Balletbó, and Estrella Jaramillo Ríos. These sessions provided a comprehensive view of the entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology landscape in Miami, while offering key resources and networks for startups looking to expand and establish themselves in the region. The day concluded with an informal gathering where many relevant ecosystem actors and other Spanish professionals with local experience joined the delegation's companies.

eMerge Americas 2025 has proven to be a key event for strengthening collaboration between startups, investors, and public entities. Through roundtables, panels, investment rounds, and networking activities, the event has opened new doors for Spanish startups in both the U.S. and Latin American markets. The opportunities created at this meeting drive the growth of the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem, positioning Spain as a leader in innovation and technology on a global scale.