Youth Economic Circle (YEC)

At yesterday's YEC Talk, Wednesday October 3rd, we had the honor of welcoming Dídac Lee, a proud “figuerenc” with an outstanding career in entrepreneurship and investment. Dídac Lee is the co-founder and managing partner of Galdana Ventures, a venture capital fund of funds that invests in some of the top VCs in the United States, Asia, Israel, and Europe. These funds have contributed to the creation of 17 companies, with an aggregated value of $1.5 billion. Additionally, he has founded several companies, including Tradeinn SL , fhios smart knowledge, Peninsula, and Matrix, which together employ over 800 people. In the startup ecosystem, he is a well-known business angel and currently sits on the boards of companies like Glovo, Badi, Housfy, and Exoticca. In 2019, he was named Best Business Angel by AEBAN - Asociación Española Business Angels Networks and has received other prestigious honors such as Doctor Honoris Causa from the 21st Century Business University, Best Technological Entrepreneur from the University of Cambridge, and Best European Startup Mentor from the Founder Institute. His passion for football led him, after being unable to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional player, to serve on the board of FC Barcelona from 2013 to 2020, where he headed the digital area and led key projects like Barça Studios. During the talk, Dídac Lee shared his experiences and lessons learned throughout his career with our members. He emphasized that a good entrepreneur should have three essential skills: being an excellent salesperson, being a great recruiter, and having deep market knowledge. He also highlighted the importance of product-market fit, noting that one of the keys to success is ensuring that sales are replicable and, to some extent, predictable. Thank you, Dídac Lee, for your time and for sharing your insights and experiences with us in the wonderful space of Juno House. It was a true pleasure to have you with us at YEC!

This past Monday, September 30th, the members of the Board of YEC Barcelona had the honor of attending the second edition of the La Vanguardia Awards, held at the Palacio de Congresos de Catalunya. The event was dedicated to recognizing excellence and impact in various disciplines, such as Sustainability, Businessperson of the Year, Innovation and Science, City Development, Culture, and International Contributions. A special tribute was also made with the presentation of an In Memoriam award. On behalf of YEC, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to Grupo Godó de Comunicación for their generous invitation and congratulate them on the success of this admirable initiative and its flawless organization. Furthermore, we would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to the awardees of the evening: - Sustainability Award: Audrey Azoulay (Director of UNESCO) - Businessperson of the Year Award: Gabriel Escarrer (Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International) - Innovation and Science Award: Mateo Valero (Director of Barcelona Supercomputing Center) - City Development Award: Pau Relat (Chairman of Fira Barcelona) - Culture Award: Eduardo Mendoza (Writer) - In Memoriam Award: Joan Oró (Scientist) - International Award: Yulia Navalnaya (Navalny Russian Anti-Corruption Foundation)

We are thrilled to announce that YEC members had the exclusive opportunity to attend The District Show from Wednesday, September 25th to Friday, September 27th, at Fira Barcelona. This prestigious international event focused on the real estate sector from the perspective of capital markets and investment. Thanks to YEC’s collaboration with The District Show our members received 25 complimentary Business Passes, allowing them to engage with top industry leaders, investors, and innovators. It was an incredible opportunity for networking, gaining insights into the latest trends in real estate, and exploring new business opportunities. Thank you so much to The District Show for this experience, all attendees found the event valuable and inspiring! #YECBarcelona #TheDistrict #RealEstate #Networking #Opportunities

Last Wednesday, September 25, we had the honour of receiving Javier Cabrerizo, President of Movistar Prosegur Alarmas and CEO of Prosegur Alarms, as a guest at YEC Madrid. During dinner, various topics were touched on, and Javier highlighted the relevance of enjoying what one does and wondering about what one really wants to achieve in life, focussing on discovering the most valuable thing about each day. Thank you very much for your advice and for sharing your experiences with us. It has been an absolute pleasure to have you at YEC. #YECMadrid #Education #Leadership

We are excited to share the official video from our Global Summit 2024 held in Madrid! 🎥✨ With 140 young leaders from Spain and Portugal in attendance, the event was a dynamic blend of insightful discussions, networking, and shared inspiration. From our gala dinner to the masterclass at IE University, the weekend was packed with moments that showcased the power of young talent and leadership. At YEC, we’re dedicated to creating opportunities for growth and development, and this event was a true reflection of that mission. Thank you to all our speakers, partners, and attendees for making the Global Summit 2024 a success! https://lnkd.in/duJADwkb #YECGlobalSummit #YoungLeaders #Networking #Madrid #Leadership #YouthEmpowerment

