Welcome to the Innovation Conversation, a podcast
about innovators, both in business and real life.
Hosted by myself, Ricardo Rescual and Harry McCona.
This podcast is also sponsored by ODEV Tech.
ODEV Tech is your premier software development
partner. Make sure you check them out at odev
.tech. The podcast is also sponsored by Notion
.so. Notion is offering six months for free for
new users. Make sure you check out our website,
thestoreofevents .co .uk to read in the software.
Hi, and welcome to another episode of the Innovation
Conversation. Today we are joined by Emilio Corchado.
Emilio, welcome. Thank you very much, Ricardo.
A pleasure to be with all of you. Emilio, would
you like to introduce yourself to the audience,
please? I'm the CEO and founder of StartupOle.
This is an event that... that, you know, connects
the ecosystem. And of course, I'm also a full
professor of artificial intelligence at the University
of Salamanca. Very nice. Now, Emilio, how do
you get started with these events? Because it
is a bit crazy to run an event. So how did the
idea come up? Well, you know, the idea came many
years ago. We are already in our 11th edition.
The idea was, you know, a big unexpected right
we were working a lot with european commission
and somehow we were more involved in the in the
movement of the startups if you remember i mean
15 years ago. Talking about the startups. was
not a hot topic and then we start to move and
to talk with more people and from there we consider
appropriate to start to do networking and meeting
more people at European level and from there
we start to connect the dots and the idea came
originally like promoting at University of Salamanca
and connect the University of Salamanca, you
know, students, professors, spin -off and so
on, to connect them more with the ecosystem.
But somehow the idea got crazy in the sense that
we were growing non -stop and now we are, as
you know, an international event. So this is
actually quite interesting because you've started
from, I guess, from nothing and now you've grown
a lot internationally. What were the key lessons
that you kind of took on board for the last 15
years? I mean, what did you learn that you want
to share with the audience? Well, you know, many
things that, but as you are saying, it came along
all these years, right? For instance, the first
point that you need to have a clear roadmap that
you need to follow. You need to be original,
you need to do interesting things, especially
in a city which is not really big, Salamanca
is not, Lisbon is not, Berlin, Madrid, right?
And when you try to attract and be international,
you need to find where you are strong and have
a proper communication, right? So communication
is really important, also generate a great community
and the added value that you are generating.
And for us it's really clear, we are not the
largest tech event. But we are we are leader
in generating networking, bringing corporates.
Now we are also after our six years operating
in Latin America and in Miami in the United States,
we are leaders in in Ibero America. And this
is the major lessons learned. I mean, you need
a lot of passion. You need to to have a great
team is really important. And, you know, working
nonstop talent, of course, and be unique. This
is this is fascinating because, you know, we
kind of do both the same things, even though
I'm just getting started compared to you. I guess
the The most interesting thing for me is when
you go over and talk to people and you tell them
about your vision and your idea and you show
how passionate you are about this, how do you
manage to convince people? Because it's always
hard, isn't it? Because you have an idea and
then for them to actually see the same idea you
have on, it's a bit complicated. So how do you
make that happen? Well, I mentioned that a bit
from the beginning, right? We are based in Salamanca,
but we have been always thinking to operate in
a global way. And we did it somehow from Brussels,
working at European level, being the coordinator,
in my case, of a European project called Welcom.
We were connecting Madrid and Salamanca with
Berlin, Dublin and Milan. So you need somehow
to operate at large scale and be able to convince
a really key player and at that point we were
really in a way lucky as we were operating and
working with the European Commission, also with
people like Ryan Air Accelerator, Mind the Bridge
and other relevant players in Germany, in Italy
and many others. This was a way to show that
we were a great community, Betahouse is a great
leader in Europe, leading with a co -working
space and many other things. So having international,
operating at international level, having great
partners, and of course always generating a great
outcome out of projects is the way that you,
that we as slowly but smoothly were convincing
people to join. our community and and then those
members start to talk with others and you know
speak the word and help us to grow because you
know as as you were saying from we were growing
from scratch right generating a community behind
us there is nobody in the sense that we do not
belong to a great company we do not have a great
budgets and every year, you know, our sponsors,
our supporters. So this is probably also our
secret sauce, our secret recipe where we are
supported for many, many partners all over at
the international level. And how, you know, when
you transition to Latin America and also Miami,
How was that? Cause that must've been a gigantic
jump though. I mean, crossing the Atlantic and
also running a conference. How did that happen?
