Claudia Pierre (Barcelona, 1986) spent more than 14 years working as a lawyer in various law firms, until she decided to embark on an “exciting adventure”, following the successful entrepreneurial path of her brother and cousin. In 2021 she co-founded Meeting Lawyers, a legaltech startup that she leads as CEO and that unites two of her passions: the legal sector and new technologies.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

CP: Our goal is to democratise access to the legal profession, offering a quality service, immediate and available in just a few clicks. The world has evolved digitally, allowing us to order food at home, resolve medical queries or perform financial transactions remotely. But why couldn’t we resolve our legal doubts in the same way, from anywhere, also at the click of a button?

TB: A good idea you have had.

CP: The creation of Meeting Lawyers.

TB: A bad professional experience.

CP: On several occasions, I did not manage to close deals as quickly as I had hoped.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

CP: Taking care of my team and focusing on profitability.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

CP: My father. He is hard-working, with vision and a lot of common sense.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

CP: I am convinced that Artificial Intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, will have a big impact in the future.

TB: What are your concerns?

CP: As the CEO of a startup, everyday life is full of worries. However, none of them are so important that I can’t stay motivated and do my best. It is always important to put things in perspective and keep a positive attitude.

TB: A startup.

CP: I admire Meeting Doctors. They are doing very well and are a reference for us in many aspects. Effort, perseverance, good product, team and profitability.

TB: A book to recommend.

CP: I would like to recommend “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel and “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. I can’t say just one.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

CP: “The Playlist” series, in which perseverance plays an essential role.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

CP: I don’t cook much at the moment, but I enjoy making tomato and watermelon gazpacho. I love Japanese food and one of my favourite restaurants is Koy Shunka in Barcelona.

TB: A city, a journey.

CP: London is a city I love. I lived there for two years and I have very good memories. In fact, I met my husband there. In terms of travel, I’d go on safari in Africa.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

CP: At Meeting Lawyers, of course.

TB: And a million euros?

CP: Also at Meeting Lawyers – where else?

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

CP: Right now I can’t imagine or want anything else, but I suppose I would be working in a company that offers legal services, leading the digital transformation department.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

CP: Tech Barcelona is what brings all entrepreneurs together, helping us to create synergies and connections.

“Sport has always been linked to my professional career”. Judith Rubinat (Sabadell, 1975) has worked for some of the best brands and entities in the world of sport on a global level: Director of Communication at Nike Iberia for 13 years, Director of Sponsorship at the Spanish Olympic Committee, Director of Service and Partner Activation at FC Barcelona and, now, CEO of Mikakus Barcelona, the sneaker company founded by football world champion Andrés Iniesta.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

JR: Mikakus Barcelona, “the sneakers brand from Barcelona to the world”, was born in 2018 when Andrés Iniesta went to live in Japan and discovered the way the Japanese understand fashion and style. From our physical shop in Barcelona and our ecommerce, we offer a proposal of design and quality sneakers for those who do not want to dress in “uniform”, which is committed to supporting the energy of cities and projects that promote change.

TB: A good idea you have had.

JR: Becoming a mother.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

JR: Don’t run away. The importance of facing challenges and difficult situations rather than avoiding them.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

JR: My mother, an entrepreneurial, vital and loving woman.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

JR: There is no better technology than the human brain.

TB: What are you worried about?

JR: I am an optimist by nature.

TB: A startup.

JR: There are many startups running amazing projects. It is difficult to choose one, but in order not to stray from the world of sport, I choose Fittest Freakest, an example of a business specialising in crossfit where the community plays a very important role. It is a project that unites the online world (ecommerce), the offline (retail) and the strength of the community through events with a global impact.

TB: A book to recommend.

JR: “Permagel” by Eva Baltasar.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

JR: A classic series: “Friends”. There’s always an episode that brings a smile to your face, one you can relate to, one you’d like to be a part of, and one with the typical situation you’d never want to be in. Life itself.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

JR: Els Pescadors Restaurant, in Poblenou. A classic, which is still a classic, with a high quality product offer and the best terrace in Barcelona.

