What does it take to thrive as a founder, not just build a successful venture?

Building a venture can be deeply rewarding, but it also comes with uncertainty, pressure, setbacks, difficult decisions, and emotional demands. Expect research-backed insights, real founder experiences, practical takeaways, and an open conversation with the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For the fourth edition of Promoting Entrepreneurship: Lessons Learnt from Research, the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute brings research and practice together to explore an increasingly important topic: founders’ wellbeing.

The session will be led by Professor Annelore Huyghe from the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute, who will share research-backed insights into:

• What puts founders’ psychological and emotional wellbeing under pressure.

• How wellbeing affects decision-making, leadership, and venture development.

• How founders navigate setbacks, uncertainty, and persistent adversity.

• What investors, accelerators, and other ecosystem actors can do differently.

• How we can create healthier and more sustainable entrepreneurial journeys.

Following the presentation, Annelore will be joined by Marta Gràcia Vilar, CEO of Cloudworks, and other invited guests for a round-table discussion connecting the research with real experiences from the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The evening will conclude with networking and an opportunity to connect with founders, researchers, investors, and other ecosystem professionals.

Agenda

• Welcome and introduction

• Research insights

• Round-table discussion

• Networking

📅 13 October 2026
📍 Cloudworks Sagrada Família, Barcelona

This event is hosted together with Cloudworks and forms part of Barcelona4Impact, the city-wide initiative bringing together events focused on impact, entrepreneurship, and solutions for people and the planet.

Places are limited. Register to secure your spot!