Well, you know, as I said, we have been working
very close with Latino America and probably,
you know, and if not has to be known. Miami is
becoming the capital of, let's say the Ibero
-American area. On the other side of the Atlantic
ocean right so if you want to do something big
in the other side of America you need to be in
Miami this is a fact and we were learning that
after operating all these years we have a lot
of partners in latino america. And now all those
are also connected with Miami. So when we do
something, when we organize our events, our actions
in Miami, we are strongly supported by the American
community because they are already operating
or they go for our events. So this is, you know,
entering. The US market is extremely complex,
so you need your contacts and being reliable,
right? So the first thing that I do when I go
to Miami is to show a photo that they have with
the Spanish king and the president of Portugal,
Marcelo Roberto de Souza. Do they recognize them?
Do they know who they are? Of course, of course,
of course. I mean, Iberamérica, I mean Miami,
if you speak Spanish or Portoñolo, you don't
need to speak any other language in Miami. And
so everybody more or less recognize, of course,
his majesty, the king of Spain and many others,
of course, your president, the Portuguese president.
So, you know, this is really relevant also, of
course, how we convince people because we have
institutional support, strong institutional support.
And also because They like, in general, people
like our idea. I mean, the ticket to get in our
event for general attendees is for free. We are
also trying to generate a platform who recognize
talent and support talent regardless from where
such talent is coming. And, you know, we totally
trust that such talent needs opportunities, especially
at the beginning. When they grow, we are sure
that they will help us back. I was wondering,
you know, all the companies that you meet from
both Europe, Latin America, and obviously the
US, what are the key differences? Do you notice
like really massive differences between each
other or quite on the contrary, they kind of
all operate the same level? Well, you know, Let's
be clear or at least this is what I think. Today
the world is global. Everybody is talking with
everybody. The point is the standards that they
are using and all these types of things, the
rules, the legislation and all these types of
things. I think they're... It could be some differences,
but when they are going, and you know, more and
more we are moving to an international commerce,
people need to know the regulations. If you want
to go to America or to Europe, even if you are
from whatever country, Latin America, you need
to know the legislation, the regulations. And
imagine if we are talking about, you should be
aware of, you know, all. the new law and all
these things, data protection, all this stuff.
And you know, people move really fast and people
study in the best universities, even they are
from wherever. And I think, you know, we have
unicorns. all over in Brazil, in Chile, in everywhere,
in Spain, in Europe, in Miami. And these people
are mega -ultra -connected. I think maybe the
regulation and the way they do things, of course,
having a startup or a scale -up is also a cultural
aspect. It is easier to grow and to scale up
in a place where there are bigger cultural aspects,
there are more investors and so on. But people
with talent move really fast and they are able
to convince and to achieve their goals. So I
see quite many great startups and scale -ups
all over. Is there a country where it's easier
to raise investment than another? For example,
I know in Spain it's a bit complicated to launch
a company because it costs like 6K just to get
started and funding the company and then you
start paying taxes straight from the beginning.
So is there a specific geography they recommend?
Well, to be honest, as I said, I mean, if there
are more investors in investors, corporates,
and so on, mentors, there is a bigger ecosystem,
this is really important. But I have to say that
from StartupLE, we have kind of also leimotif
that we like to support also those who are operating
far away from the big hubs and big ecosystems,
right? So we in Spanish, we say España Esperanzada.