TB: A city, a journey.

JR: Kobe, Mikakus Barcelona’s second home.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

JR: At Capitten, Andrés Iniesta’s football brand, where I also work as CEO in Europe and global CMO. Capitten represents the values of football, values that are being lost and that are the basis that made it the king of sports. Capitten offers an honest proposition based on the founder’s understanding of football.

TB: And a million euros?

JR: In Capitten as well.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

JR: Once you have started as an entrepreneur, I doubt there is any turning back.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

JR: For me, Tech Barcelona is synonymous with connection and an opportunity to add talent, enthusiasm and vision from the best city, Barcelona.

“We are committed to the impact of innovation on children’s health”. On 14 June, the audience at the i4Kids Summer Party, held at Tech Barcelona’s Pier07, saw Marc Ramis (Barcelona, 1977) announce the launch of Europe’s first paediatric fund. With a size of 30 million euros, and led by himself, Montana Impact Fund will promote between 16 and 18 early-stage paediatric innovation projects, with the support of Ship2B and the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu.

And Marc Ramis’ involvement with the health sector goes even further: this PhD in Biochemistry from Oxford University, with a Leadership Development programme from Harvard Business School, is also the co-founder and partner of the biomedical venture builder Chasing Science.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

MR: The purpose of Chasing Science is to bring science and high-value scientific projects to society by creating startups in the biomedical sector. We start from research projects developed in academic centres, initiate a technology transfer process and find the first investors. Our ultimate goal is to improve the health and well-being of society.

TB: A good idea you have had.

MR: Aligning the culture of Chasing Science with my lifestyle between Barcelona and abroad. To have “una pota aquí i una pota a fora”, as we say.

TB: A bad professional experience.

MR: The creation of a company where egos and negative emotions prevailed over purpose.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

MR: Try to be consistent with your intuition and respect the freedom of the people you work with.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

MR: My former boss at Oxford, Chris Scholfield, for his emotional intelligence and his ability to balance his personal life with his work.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

MR: Understanding the mechanisms of action of the biology of ageing. As we understand the biological processes surrounding ageing, a world of possibilities opens up for the development of treatments that can extend people’s healthy lives.

TB: What are you worried about?

MR: To be consistent with my children and with the education they receive in society. It is essential to instil in them a critical spirit and skills that will enable them to face the challenges of the future.

TB: A startup.

MR: I am always looking for the next startup with the potential to make a significant impact on society.

TB: A book to recommend.

MR: “Walden” by Hery David Thoreau.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

MR: “Just like honey” by The Jesus and Mary Chain. And “Tot torna a començar” by Mishima.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

MR: The Wells in Hampstead. It is a place not to be missed if you have the opportunity to visit London.

TB: A city, a journey.

MR: London, to get lost and feel free. And Boston, to feed the mind.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

MR: In paediatric innovation. Montana Impact Fund is a good start.

TB: And a million euros?

MR: Idem.

TB: If you were not an entrepreneur…

MR: I would like to have a job related to nature and forests.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

MR: It is an opportunity to grow and strengthen Barcelona’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Technological improvements in last-mile logistics contribute to the sustainability of the system, as they optimise delivery efficiency and reduce environmental impact. And Albert Bladas (Sant Cugat del Vallès, 1990) leads one of these solutions as co-founder and CEO of Columat, a startup that implements smart lockers with and without temperature control. With a degree in Physical Geography and Climate Change and a Master’s degree in Project Management, Albert Bladas has extensive experience as a consultant and entrepreneur in different sectors. Always, of course, linked to sustainability.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

AB: Columat was created to solve last mile logistics, thereby reducing environmental impact, making cities more sustainable and resilient and improving people’s quality of life.

