VDS has announced the agenda for its seventh edition, which will take place on October 23rd and 24th at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. Under the theme “Embracing evolution: Invest in the leaders of tomorrow,” this edition will analyze how the current technological revolution positively impacts society through the voices of leading figures in the global innovation ecosystem.

The international tech event, organized by Startup Valencia, will gather more than 600 global leaders to debate over two days the impact of the innovation and tech ecosystem on society, focusing on artificial intelligence, sustainability, health, the future of work, the role of women in technology, and the new generation in the audiovisual sector. The conferences and discussions with tech professionals will take place across seven stages:

• Santander Stage: Sponsored by Banco Santander as the Diamond Sponsor.
• Green Stage: Promoted by the Valencia City Council as part of the city’s European Green Capital status for 2024.
• Audiovisual Stage: Supported by the Generalitat Valenciana, Ciudad de la Luz, and the Valencian Community Film Commission.
• Pitch Stage: Startups will have the opportunity to present their projects to investors and major corporations.
• Main Stage: The opening ceremony, debates with international leaders, and the closing ceremony with the VDS Startup Competition awards will take place.
• Discovery Stage: Addressing key topics such as the Valencia Port Foundation forum. 
• Workshop Room: Hosting workshops by major corporations like Amazon and Google.

A high-profile speaker lineup

Valencia’s Mayor, María José Català, will be one of the speakers at the Valencia Forum conference, alongside Hortensia Roig, President of EDEM Escuela de Empresarios; Ruth Merino, Regional Minister of Finance, Economy, and Public Administration of the Generalitat Valenciana; Nacho Mas, CEO of Startup Valencia; and Juan Luis Hortelano, President of Startup Valencia. Additionally, this seventh edition will also feature representation from the national government. Spain’s Minister of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Diana Morant, will be present at the awards ceremony and will close the event.

Among the founders and leading tech figures featured at VDS2024 are some of the most influential names in the global innovation landscape. Tom Mason, CTO of UnlikelyAI and a key figure in generative AI, who is working with Alexa’s founder, William Tunstall-Pedoe, to create the UK’s first trillion-dollar company; Thomas Holl, co-founder of Babbel, one of the leading language-learning platforms; Marili T Hooft-Bolle, CEO of Trengo; Dr. Amr Awadallah, CEO and co-founder of Vectara; Alessandra Sala, Senior Director of AI and Data Science at Shutterstock; Tony Beltramelly, founder of Uizard; and Dileep Thazhmon, Founder and CEO of Jeeves, will share their experiences and insights on the future of the industry, offering unique perspectives on how technology is transforming key sectors and shaping the society of tomorrow.

Other featured speakers and startup leaders participating in VDS conferences include Eliott Wertheimer, co-CEO of VanMoof; Kaspar Korjus, co-founder of Pactum AI; Ludmila Jordanova, co-founder and CEO of Plan A; Margarida Garcia, VP of Operations at Poolside; Yannis Daubis, VP for Southern Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Databricks; Alexander Weltzsch, CEO and co-founder of Dealcode; Alex Housley, Founder and CPTO at Seldon; Sebastian Schuon, co-founder of Alasco; Baptiste Pannier, CTO of Adaptive ML; Daniela Espinosa, Co-Founder and COO, now Chief Risk Officer at Kushki; and Miguel Santos, founder of Technisys.

VDS2024 presents a unique opportunity to bring together the world’s most prominent AI leaders. More than twenty talks will be held over the two days, analyzing the challenges and opportunities this technology presents and its transformative impact on society.

One of the key highlights will be a keynote by Armand Ruiz, Vice President of AI Product at IBM, focusing on the future of work through AI. Additionally, Ahmed Menshawy, VP of AI Engineering at Mastercard, will lead a roundtable on generative AI in business, alongside Neema Balolebwami, CEO and AI expert at Neema.ai.

Other sectors will also be prominently featured with dedicated spaces in the VDS2024 program. The Port Entrepreneurship International Congress returns for its second year as part of the first-day agenda. Organized by Opentop, the innovation hub of the Port of Valencia, and driven by the Valencia Port Foundation, this is the largest international forum focused on port innovation.