Hopeless, hopeful Spain in the sense that we
want to have things in hubs far away from Madrid,
Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia, and the same in
Europe. You know, everybody should have the very
first opportunities, let's say at home, of course,
sorry, later on to grow. We always said that
go to the main hubs, main cities. And this is
what we are promoting. But as I said, you don't
need to move your teams anywhere. In case if
you want to operate in the United States, I guess
we all know what to do and where to go, no? We,
of course, are promoting Miami. We think especially
if you are from Iberamerica, it's the place to
go. We also know that if you want to have a place
in the United States, you need to have your postcode
in Delaware. But this is the way to go. I don't
know. I mean, maybe you have to have your company,
yes, but to build your ecosystem, I need to be
honest that you need to grow it from the best
networks. And this is, for example, what we are
trying to do in start up a startup get connected
with us we try to connect them with great pool
of investors corporate media universities government
so from there you can go of course also we are
always saying hey grow your team developing team
at your city at your town because you are helping
to generate jobs there. But if you want to work
internationally, you need to go to the best connected
apps. Maybe we are talking about London, Miami,
New York, Madrid, you know. But one thing is
the team developing and the other is the business,
the sales part. But also, again, Ricardo, we
are having a video call. But again, it's also
very important to have personal connections.
And you can generate it in Salamanca, in a startup,
but of course, when you go to places like Brazil,
or to Madrid, or to Miami, or to Lisbon, when
you go to Web Summit, then this is also a next
level where you can almost all the time meet
people. And this is something really very important
to meet as many people as possible to do business.
So go wherever there is a lot of people. I'm
curious on one thing. So you were just telling
me you met the King of Spain and also the president
of Portugal. How were they? Were they nice and
friendly? Or I know Marcelo is known for his
crazy handshake and a lot of selfies. Well, he's
the man. He's the man. I mean, and of course,
also for a startup. was an incredible edition.
Also our visibility was great and these two guys
are incredible. I mean as you know Marcelo Revero
de Sousa is incredible. Just only with the strength
that he shakes hands, the passion that he has
is incredible. And of course, our King, we mentioned
to him that we love to say that he's the El Rey
Startupero, the Startup King. He's supporting
us a lot. From that, from several editions, he's
always... the president of our executive committee.
So he's supporting us. He has a deep knowledge
about technology and startups and so on. So we
are really proud to have a king such as the Philip
VI who is supporting the startup ecosystem in
Spain non -stop. It must be exciting because
when you meet people from startups, they always
come up with crazy ideas. But these are the crazy
ideas that are going to make the world advance,
isn't it? So the more startups you meet, the
more exciting it is because you know something
good is going to come off of it, which is always
cool, I guess. Exactly, this is the case. We
love disruptive ideas, disruptive projects from
incredible startups and scale -ups. So as you
are saying, we love to see technology from electric
vehicles, drones, incredible biotech. companies,
so education also, tech is really important,
sustainability, energy, so all these verticals
supported by these rafting technologies like
artificial intelligence, cyber security, Internet
of Things, and so on. This is the way to go.
And this is what we every year gather here in
Salamanca at StartupOle because it's our largest
take events, but more and more in other places
like Marbella, Miami or Santiago de Chile this
year. I was wondering one thing because your
background is in AI. Do you think that nowadays
every company needs to have an AI element? Because
for example, like all the companies I meet in
London, they want to get investment, they say,
oh, we're doing something AI. You start thinking,
is it actually AI? I mean, using CHPT is not
really just, you can't really say you're AI.
So what do you think about that? Well, exactly,
you know, it's fashion and when fashions comes
also startups knows that Investor pay a they
open the AI and the years when when they when
they hear AI and Well, you know having a chatbot
is not really but of course a chatbot in a proper
A startup may help a lot in the sense that automatization
is really important. Even us, in our website,
we have a chatbot. It's called Emiliole. It has
to be like that. So, you know, but of course,
you were saying investors. they want to know
about how startups are implementing and using
AI. If it's just a light layer, it is not relevant
for them. So investors, of course, investors'
corporates are more and more taking care of those
because let's be clear, AI is incredible. It's
generating knowledge in a very accurate way.