TB: A good idea you have had.

AB: There are ideas every day! Some more disruptive than others, with more or less future. Even others that can be implemented the same day. Creating Columat was a great idea, for example. Yes, you can have ideas, but if you don’t believe in them and don’t pursue them, you may not impact society in the desired way.

TB: A bad professional experience.

AB: Bad experiences are the best way to learn quickly. In my case, when I was younger, I wanted to innovate and change internal processes in a company where I worked. And time and time again, the stoppers, or more conservative people, told me that these were absurd ideas. Of course, this frustrates you because it doesn’t let you move forward or improve.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

AB: Here are two constant and important pieces of advice that I have received since I was a child. My grandfather used to tell me: “with effort and perseverance you have no limits”. And my father: “always listen before you speak”. Obvious advice, but not easy to apply.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

AB: Elon Musk or any other successful entrepreneur who provides solutions to problems facing society or the environment.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

AB: Artificial intelligence will change the way we work and think. It will certainly help us a lot in our daily lives, but we should also be aware of its risks and therefore different aspects should be regulated. Alongside AI, aerospace technology will also help other ground-based technologies to grow.

TB: What are you worried about?

AB: I am concerned about the different frictions between public and private actors in combating climate change in an aligned way.

TB: A startup.

AB: One of the startups that I love is Newe – they’re a bunch of cracks! They’re empowering the circular economy for retailers and helping to mitigate waste in the consumer sector. We will hear a lot about them.

TB: A book to recommend.

AB: “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel. It is a must read for every entrepreneur.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

AB: “The Playlist”, a TV miniseries that tells the disruptive story of Spotify.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

AB: Vicio’s hamburgers.

TB: A city, a journey.

AB: Barcelona is a city full of opportunities and with a perfect entrepreneurial environment.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

AB: Certainly in Columat.

TB: And a million euros?

AB: Also at Columat. The more we can revolutionise logistics and the user experience, the more we stand to gain; both society and the environment.

TB: If you were not an entrepreneur…

AB: Difficult question… I would work in a company that solves societal problems, always with urban sustainability in mind.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

AB: Tech Barcelona is one of the first innovation centres in Barcelona that has managed to form a great ecosystem with Barcelona and international entrepreneurs. Thanks to the association, many projects have flourished in the city and great synergies of collaboration between people, startups and corporations have been obtained.

Evgeny Savin (1991), Ph.D. in Elementary Particle Physics and experienced Product Manager, has taken on the role of co-founder and director at AgTech startup Green Growth, a real-time yield mapping platform. Based in Latvia and now expanding in the Spanish market from the Pier01 coworking space, this software and hardware solution consists of a set of sensors and a web application that display essential data during the harvesting process.

“I have a strong passion for technology, particularly hardware, which has the power to revolutionize our lives.”

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

ES: Our project aims to remove technological barriers for farmers, enabling them to achieve greater sustainability and economic efficiency through data analytics.

TB: A good idea you have had.

ES: Let’s make sure we never do anything boring again.

TB: A bad professional experience.

ES: I believe that every up and down I have faced has ultimately contributed to my personal growth.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

ES: Do not wait for things to be handed to you. Go out there and grab what you want.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

ES: One professional reference that inspires me is theoretical physicist Richard Feynman. He once said: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool”.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

ES: Augmented Reality combined with Artificial Intelligence in wearable devices.

TB: What are you worried about?

ES: When you truly focus on something, concerns are fuzzy.

TB: A startup.

ES: Humane – an AI-powered wearable assistant, also known as the “new iPhone”.

TB: A book to recommend.

ES: “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” (Richard Feynman’s biography)

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

ES: Silicon Valley TV series. It’s a classic!

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

ES: Nothing beats the simple pleasure of enjoying a delicious combination of coffee and waffles.

TB: A city, a journey.

