The Gateway Summit, set to take place on October 1 and 2 at the Málaga Cruise Terminal, is positioning itself as a critical nexus for transatlantic innovation and investment. Following a promotional visit to Miami during eMerge Americas in May, summit coordinator César Caballero has revealed details of an event designed to foster concrete connections between entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, and innovation ecosystems on both sides of the Atlantic.
Caballero emphasized the positive reception in Miami, noting a "massive interest in discovering new innovation hubs outside traditional markets." Málaga, with its blend of talent, quality of life, and international connectivity, is being pitched as a natural gateway to Europe. The summit aims to capitalize on this interest by bringing together key players from the U.S., Latin America, and Europe to explore joint opportunities.
The event's unique airport-inspired concept, featuring spaces like the "Pitching Runway" and "Takeoff Talks," is designed to break away from traditional conference formats. This edition will include keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive formats such as the Pitching Runway, where 10 finalist startups pitch to investors. Thematic priorities span major tech trends including Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech, SpaceTech, Smart Cities, Connected Mobility, Tokenization, Bitcoin, Real Estate, Tourism, and Impact Investing.
Investment takes center stage with new initiatives, including a live masterclass where approximately 20 investors will openly discuss how they evaluate startups and make funding decisions, demystifying the "black box" of venture capital. This practical approach extends to workshops led by firms like Reental on alternative investments and "Tres en Forma," a dynamic masterclass featuring renowned investors Jesús Alonso Gallo, Rodolfo Carpintier, and Néstor Salvador Boichenco.
Prominent speakers and executives from companies such as Mastercard, Renault, Indra, Quirón, PLD Space, Metricool, Cisco, and Bolt will address topics ranging from connected vehicles and tokenization to the application of AI in healthcare and education. Markus Gotthard will deliver a keynote on drones, AI, and energy resilience in global security.
The summit is specifically tailored for startups, scaleups, corporations, venture capital funds, angel investors, family offices, institutions, universities, and tech hubs. For attendees from the U.S. and Latin America, it offers a concentrated entry point into the Spanish and broader European ecosystems. Advanced networking and matchmaking tools will facilitate pre-arranged meetings, ensuring that the right decision-makers connect seamlessly.
Beyond traditional sessions, the summit will feature an interactive Experience Zone with live tech demonstrations and immersive experiences, allowing attendees to test emerging innovations firsthand. The overarching goal, as Caballero stated, is to empower attendees to understand market trends, connect with leaders, and unlock tangible business opportunities. The emphasis is on the return on investment: "Who did you meet, and what deals will follow from that meeting?"
With strategic collaboration agreements already in place from the Miami visit, the Gateway Summit is poised to serve as a vital platform for building the transatlantic bridge, driving innovation and investment across continents.
