4YFN26 Barcelona ignites the global startup ecosystem as founders, investors and world-changing technologies set to converge in Barcelona

29 January, London: 4YFN26 Barcelona will return 2–5 March as a global launchpad for the intrepid and ambitious founders shaping the future of our world. Co-located at with MWC26 Barcelona in Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via, 4YFN is a unique gathering of the best and brightest startups, visionary founders, and strategic investors representing dozens of industries from across the globe. 

This year, 4YFN26 attendees can access the event through a dedicated 4YFN Entrance, as Hall 8 plays host to two packed floors filled with exciting start-up exhibitors, conferences, and breakout sessions. 

A highlight of 4YFN each year is the electric 4YFN Awards, with the final taking place on 4 March through an intense live pitching competition celebrating the crème-de-la-crème from the global start-up ecosystem. The winner will claim a €20,000 cash prize courtesy of the GSMA Foundry. Check out the Top 20 competing start-ups here.

Featuring one of the strongest speaker line-ups to date, 4YFN will welcome a host of industry-leading voices across the week:

• Atomico’s Partner, Caroline Chayot
• Balderton’s General Partner, Rob Moffat
• Cerebras Systems’ Co-Founder and CEO, Andrew Feldman
• Decagon AI’s Co-Founder and CEO, Jesse Zhang
• Earlybird Venture Capital’s Founding Partner, Hendrik Brandis
• Exponential View’s Founder, Azeem Azhar
• Factorial’s Founder and CEO, Jordi Romero
• Gleam’s Founder and CEO, Arvind Jain
• Indico Capital Partners’ General Partner, Cristina Fonseca
• Luzia’s CEO, Alvaro Martinez
• Multiverse Computing’s CEO, Enrique Lizaso
• Notion Capital’s General Partner, Itxaso Del Palacio
• Nu Quantum’s Founder and CEO, Carmen Palacios-Berraquero
• Papaya Global’s Co-Founder and CEO, Eynat Guez
• Protect AI’s Co-Founder, Daryan Dehghanpisheh
• SambaNova’s Co-Founder and CEO, Rodrigo Liang
• Sofinnova Partners’ Partner, Edward Kliphuis
• T.Capital’s VC Investor, Karine Peters
• WPP’s Chief AI Officer, Daniel Hulme
• and leading technology analyst, Benedict Evans

4YFN has become the beating heart of the global start-up ecosystem – with global editions now also taking place in Doha and Shanghai – all  embodying the diversity and ambition of the modern startup ecosystem. Under this year’s event theme, Infinite AI, the floor gives visitors an unmissable, front-row view into how AI is extending human capability and unlocking world-changing opportunities, spanning areas such as AI-driven platforms, digital health, fintech, climate innovation, immersive experiences and next-generation infrastructure. For founders and start-ups, 4YFN is a place to be discovered. For investors, it is a curated window into the ideas shaping the next decade.

New tracks this year include Creativity and Cybersecurity, alongside another debut, the dedicated Gaming track, which will spotlight the industry’s increasingly important role as an engine for tech and economic growth, exploring immersive gameplay, analytics, and monetisation strategies. Joining these new tracks, the 4YFN programme welcomes back Climate Tech, Corporate Innovation, Fintech, Founders, Health Tech, Investors, and Universities & Spin-Offs, reflecting the rich variety of start-up innovation on show. 

4YFN26 will also feature Partner Programmes that bring expertise and innovation to the forefront. More information about programmes and sponsors can be found here.

Book your place at 4YFN26 here, and stay updated on the latest news here. 

For the latest MWC26 Barcelona announcements, including new speakers and exhibitions, read here.

-ENDS-

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events. We invite you to find out more at gsma.com

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