ES: I love Barcelona, but I’m amazed by big cities. New York has always astonished me. I once traveled across Europe in a car within three weeks, which was an incredible journey.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

ES: I would invest in ten early-stage AI and VR startups.

TB: And a million euros?

ES: In a deep tech venture fund.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

ES: Life would be boring.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

ES: The best way to be a part of the local tech and VC community.

Jordi Solé Tuyá (Vilafranca del Penedés, 1973), with an extensive background in business management and financial management, has been – for more than 13 years – executive director at Kreedit, a company that has provided debt financing solutions to more than 1,600 medium-sized companies.

He is also executive director of Atoomico Venture Builder, member of the Business Financing Commission of the Cambra de Comerç de Barcelona, advisor to the UPF Barcelona School of Management, trustee of the Pinnae Foundation and advisor to numerous industrial companies. And the list goes on… He has been president of ADEPG and member of the Executive Committee of Foment del Treball, among others, as well as business angel in more than 20 startups. An extensive curriculum.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

JST: At Kreedit, our obsession is to make it possible for all companies to access the necessary financing to develop their activity and preserve their viability in the medium and long term.

TB: A good idea you have had.

JST: I admit that I am not at all creative and find it difficult to come up with innovative ideas. Rather, I am a pragmatic professional who tries to execute efficiently, managing the resources at my disposal in a way that generates as much value as possible.

TB: A bad professional experience.

JST: When I was barely 20 years old, I took on a position of responsibility in the financial area of an industrial company that involved taking on functions for which I was not yet prepared. It was a bad experience that, with time, allowed me to understand how important it is to match the right moment in time and the right personal skills to take on any challenge.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

JST: Worrying does not help. The focus should be on dealing with the problems and managing the difficulties with all our might, trying to leave worry aside. Worry should not distract us from what is really important, which is managing the situation.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

JST: Elon Musk or any other successful entrepreneur who, because of his ambition, and despite having already reached a relevant economic position, continues to dedicate many more hours and efforts to his projects than the rest. This shows that a strong commitment and dedication increases the chances of success in any project.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

JST: Human intelligence. It is irreplaceable by artificial intelligence. The ability to manage teams and the emotions of their members, empathy, tone of voice, the look in their eyes…. This is the technology that will continue to advance the world in the future.

TB: What are you worried about?

JST: That life is not eternal. I am obsessed with trying to make the most of every moment, savouring small everyday experiences and being aware that one day we will no longer be able to do so. To live a full life is to be aware of the role we play in each moment.

TB: A startup.

JST: Typeform. When you try this solution, you realise that you can no longer live without it. It’s a feeling similar to when you first used an iPhone.

TB: A book to recommend.

JST: Without a doubt, I recommend ‘Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind’, a work by Yuyal Noah Harari that describes the history of humanity from its beginnings to the modern era. Reading it allows you to put into perspective the problems we currently have as individuals, to relativise them and, therefore, to take away the transcendence of small daily inconveniences that we must manage, but which are far from being a real problem. Internalising this thinking allows you to live with less stress.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

JST: One song that still inspires me is “My way” by Paul Anka. Listening to it reminds me of some critical points in my professional career that required inner strength and the support of my family to face them. It comforts me to listen to the song and remember those stepping stones that, fortunately, I overcame and that have made me who I am today.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

JST: My recipe is “Macarrones del Cardenal”, made with a tasty sauce based on veal, aromatic herbs and a few other secrets. On the other hand, I’m a fan of oriental food, of which miso ramen stands out (in Barcelona there are several places where they make it in a sublime way, such as the Tonkotsu restaurant).

TB: A city, a journey.

JST: New York and San Francisco; although very different from each other, both captivated me. The former for its extreme cosmopolitan character, because when you are there you feel like you are in ‘the capital of the world’. And the latter for its Mediterranean-like climate and atmosphere.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

JST: In a company that has a humble management team, capable of efficiently managing scarce resources and, in doing so, is able to generate value. It is difficult to find it in an environment dominated by loud talk, grandiloquence and, in the end, little ability to make a profitable startup that survives on its own generation and without one round of investment after another. If I find it, I would invest there.