This past weekend, we hosted the Global Summit 2024 in Madrid, where 140 young leaders from Spain and Portugal gathered to exchange ideas and insights. The event kicked off with a cocktail reception and gala dinner, followed by inspiring sessions and a masterclass at IE University . Thank you to our guest speakers for sharing your expertise and wisdom with the next generation of leaders. We are proud to continue empowering young talent and creating opportunities for personal and professional growth through YEC. #YECGlobalSummit #YouthLeadership #Networking #Madrid2024 Guillaume Prou Beltrán Espinosa de los Monteros Jan Farrell Jose Nistal Giorgio Semenzato Fabián Blanco Ortiz Pedro Galatas Luis De Sande Mila González JULIA SAEZ BEA Ivan Marten Victor Matarranz

From the Youth Economic Circle (YEC) , we express our gratitude to elEconomista for featuring us after the 2024 Global Summit in Madrid. Our president, Ariadna Vallverdu Laencuentra , emphasized the remarkable efforts of the Madrid board members in driving YEC’s growth and success. Their dedication has been instrumental in strengthening our presence and organizing impactful events that foster innovation and collaboration. With their leadership, YEC is poised to expand further and continue shaping the future of entrepreneurship. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors, CLOSASEGUROS and Renta Corporación for their ongoing support, as well as our collaborators like Copa América, MWC, The District Show, Juno House, Santander and IE. Finally, we would like to thank Pressego Comunicación , a company dedicated to enhancing visibility and promoting startups and enterprises led by young and future leaders. https://lnkd.in/d47rCEuN

From Youth Economic Circle (YEC), we extend our heartfelt thanks to Diario ABC for providing us visibility and supporting our mission. Ariadna Vallverdu Laencuentra, president of YEC Global, emphasizes that we are a community filled with potential and enthusiasm, ready to lead with courage and build a brighter future together. With over 550 members, we are proud about our continued growth across Spain and Portugal. This year alone, we have hosted 75 events (an average of three per city each month) ranging from conferences and workshops to dinners and afterworks, among other activities. Our vision transcends borders and we are really looking forward to expanding into new cities, offering more opportunities for learning and collaboration among our members. In addition, we are thrilled to introduce our latest initiative, YEC Alumni, designed to keep members over 30 connected to our ecosystem and  reinforcing the bonds between generations. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors, CLOSASEGUROS and Renta Corporación, for their ongoing support, as well as our collaborators like Copa América, MWC, The District Show, Juno House, Santander and IE. Finally, we would like to thank Pressego Comunicación, a company dedicated to enhancing visibility and promoting startups and enterprises led by young and future leaders. https://lnkd.in/d4KWQ3G2

Last Tuesday, September 10th, we had the honor of hosting Oriol Pinya, founding partner and CEO of Abac Capital. Oriol Pinya took us through his impressive career journey, starting with his time at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), followed by his MBA at Harvard Business School, his  experience in Apax and ultimately the founding of Abac Capital in 2014. With over 600M€ under management, Abac Capital stands out as one of the first private equity firms in Europe to earn the prestigious B Corp certification. In addition to discussing the intricacies of private equity industry, Oriol shared invaluable life lessons and personal insights with our members Thank you, Oriol Pinya, for sharing your time and experience with us. It was a privilege to have you at the Youth Economic Circle (YEC). #YECBarcelona #OriolPinya #ABACCapital #Networking #PrivateEquity

Last night, Thursday, September 5th, we had the privilege of hosting Carolina Martinoli President and CEO of Vueling Airlines. Carolina Martinoli shared her impressive career in the aviation sector, from her beginnings at Iberia to her recent appointment as the first woman to lead an airline in Spain. During the evening, she spoke about the challenges and opportunities she has faced throughout her career, as well as her vision for the future of Vueling. It was an enriching event where attendees had the chance to learn from one of the most influential executives in the aviation industry. Her focus on innovation and business transformation left an inspiring impact on all of us. Thank you, Carolina Martinoli for sharing your time and experience with us. It was a true honor to have you at Youth Economic Circle (YEC) Economic Circle (YEC). #YECBarcelona #CarolinaMartinoli #Vueling #Networking #FemaleEmpowerment