Of course, we always, because there is a lot
of controversy about AI, right? And about blocking
job generation and so on. So this is the evolution.
People have to understand that AI is there as
a technology to support and to generate benefits
for the society and startups. willing to move
farther to grow is the way to go. Do you think,
I'm thinking about something else, you know,
when all your travels and all these ecosystems,
do you think there's a big difference in the
risk profile of investors? Let's say the risk
profile of an investor in Spain compared with
someone from Chile, for example, or from Miami,
are they more risk averse, less risk averse,
or they actually all operate in the same, I guess
mindset? I mean, Everything is also related to
the maturity of the ecosystem, right? If you
have a mature ecosystem that went through many
phases, then you find all types of investors,
right? So what I try to say is that in a more
mature ecosystem or hub, you have all types.
of investors. It is also not just the ecosystem,
it's also related to the actual circumstances,
to the situation, right? Also, I mean, you know,
there is quite, actually there is some complex
periods with, you know, some international wars
and all these things is making that Yeah, sure,
there is a lot of money, but investors take longer
to decide where the money goes. This is also
important and we are in that period, but there
is a lot of money, but investors take longer
to invest. And as I said, probably in less mature
ecosystems, in general, the investors are less
developed. But you know, these days, as again,
These investors, for instance, I go to Miami
and in Miami, you have investors from Spain,
Colombia, from Chile, and they are getting more
and more international. And again, in Spain,
you have people from Israel, from the United
States. And this is a matter of generating more
and more. agreement, more connections and growing.
This is a matter of evolution, I guess. I was
curious about one thing. What were the biggest
challenges you had to overcome when you're building
this whole startup? I mean, I'm sure there must
have been some very dark moments. How did you
pass them? Indeed. Well, to organize 11 years
ago, an event in a city which is very, very well
connected and is well known at university level.
You know, Salamanca also has been a European
cultural city where restaurants and the city
is incredible to visit and so on, but not about
the startups. Bringing international people to
Salamanca is not an easy, it was not easy, right?
I remember once I was in Lisbon attending web
summit and somebody approached me. He recognized
me. He told me, hey, you are the guy from Salamanca,
from Startup Ole. Listen, I'm from Berlin. It's
taking more time for me to go to Japan than to
Salamanca. So, well, you know, but once we were
able to make it happen, now people love the city
and the way we do things. And Salamanca is the
place to organize any type of conference. And
now also the place to come for a startup event.
So this was a major problem also to generate
proper communication at local level, because
people was like, hey. What are these guys doing
here next door? And of course, the mayor one
was COVID, the COVID period where we have to
postpone. I mean, we were meant to organize the
event in March and in March, April came COVID
that year. We postponed it to September because
with summer and everything, you know, we were
all in the beach and so on. And suddenly in September,
Again, everything was blocked. And suddenly we
were the very first event ever and anywhere that
we have to jump into digital. So we move everything
into digital in two weeks. Well, in the middle,
I'm not going to explain, I'm not going to give
you details, but we were totally dead bodies.
It was almost, we have to learn a lot how to
get digital. Now everything goes digital we can
have a meeting here or in person everybody knows
how to do it but at that moment we were we were
investigating how to do it getting into OBS systems
digital systems get capturing getting the signal
and the sound from a video call being able to
spread it while it was a major technical problem
and also keep the confidence of all of our partners,
investors and so on. But, you know, I have to
say that after all this, we were able to grow.
We got more and more partners and the confidence
on us was growing also nonstop. And this is also
a matter of confidence. I'm curious on one thing,
because you mentioned how hard it is to get Salamanca
or how hard it was to get the Salamanca. How
do you manage to get people to overcome that
barrier? Because we know there's direct flights
to Madrid from most cities, but Salamanca is
a little bit harder to get to. So how do you
get people to overcome that hardship in their
mind? Because I think what was going on is that,
let's be clear, we have a winner product. When
people come to Salamanca, they get a lot of outcomes.
