Málaga, Spain is set to host the second edition of Gateway Summit on October 1 and 2 at the Málaga Cruise Terminal, following a successful promotional tour in Miami during eMerge Americas. The summit's coordinator, César Caballero, has been building bridges between South Florida's tech ecosystem and Europe, positioning Málaga as a rising hub for capital and innovation. The response from the American market was overwhelmingly positive, with significant interest in exploring new innovation hubs beyond traditional tech centers.
Caballero emphasized that Málaga offers a unique blend of talent, quality of life, international connectivity, and a rapidly maturing business ecosystem. During eMerge Americas, meetings with venture capital funds, tech corporations, and accelerators highlighted Málaga's potential as a gateway to Europe. The summit aims to create concrete connections across the Atlantic, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations from both sides.
The summit's disruptive airport-inspired concept features spaces like the “Pitching Runway” and “Takeoff Talks,” reflecting its core philosophy: a connecting hub where ideas take flight and capital meets high-impact projects. The agenda balances top-tier content, investment opportunities, and networking, with formats like the Pitching Runway where startups pitch directly to investors, alongside workshops and an Experience Zone for live demos.
Thematic priorities include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, healthtech, smart cities, tokenization, and impact investing. Investment is central, with a new initiative bringing together around 20 investors to demystify the startup evaluation process. Attendees will gain insights into market trends, connect with leaders, and unlock tangible business opportunities.
The international lineup includes executives from companies like Mastercard, Renault, and Indra, discussing connected vehicles and mobility. Sessions will cover tokenization with digital asset experts, healthcare innovation with Quirón, and space industry developments with PLD Space. Metricool will address AI applications, and Markus Gotthard will speak on drones and global security. Representatives from Cisco, Reental, and Bolt will also participate.
The summit is tailored for startups, corporations, investors, and institutions seeking expansion into European markets. For U.S. and Latin American attendees, it serves as a concentrated entry point to Spain and Europe. Investors can discover deals via the Pitching Runway and participate in one-on-one meetings, while corporations can source technologies and founders can connect with potential partners. Advanced matchmaking tools will facilitate pre-arranged meetings to ensure effective networking.
Practical learning is emphasized through specialized workshops, such as a live masterclass on startup investing led by Iván García Berjano, and sessions by renowned investors Jesús Alonso Gallo, Rodolfo Carpintier, and Néstor Salvador Boichenco. The Experience Zone offers live tech demos and immersive displays. The summit's unique value proposition lies in combining knowledge, action, and strategic networking, ensuring that attendees leave with not just insights but also valuable connections and deals.