Gaming enthusiasts will also have a space to explore. Valencia City Game will feature an innovative area where visitors can experience the intersection of video games, e-sports, and sectors like education, tourism, health, entertainment, and art. The Tech Center, backed by the Generalitat Valenciana along with the University of Valencia, the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the University of Alicante, Miguel Hernández University, and Jaume I University, will allow attendees to interact with robots and other advanced technologies, creating an ideal environment for experimentation and learning in the tech field.

Sustainability will take center stage on the Green Stage, where discussions will focus on how governments can transform cities for the future. A highlight in this area will be a talk by Paula Llobet, Councilor for Tourism, Innovation, and Investment Attraction at Valencia City Council. Another panel will address the development of sustainability-focused projects in Europe, with leaders from Unicorn Factory Lisboa, Bandora, and Goparity – Impact Finance.

For hands-on learning, the Workshop Room will offer sessions on entrepreneurship, blockchain technology, and funding, led by experts from major corporations like Amazon and Google. Workshops will cover key topics such as “Strengthening AI Defenses: Mitigating Adversarial Attacks in the Cloud,” led by Google’s security expert Jose Carmona, and “Driving the Next Big Innovation in European Technology,” presented by Omar Sequera and Carlos Muñoz.

These dedicated spaces ensure that VDS2024 offers a rich and diverse experience, bringing together experts from multiple industries to explore the future of technology and its impact on society.

Keynotes from international leaders 

Among the tech leaders already confirmed for the event are Randi Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook Live and Founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media and HUG, who will share insights on personal development and scaling a business around AI. Steve Chen, best known as the co-founder of YouTube, will discuss his knowledge and experiences in creating one of the world’s most visited websites.

The sports world will also be represented by Juan Antonio Samaranch, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, who will address how technology is transforming sports and the significant opportunities ahead for this industry. The Prince of the Netherlands and Special Envoy at Techleap, Constantijn van Oranje, will be one of the Top Voices at the conference, offering insights on how to attract top talent for innovation through inclusion.

Ana Maiques, CEO and co-founder of Neuroelectrics, and a globally recognized leader for her inspiring career, will also be a featured speaker. Maiques is considered one of Europe’s 50 most inspiring women and leads a project focused on therapies for neurological diseases such as depression, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s.

Audiovisual stage: The convergence of the audiovisual industry and technology 

The Audiovisual Stage, sponsored by the Generalitat Valenciana, Ciudad de la Luz, and the Valencian Community Film Commission, will be the setting for exploring the intersection of technology and cinema. Some of the most anticipated talks include Fermín Crespo, Director General of Ciudad de la Luz, who will discuss the art of special effects in film. “Virtual Production: The Growth of New Volumetric Solutions” will be one of the roundtables, featuring Wolfgang Stindl, Anthony Brown, and Domingo Egea as moderator.

Strategic partners and institutional support for VDS2024

This year, VDS is supported by Banco Santander as the Diamond Sponsor, giving its name to the Santander Stage. In addition, numerous tech companies, startups, and organizations are joining as strategic partners, contributing to the success and global reach of the event:

• Wayra Telefónica, EY, Boehringer Ingelheim, CaixaBank, Volkswagen, Caixa Popular, HP, Repsol, PowerCo, Aticco, Fundación LAB, Opentop, Gellify, and Endcom.
• Tech partners supporting the event include Amazon, Google for Startups, LinkedIn, and Microsoft. Finally,
• Program Partners are Burda Principal Investments, Dinapsis, Stripe, Citi, IPG Media Brands, and MAPFRE.

VDS2024 continues to receive support from key institutions, positioning the event as an international benchmark in innovation and technology. Universities such as the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia back the event. Other entities actively collaborating include the Miguel Hernández University Science Park; Ciudad de la Luz; the Valencian Community Film Commission; the Valencian Institute of Finance; the Diputación de Valencia; the Valencia City Council; Valencia Innovation Capital; the European Green Capital; the City of Arts and Sciences; the Generalitat Valenciana; NextGenerationEU European funds; the Ministry of Industry and Tourism; the Ministry of Science and Innovation; the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan; the School of Industrial Organization; and ICEX (Spain Export and Investment).

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or simply passionate about technology, VDS offers a platform to connect with the world’s leading innovators and explore the future of tech and society. Register now to secure your spot and be at the forefront of groundbreaking discussions and opportunities.