TB: And a million euros?

JST: In ten companies like the one described in the previous point 🙂 Nothing is more motivating than having a humble, efficient management team capable of generating profitability in a company with scarce resources.

TB: If you were not an entrepreneur…

JST: I can’t imagine not being an entrepreneur. My life would be so boring that I would have been in a depression for years. To live a full life, you have to be in charge of your life and being an entrepreneur allows you to do that. Moreover, I believe that everyone becomes an ‘entrepreneur of his or her own life’ at birth.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

JST: An association that has already become a great community, representative of Barcelona’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and that multiplies its value thanks to the synergies it generates for all the individuals, organisations and communities that form part of it.

Eva Hurst (Biel, Switzerland, 1969) is a Managing Partner at Competitive Drug Development International Ltd. or CDDI, in short, a bio-medical consulting company based in London and Barcelona, which works in clinical research and protocol feasibility.

“I studied Sociology but was never satisfied with classroom learning alone and spent a lot of my time in the field, working for NGOs in Armenia and Bosnia. Since this needed funding, I started working very early on in the Pharma Industry, an obvious choice in Basel, where I lived at the time. For instance, my formative years were at Novartis HQ”.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

EH: Currently, CDDI is focused on the feasibility of clinical trial protocols and Paedriatic Investigational Plans.

TB: A good idea you have had.

EH: The best thing that happened to me is my daughter.

TB: A bad professional experience.

EH: Working remotely in a new job when it was not the norm yet and I had no clue how to do it.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

EH: The successful person learns how to structure ambiguity.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

EH: I am inspired by all the good people who try to do a good job, regardless of their role, pay or circumstances. For instance, I admire a Vueling crew that still smiles at you on the last delayed flight out of Heathrow.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

EH: AI, for sure.

TB: What are you worried about?

EH: I am worried about the state of the world in general: the inequalities, war, the environment…

TB: A startup.

EH: Alpenguertel.ch

TB: A book to recommend.

IF: Any book bought in an independent bookshop.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

EH: I do not watch series, I love independent cinema, and no particular song – I am still amazed how much truth lies in pop songs!

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

EH: What makes me happy every time is a plate of sardines at O’Tino, a humble little great restaurant in Camden Town, London.

TB: A city, a journey.

EH: Once again, my favourite city is London. The word “journey” evokes the desire to undertake one, to enjoy again the act of travelling, rather than rushing from place to place.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

EH: I would like to give the money to one of the NGOs I like and collaborated with: Doctors Without Borders.

TB: And a million euros?

EH: I would prefer to start with the question “how existing wealth can be distributed better”.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

EH: While I have always had the desire to change things, I never truly envisioned myself as an entrepreneur. However, I am still discovering what I can achieve as one.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

EH: I love the new workspace at Pier07. My favourite soundtrack is the decisive, relentless typing of my colleagues there, where everyone is trying to give their best. And that is so motivating.

To bid farewell to European Diversity Month 2023, we talk to Imma Folch (Barcelona, 1965), CEO and founder of the communications agency LF Channel, and President of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the international public relations network Worldcom for EMEA. Since 1996 she has been helping more than 500 companies to increase their visibility and market share through communication and marketing strategies; currently leading diversity, equity and inclusion programmes in organisations.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

IF: Enabling businesses as leaders of change for a more inclusive and socially responsible society.

TB: A good idea you have had.

IF: At a time when it was difficult to set up a company being a woman and being 29 years old, I had the idea of creating the LF Channel agency with the aim of training and informing the distribution channel about new technologies. 27 years later and after having helped in the development of communication and marketing strategies for more than half a thousand companies all over the world, I can say that I had a good idea.

TB: A bad professional experience.

