Powerful ideas and youthful energy: success of the 4th University Entrepreneurship Exhibition

Last Thursday, the Ciutadella campus of Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) hosted the 4th University Entrepreneurship Fair, an event aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among young people in the Catalan university community. More than 250 students from the 12 universities that make up the Catalan University Entrepreneurship Network gathered to share projects, experiences and ideas. Over the course of its four editions, the Exhibition has established itself as a key space for discovering young talent, forging connections and inspiring participants to embark on the entrepreneurial adventure.

Mateo Salvatto: an inspiring witness

The day began with a presentation entitled ‘We can all change the world’ by Mateo Nicolás Salvatto, a young Argentine entrepreneur who, at just 26 years of age, has already founded Asteroid Technologies and created Háblalo, an application that facilitates communication for people with disabilities and already has more than 500,000 users.

Salvatto shared his journey, from the beginnings of his start-ups to the personal challenges of entrepreneurship, demonstrating that passion, creativity and perseverance are key to transforming ideas into projects with social impact. His talk was sincere and inspiring, inviting attendees to reflect on how to turn personal initiative into actions that can bring about real change in society.

Pitch Combat: the great battle of university ideas

The most outstanding projects from the 12 Catalan universities went head-to-head in a true battle of ideas, where creativity, innovation and presentation skills were decisive. Each team had two minutes to present their proposal in an agile, direct format, without the aid of traditional presentations, with the aim of communicating the idea clearly and with impact. The audience also played a key role, as they were responsible for deciding the winners in the early elimination rounds of the competition via a live voting system using the Kahoot! app. This voting format created an exciting atmosphere, full of nerves and anticipation, as the teams progressed through the elimination rounds to the grand final.

In the final stage, an external expert jury, comprising: Lídia Ocaña, Project Specialist at the Artificial Intelligence and Data Transformation Hub at DAMM; Ona Estapé, Head of Technology Transfer Operations at Mobile World Capital; Itziar Blasco, Executive Director of Business and Entrepreneurship at Barcelona Activa; Amadeu Barceló, Head of the business creation service at Autoocupació; and Àlex Vives, Dealflow Manager at BCombinator, the winning project was determined, which won a prize of €1,000.

The participating projects were:

• Tecous (UAB): A visual and interactive interface that simplifies the understanding of legal terms, making them accessible and reducing conflicts.
• WardUs (UB): A public safety platform that connects citizens, law enforcement agencies and authorities with immediate alerts and real-time management.
• Haptika Medical Technologies (UPC): Non-invasive haptic systems that provide sensory feedback for prostheses and neurological rehabilitation.
• Picofon (UOC): AI-powered educational programme that strengthens phonological awareness in children aged 3 to 7 through adaptive, playful learning.
• CoCREA! (URL): Community-driven ecosystem for creating children's operas that combines art, education and technology with local participation.
• DAIA (UdG): AI-powered personal assistant for diabetes management, improving decision-making and reducing risks and stress.
• SPICCA (UAO): A social project revitalising Mediterranean craftsmanship with sustainable espadrilles inspired by the stories of migrants or those at risk of exclusion.
• IngrediZymes (URV): Development of natural bioactive ingredients using green biotechnology for sustainable cosmetic and food applications.
• ALSense (UIC): A biosensor using synthetic biology for the early detection of ALS, accelerating diagnosis and access to treatments.
• Balance in You (UVic): An emotional wellbeing app with mindfulness, psycho-educational tools and digital support for adolescents and young adults.
• PackSpot (UdL): SaaS system with an app and NFC/Bluetooth labels that optimises parcel management and improves collection efficiency.
• Offerty (UPF): App that promotes local commerce with offers and discounts, helping businesses reach more customers and save money.

The winning project was ALSense from the International University of Catalonia, led by Estel Gubianes, which captivated the audience and the jury with an innovative project for the early detection of ALS, combining technology and social impact, and took home a €1,000 prize.

Enthusiasm, humour and networking: the perfect ending

The day was full of participatory moments thanks to Cocolisto, who proposed collaborative challenges that combined humour, play and reflection, to demonstrate that cooperation is key to moving forward and that creativity grows when it is shared. Alexandra Flores, an actress from the Improshow company, took on the role of event facilitator, bringing humour, warmth and support to the teams during moments of nerves. Thanks to her enthusiasm, she maintained the pace and energy for over three hours of non-stop activities.

The participants concluded the Showcase with a networking session sponsored by Estrella Damm and a catering service from Can Pedró, creating a relaxed atmosphere perfect for making contacts, sharing experiences and continuing to inspire one another. This finale consolidated the day as an entertaining, motivating and inspiring experience.

The day highlighted the vitality of the university community and confirmed that youth entrepreneurship is more alive than ever, with students capable of transforming ideas into projects with a real impact and inspiring everyone around them with their energy and passion.