Ten events where entrepreneurs and investors can connect before the end of 2025

From Medellín to Lisbon, Munich and Mexico City to Barcelona, the second half of 2025 is packed with key events for the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. Whether the focus is on investment or tech talent, each event brings together entrepreneurs, venture capital funds and corporations together to spot trends and open business opportunities.

The second half of the year makes one thing clear: the entrepreneurial ecosystem’s calendar never stops. Mirroring the first months of 2025, Latin America and Europe are once more home to several headline events that bring together entrepreneurs and investors in an atmosphere of genuine optimism.

The momentum is backed by data. ‘The Spanish Tech Ecosystem Report 2025’, prepared by Dealroom in partnership with BBVA Spark, notes that between January and June Spanish high-growth companies secured €2 billion in investment, surpassing the €1.9 million raised in 2024. The picture in Latin America is similarly upbeat: venture capital investment in the first half of the year exceeds figures from both 2023 and 2024.

Against this backdrop, from meetings with a regional focus such as Colombia Tech Week, LAVCA Week and BBVA Spark Summit to global events like Bits & Pretzels and Web Summit, the second half of 2025 is an opportunity to connect with the ecosystem, expand business frontiers and spark fresh synergies.

• When? 18 to 30 August
• Where? Bogotá and Medellín (Colombia)

One event, two cities and more than ten days: this is Colombia Tech Week, one of the most ambitious startup gatherings in Latin America held in the country’s two entrepreneurship hubs: Bogota and Medellin. Through talks, networking spaces and workshops, the event reflects the diversity of the Colombian ecosystem and facilitates connections between entrepreneurs, investment funds, accelerators and other ecosystem players to generate growth opportunities and boost startup growth. 

Both cities bring own particular energy to the table in a country where some 2,126 startups are already up and running, 24% more than in 2023, with a high concentration in fintech, SaaS, healthtech and edtech. Bogota, the financial capital and recipient of 89% of venture capital, and Medellín, with its fast-growing and increasingly consolidated startup community, draw 6.2% of the capital raised by startups nationwide.

In 2024, Colombia Tech Week welcomed more than 11,000 attendees, 160 investment funds, 1,500 startups and corporations in 200 parallel activities.

• When? 26 to 30 August
• Where? Bogotá (Colombia)

Run by Bogotá’s Chamber of Commerce, Gofest is a flagship entrepreneurship event in Latin America. Founders, investors and support entities of the ecosystem meet at ‘Ágora Bogotá’ to participate in five days of panels, fireside chats and keynotes designed to connect and energise the ecosystem. The event boosts attendee visibility, links startups with accelerators and opens doors to funds operating in the region.

With more than 50% of active startups in Colombia based in the capital, which is home to key players like accelerators, universities, innovation hubs and public support programmes, Gofest is a prime platform for anyone aiming to scale their projects and connect with the region’s entrepreneurial network.

• When? 24 to 25 September
• Where? Seville, Spain

Seville, one of Spain’s top five cities for venture capital investment in 2024, will once again become the capital of entrepreneurship in southern Europe with the fourth edition of the Al Andalus Innovation Venture. The event connects startups in the growth phase with investment funds and large corporations, and spotlights scale-ups’ entrepreneurial projects of in fields such as artificial intelligence, health, energy and talent. 

After drawing 2,300 attendees, 150 investors and 550 startups in the 2024 edition, this year’s event focuses on accelerating real business opportunities and encouraging investment from southern Europe. To this end, 2025 brings together big names in venture capital, including Laura González-Estéfani, founder and CEO of The Venture City, Aquilino Peña, co-founder and managing partner of Kibo Ventures and Antonio Iglesias, managing director of Endeavor.

• When? 29 September to 1 October
• Where? Munich, Germany

Bits & Pretzels is one of the most renowned events in the European ecosystem. The programme combines high-level keynotes, mentoring sessions and roundtables in a unique atmosphere that culminates in a networking space at the popular Munich Oktoberfest, with 300 tables led by ecosystem experts and two sessions to connect with experts. 

The event started in 2014 as an informal breakfast between founders and has become a benchmark event for startups and scaleups, venture capital funds and technology leaders. In 2024 it brought together more than 5,000 attendees from over 50 countries, 1,000 startups, 200 speakers and more than 500 investors.

