The startup Ositos emerged as the best startup of Startup Olé 2026, held in Salamanca with over 5,000 expected attendees. The event distributed awards among institutions, corporations, and investors.
The startup Ositos won the first prize at the Startup Olé Pitch Competition and the award for the best startup of the thirteenth edition of Startup Olé. This is reported by ecosistemastartup.com, which details the event's outcomes, held over three days at the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Castilla y León and at the University of Salamanca.
According to the organisation's report, the event brought together startups, scaleups, investors, corporations, administrations, and universities, with an expectation of over 5,000 attendees, more than 500 international speakers, and over 500 companies from more than 40 countries. The founder and CEO, Emilio Corchado, had announced slightly lower figures in the preceding press conference: over 4,000 attendees, 550 speakers, and around 150 round tables.
The Startup Olé Recognition Awards recognised institutions, companies, investors, and organisations. The Fundación ONCE received the award for its commitment to social impact and its business growth programme, while Caja Rural de Salamanca was distinguished as the best initiative. Among corporations, the award went to Mondragon Ventures, and Bcombinator was recognised as the best investor.
Other awardees included Comunidad de Madrid (madri+d) as the best public administration; RTVE Impulsa Visión as the best accelerator; and the Ayuntamiento de Marbella as the best hub. BME was awarded for its participation in the Reverse Pitch, and the Agencia EFE received recognition as the best media outlet.
In the startup and scaleup competition, ten projects were awarded in different technological verticals. Basesport came in second place, and MiFood completed the podium. Ositos competes in the agro-food and rural development category, while other awarded projects work in biotechnology, energy, mobility, GovTech, artificial intelligence, or social technology.
The regional title has a specific consequence: the contest is linked to the Startup World Cup of Pegasus Tech Ventures, and the winner will represent Startup Olé in the grand final in San Francisco, scheduled from November 4 to 6. There, an investment prize of one million dollars will be contested, corresponding to the winner of that final. Additionally, Ositos will receive tickets for the Startup Olé Miami and Startup Olé Marbella 2027 editions.
The Junta de Extremadura attended with 14 companies with their own stands, double that of the previous edition. Its Minister of Economy, Employment and Digital Transformation, Guillermo Santamaría, announced that the community will host next year's Top101 awards gala from Enisa.
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