‘Valladolid Now’ Program Successfully Hosts Its First Investment Forum, a Pioneering Business Development Event
The Valladolid Chamber of Commerce hosted the first City of Valladolid Investment Forum, a pioneering event organized as part of the ‘Valladolid Now’ program. This initiative—a municipal office for projects and investment attraction backed by the Valladolid City Council through its Innovation and Economic Development Agency (IdeVa)—was held in collaboration with CEOE Valladolid and the Chamber itself. The forum brought together over a hundred attendees, including investors, entrepreneurs, institutional representatives, and local businesses, thereby connecting entrepreneurial talent with genuine investment opportunities.
The event opened with an official welcome from the Mayor of Valladolid, Jesús Julio Carnero, who noted that «this first forum is a decisive step toward attracting investment to our city—showcasing specific new projects shared today in Valladolid with potential national and international investors. These projects are emerging to take root and remain within the new business ecosystem and public-private partnership framework being created by ‘Valladolid Now’—an office that also focuses on strengthening the local business fabric.»
Meanwhile, the President of the Valladolid Chamber of Commerce, Víctor A. Caramanzana, described the forum as «a pioneering and highly strategic initiative for Valladolid’s economic drive and development, fostering connections between those with ideas and those who can bring them to fruition.» He added, «This forum highlights entrepreneurial talent and the city’s capacity to attract investment, generate real opportunities, and establish itself as an environment conducive to innovation and business growth.»
Nineteen business projects were presented throughout the day. The proposals spanned strategic sectors such as technology and innovation—featuring solutions based on Artificial Intelligence, IoT (Internet of Things), industrial cybersecurity, and web accessibility; education and culture—with initiatives like an educational marketplace and a digital animation studio; health and wellness—including personalized training platforms and pharmaceutical products; business services and sustainability—covering applications for international hiring, corporate sustainability solutions, digital legal advice, and tools for the hospitality industry; and commercial internationalization—highlighting projects focused on expanding products with the potential for market entry into the European Union.
A key factor in the forum’s success was the commitment by all participating projects to establish themselves in Valladolid should they secure the necessary funding, thereby ensuring a direct and tangible return for the city’s economy.
Regarding the investor profile, the event brought together 34 potential investors from both the national and international stages—including representatives from London and Santiago, Chile—who were able to see the potential of the presented projects firsthand. Furthermore, the gathering was attended by leading organizations in the fields of internationalization and support for entrepreneurship, such as the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX), the Spanish Association for Foreign Trade (ACOCEX), and the Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castile and León (ICECYL).
The day’s program included a presentation by Fernando Rubio, manager of IdeVa, who introduced the «Valladolid Now» program—the city’s Municipal Office for Projects and Investment.
The forum featured a segment analyzing current economic affairs, focusing on investment and entrepreneurship trends in Spain. Key speakers included Isabel Clavero, ICEX Territorial Director for Castile and León; Iñaki Pradera, Northwest Territorial Director at Banco Sabadell; and Jesús Vaquerizo, Head of Entrepreneurship at the Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castile and León (ICECYL). Additionally, Guillermo Rivas-Plata, Secretary General of ACOCEX, concluded this section with a presentation on the impact of the new geopolitical agenda on the business world.
The presentation round included contributions from international attendees—such as representatives from the British firms London & Partners and TradexFirm International, and multinational investors like 352 Capital Partners—thereby lending the forum a global dimension and reaffirming Valladolid’s appeal as a hub for attracting investment.
Following the presentation of all selected projects—which allowed potential investors to gain in-depth insight into each initiative—the 1st City of Valladolid Investment Forum concluded with a networking session and one-on-one meetings between entrepreneurs and investors.
This inaugural City of Valladolid Investment Forum has established itself as an effective, high-value platform for business development, laying the groundwork for future editions that will further strengthen the city’s position as a prime location for entrepreneurship, investment, innovation, and business growth.