• When? 6 to 10 October
• Where? New York, USA

Hosted by the Latin American Private Equity Association (LAVCA), this event in New York brings together the major investors, funds, family offices and institutional leaders in this ecosystem to discuss investment strategies, emerging trends in the region and market opportunities.

LAVCA Week is known for strategic, high-value sessions shaped by the perspective provided by the region’s most influential financial players.

• When? 8 to 9 October
• Where? London, United Kingdom

A fixture on Europe’s start-up calendar, Sifted Summit will once again bring together founders, investment funds, corporate leaders and innovation experts in London. 

The event covers topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, sustainability, scalability, talent acquisition and funding models. Its programme includes live interviews and panels with ecosystem experts focused on financing, international expansion, talent and regulation. New this year is The Scaleup CxO Series, exclusive sessions for senior executives of companies in the scale-up phase. 

The 2024 Sifted Summit drew more than 3,000 attendees, 200 speakers and 80 sponsors, making it a rich setting for sharing real experiences, exploring current challenges and forging meaningful connections.

• When? 9 October
• Where? Barcelona, Spain

The event, organised by BBVA Spark, will celebrate its eighth edition as a meeting point for high-growth companies. Under the slogan ‘A Sea of Entrepreneurship’, the event invites founders, investors and leaders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to sail together towards the future of entrepreneurship and investment.  

Held at La Llotja de Mar, one of the Mediterranean’s historic financial hubs in the 14th century, the event is designed to promote high-value networking and strategic matchmaking that connects companies and people, shaping business opportunities between entrepreneurial ecosystem leaders.

Last year, BBVA Spark Summit brought together more than 400 leading figures and consolidated its position as a benchmark forum both in Barcelona and nationwide. Discussions tackled the challenges of securing later-stage funding, the international expansion of startups and the transformative role of the climate-tech industry.

• When? 22 to 23 October
• Where? Valencia, Spain

In just a few years Valencia Digital Summit has become the Mediterranean showcase for global talent, attracting investors from Europe, North Africa and Latin America. Held in the iconic City of Arts and Sciences, its uniqueness lies in its inclusive and international approach: everything from pre-seed startups to unicorns, corporations, universities and public administrations take part. Outdoor areas and outreach activities open the event to the wider public and reinforce Valencia’s role as a technology hub.

The 2024 edition attracted more than 12,000 attendees, 600 investors and 1,500 startups from more than 100 countries. The programme included presentations, pitch sessions, sectoral panels, a stand area and networking activities to foster collaboration.

• When? 10 to 13 November
• Where? Lisbon, Portugal

With more than 70,000 attendees and leading voices from companies such as Uber, Qualcomm and Atlassian, Web Summit is a global snapshot of the state of innovation, with a diverse audience ranging from CEOs of major tech companies to early-stage founders alongside regulators and international media. The programme explores verticals like fintech, AI and e-commerce, as well as social issues such as diversity, sustainability and the ethical impact of technology.

The 2025 edition programme will appeal to both seed-stage and large technology firms. Experts such as Andrew Macdonald, president and COO of Uber, Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm or Zeyneo Ozdemir, CMO of Atlassian, and others will share insights about the latest trends in artificial intelligence, sustainability and cybersecurity.

• When? 19 to 20 November
• Where? Helsinki, Finland

Launched in 2008, Slush has evolved into one of the largest startup gatherings in Europe. Created by and for entrepreneurs, it focuses on deep-tech, applied science and tech-driven startups, acting as a catalyst for European scientific entrepreneurship.

Slush’s ‘Founders Day’ before the main event gives founders the chance to connect with other entrepreneurs in a more casual atmosphere. Participants will also find ‘partner lounges’, spaces where investors and startups can hold private meetings. 

Beyond the venue, ‘Slush Week’ turns Helsinki into a city-wide meeting point with dozens of satellite events that connect the community in more informal, open spaces. 

After the period of readjustment in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and renewed growth in venture capital investment across Spain and Latin America, these events serve as a reminder that the evolution of any high-growth company largely hinges on strong links with fellow ecosystem players. The second half of 2025 offers fresh opportunities to listen, learn and forge new synergies, helping to build a stronger, more connected community.