IF: I think that all experiences are good, because they all give you the opportunity to learn, to see reality from other perspectives.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

IF: Always surround yourself with people smarter than you.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

IF: All women who break down barriers, who dismantle silos, and who make their dreams come true are references. On a professional level, my maternal grandmother, who, from sewing aprons in the post-war period, ended up owning a small textile factory.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

IF: Artificial intelligence is already changing our present, and I believe it will define a future and new social paradigms. But I look forward to seeing technologies focused on the use and regeneration of water, so necessary for life.

TB: What are you worried about?

IF: I am concerned about inequalities, wars, climate change…. It’s all the result of mismanagement for selfish purposes. We should all be more empathetic.

TB: A startup.

IF: Holaluz, a pioneer in the use of green energy in Spain, is already a large company.

TB: A book to recommend.

IF: “La mujer habitada”, by Gioconda Belli, and any poem by Miquel Martí i Pol.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

IF: A song from 1990, written on the occasion of the fall of the Berlin Wall. “Winds of Change” by Scorpions. It talks about the brotherhood of peoples. And looking at what is happening now in Europe and other parts of the world, this song is a reminder that there is hope.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

IF: A good grilled fish accompanied by wine. By the sea.

TB: A city, a journey.

IF: Chicago, for its architecture, its canals, its people and its cultural offer.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

IF: In my company, to strengthen equipment, infrastructure, research and non-profit projects.

TB: And a million euros?

IF: In training and awareness-raising projects on inclusion in companies. If all people in leadership positions were aware of the change in society that inclusive and equitable environments bring about, the world would be a much kinder place.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

IF: I would dedicate myself to acting, my hidden facet.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

IF: Tech Barcelona is a network, a meeting point, a point of trust where we can count on the great professionals we love in Barcelona.

Silvia Gómez Montes (Madrid) has a degree in Chemistry and is CEO of Sens Solutions, a startup born from the UAB Research Park that develops intelligent systems for the detection and elimination of pathogens in air (Aero-S3DP, AMR-S3DP) and water (Hydro-S3DP).

“During my PhD developing sensors at UAB, I had the opportunity to see how a product was brought to market and I made a decision that changed my life. A 360-degree turn. Taking the reins of my own project in 2014”.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

SG: Sens Solutions’ purpose is to improve the lives of living beings and do our bit to make the world a better place. Our products allow you to anticipate infections: the data and analyses we make, cross-check and cross-reference are able to foresee the future and change the lives of living beings. As magnanimous as it sounds, small things can also make big changes.

TB: A good idea you have had.

SG: I took the leap and created Sens Solutions. When I was involved in research, I saw how great projects were left in a drawer due to lack of funding. So I decided that all that effort, all my hours of work, could not come to nothing. So I decided to set up a team with the same enthusiasm and interests as me.

TB: A bad professional experience.

SG: We have not had bad professional experiences because we learn from everything, even from disappointments. Let’s just say that in our baggage we have encountered the snake oil salesman that we have not always been able to dodge at the first attempt. But as I said before, it’s not a bad experience, it’s a learning experience. Now we detect them in a short time. In short, we are like our products: we learn quickly and we are becoming more and more efficient.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

SG: To pursue my dreams. May I work to achieve them. And not to run, but not to stop.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

SG: It may sound a bit cliché, but I am very inspired by the Curie marriage, both Marie and Pierre, obviously, for their great scientific contributions. She was a great pioneer, and as a woman dedicated to the world of science, it was not easy for her. From the very beginning she fought to study; for women, the university, especially for women scientists, was a hostile environment, and Marie broke all the existing barriers. But I am also inspired by her husband. Pierre said he would not accept the Nobel Prize unless his wife was also named as the leader of the project.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

SG: It already marks the present. Artificial intelligence.

TB: What are you worried about?

SG: The future. As a mother, I am most concerned about the world to come and how it will affect my child.

TB: A startup.