We have mentioned that we are a networking event,
and this is our main focus that everybody gets
in a natural way, a lot of connections, and these
become leads, and these become... projects, investment,
joint ventures, or whatsoever. So this is it.
I mean, plus, of course, we generate a joint
offer where doing business stream, but also enjoying
meeting people in a friendly environment is,
I think, the winner mix. that we offer because
you know Salamanca is really great but also the
way we do things we are really focused on networking
we have several digital tools where somehow regardless
yes or yes you get many connections and also
we attract let's be clear to a small city a great
amount of high quality representative of the
ecosystem. So you will have for sure many opportunities
to connect with top investors, corporate media,
government, because these guys, I mean, I have
to say something that in big events, you know,
sometimes people, the high profiles go to the
event for a while. But then in the morning, they
have to get back to the office in the afternoon.
OK, we were there one morning. We were doing
it. But in here in Salamanca, people come to
stay one or two days. And days means also part
of the night, because, you know, people go for
a drink or for some tapas. And it's all in a
really, it happens in the downtown. So everybody
is meeting to each other several times, either
in the round tables, in the matchmaking events,
and if not, in the cocktails. We are also putting
a lot of budgets in the cocktails. We generate
cocktails, five, six cocktails with concerts,
with parties where a startup investor, everybody
is invited, not general attendees, but the rest.
So, you know, we are also putting a lot of focus
on networking and generating many opportunities
to connect and let's be clear, startups. go to
Salamanca to talk with all these guys. And also
among Investor and Corporates, there is a lot
of connection. And this is also what they mentioned
to us, that they are coming because of it. Emilio,
so we have Salamanca OLE coming up. They'll be
in October. After that, what do we have next?
Is it Miami or is it Santiago? Well, we are working
hard. Actually, in one week, this Saturday, I'm
flying back to Miami. So the next event, big
event, will be in Miami in March. at the beginning
of the Miami Tech Week. So we are now conducting
many meetings with partners. Also, we have been
visiting many great venues. So we will be also
making public the venue and so on because now
in Miami we go also for a fair with booth and
incredible periods. Also, We are carrying on
with our idea to celebrate StartupOle Beach Edition.
Nice. So as we did in June, at the end of June
in Marbella, we hope to do it in Marbella again
next year. And also now we are working with our
friends and talking with several partners for
working in Latin America, the other side of the
Atlantic. So maybe probably we will be organizing
two or three more events there in Latin America.
But we still have to decide when and where. It
feels like you have a lot of really good things
happening for you, which is just always good
to know. Emilio, if people want to reach out
to you, how can you do so? Well, it is easy.
If you get... First of all, if you want to talk
with the Startupole team, you get into a Startupole
website, which is startupole .eu. We feel also
very European. That's why EU, and let's be clear,
we were born based on European projects, right?
So get in there, you have the contact. So hello,
startupole .eu is the way to contact us, the
team. And of course, if you want to contact me,
I think that you can find me in LinkedIn through
Emilio Corchado, a startup, I'm sure you will
be able to find me there and send me a message.
This is the best way. And probably you can find
also my mobile phone number there and send me
a WhatsApp and probably sooner or after I will
reply to you more or less fast, more or less...
the number of words will be less or long based
on how close I am with the events. Sounds good.
Emilio, thank you so much for your time. It's
been an absolute pleasure. Ricardo, thank you
very much. It is a pleasure for us. Thank you
for speaking the world about StartupOle and of
course, you are really welcome to StartupOle
in Salamanca from the 8th to the 10th of October.
Tickets could also get free. You have different
possibilities. So looking forward to meet you,
Ricardo, and all your audience. Thank you so
much, Emilio. Thank you very much, Ricardo. Thank
you to your audience. You are a really great
ecosystem player, so it was a real pleasure.
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