SG: There are so many that I like…! Bear in mind that more than 2,000 startups were registered in Catalonia alone in 2022. There are many that catch my attention: like Berrly, for its functionality in the cohesion of different communities; or Bio2Coat, which has developed an edible coating to keep products fresh.

TB: A book to recommend.

SG: “Todo arde” by Juan Gómez-Jurado. In fact, any book by Gómez-Jurado or Dolores Redondo. I love suspense.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

SG: The film “Good Will Hunting”. I love Robin Williams and Matt Damon. The film represents a constant struggle between the fact of valuing your qualities and the conformism of living, letting time go by, life. I like to believe that we can all change the world and that the difference between one and the other is the attitude.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

SG: Japanese food. I like it all.

TB: A city, a journey.

SG: Vancouver or Toronto. My family likes Canada a lot. We are more about nature than cities, but any place near the Rocky Mountains is fine for us.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

SG: At Sens Solutions.

TB: And a million euros?

SG: It’s easy too. Also at Sens Solutions.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

SG: And if I had money… I would be an investor in startups. I love to believe in people’s passion and dreams. The craziest ideas can change the world so much thanks to entrepreneurs, from Thomas Edison or Joseph Wilson Swan (who they say was the true inventor of the light bulb), to Berners-Lee (inventor of the Internet). The human potential is incredible.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

SG: A launch pad, a platform to find partners, customers, clients, associates and colleagues.

Carlos Andión (La Garriga, 1996) is Country Manager at Fleet, a fast-growing French startup that offers leasing of IT devices and office furniture. With a background in international business, Carlos Andión has been involved in multiple restaurant and real estate projects, including companies such as CloudKitchens.

“I am a great lover of cycling and sport in general. Without forgetting Latin America because of my Venezuelan roots”.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

CA: To offer all types of companies the option of leasing so that the entrepreneur can take care of their cash flow and invest money in what really has a direct return for the company. By doing so, we also want to make all the purchasing, management and after-sales service processes of any start-up or SME in Europe more efficient, investing as little time as possible.

TB: A good idea you have had.

CA: To organise meals with entrepreneurs once a month. I have realised that the entrepreneur’s life is very lonely, and getting together, even if it’s just for lunch, gives us a lot of energy. Plus, we always learn from each other.

TB: A bad professional experience.

CA: It is not because you are ambitious that you have to jump from company to company to try to get to the top, or take the quickest routes. Everything comes in its own time and you have to work on your ego to get there.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

CA: One that was said to me recently: “Don’t get used to shortcuts”. And “do what you have to do and what you say you are going to do”.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

CA: In my professional career, Alan Honan, VP at Wingstop. He is someone who has taught me both professionally and personally, who has been my mentor for two years and is still my mentor today.

TB: What are you worried about?

CA: Negativism.

TB: A startup.

CA: Livo, a software that simplifies the management and billing control process for hospitals and clinics. It is still at a very early stage, but I think its co-founders are excellent, as is the target market.

TB: A book to recommend.

CA: “Zero to One” by Blake Masters and Peter Thiel. I’ve got it tattooed.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

CA: Although it is difficult to choose one, I choose the series “Suits”. Any excuse is a good one to find a solution to a problem.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

CA: Any grandmother’s macaroni and the restaurant “Fismuler” with chef Nino Redruello at the helm – a great inspiration!

TB: A city, a journey.

CA: I’ll say a country. VENEZUELA.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

CA: At the moment we are living in, I would not say where, but in whom. And I would definitely invest in resilient founders, able to pivot or take any decision with a cool head.

TB: And a million euros?

CA: Even if we are Bootstrapped in Fleet, with one million euros I would open a Europe-wide market and we would reach an unparalleled level. Again, although there are many interesting projects, I would invest it in people and not so much in projects.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

CA: A source of inspiration and an important nexus of connection in the Spanish ecosystem where you can find support.