Connected minds

4YFN 2024

Esade - 4YFN: Leaders of Green Tech

Esade empowers entrepreneurship as a motor for a more sustainable future and we led the debate at last year’s 4YFN for the eighth consecutive year. 4YFN was the space dedicated to startups at the Mobile World Congress – the world’s largest mobile telephony and technology event.

Under the theme ‘Connected Minds. Leaders of Green Futures’, Esade focused on bringing the conversation on GreenTech towards innovation and entrepreneurship under the prism of sustainability, technology, and new learning formats.

You are invited to participate in this sustainable transformation.

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  • Xavier Mendoza

    Xavier Mendoza

    Esade Director General

    "In a world redefined by technology and sustainability, there is an urgent need for thoughtful and responsible leaders. Esade is committed to supporting professionals and entrepreneurs who understand the transformative potential of AI and other disruptive technologies – and strive to become agents of change for sustainable, ethical, and fairer societies."

Esade’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Entrepreneurship and business training is part of Esade’s DNA. Since its inception, Esade has connected talent and knowledge with the entrepreneurial world. 

Esade has created its own ecosystem in which training, research, and innovation create opportunities to satisfy social and business needs. The Rambla of Innovation ecosystem includes seven labs working closely together with the Esade alumni network of business angels.

Esade Speakers

Forget ‘AI ready’ – Now it’s AI FIRST

Esade at 4YFN 2024

How can we make machine learning sustainable?

Esade at 4YFN 2024

Sustainable futures: bridging talent values and corporate success

Esade at 4YFN 2024

Ideas for a greener world

Esade at 4YFN 2024

Monday 26 February

11.45 am – 12.15 pm: Energy transformation: empowering air quality

(Earth Stage, hall 8.0)

Esade is participating in the ‘Air’ element with a panel that will explore the frontier of energy innovation and environmental empowerment. The panel includes the expertise of the Esade Fusion Point and will focus on new AI applications in air pollution mitigation that complement sustainable energy solutions. A groundbreaking prototype for better air quality will be presented by a student active in the ‘Challenge Based Innovation’ program organized by IdeaSquare and the Innovation Department at CERN (the European organization for nuclear research). This discussion panel offers a tangible glimpse into a sustainable future.

Nanita Ferrone, Esade Fusion Point Director (moderator)
Albert Soret, Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Tomas Waisman, Esade Fusion Point, CBI 2023 alumni & current Esade MBA student

Tuesday 27 february

4.00 pm - 5.30 pm: Mentoring Session - Health Tech Startups

(Founder Zone, Hall 8.0)

Dalia Silberstein, Manager of the Impact Community & Social Impact Lab at Esade

Wednesday 28 February

9.00 am – 10.00 am: Ideas for a greener world

(Beta Lab, hall 8.1)

This panel brings together the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute, the Esade Center for Social Impact, and pioneering Greentech startups to explore innovative ideas for a sustainable future – where entrepreneurship meets social impact for a greener world.

Davide Rovera, manager Esade eWorks  
Alba Forns, COO & Co-founder at Climatize 
Alfredo Saenger, COO & Co-founder Electrogenos Ltd 
Marc Miralles, Head of Sustainability at Suma Capital 
Suzanne Jenkins, Manager, Esade Center for Social Impact

10.15 am – 11.00 pm: Forget ‘AI ready’ – Now it’s AI FIRST

(Beta Lab, hall 8.1)

This panel explores how organizations can transition from mere ‘AI readiness’ to actively shaping strategies around AI. Gain insights on designing and implementing effective AI strategies that lead to innovation and competitiveness.

Esteve Almirall, Professor at the Esade Department of Operations, Innovation and Data Sciences 
Markus Reinisch, VP Public Policy Europe and Global Economic Policy at Meta
Tatxo Benet, CEO of Mediapro 
César Velasco, Innovation & Digital Strategy Director, AstraZeneca
Gloria Macías-Lizaso, Partner at McKinsey & Company - Digital Transformation Advisor 

11.15 am – 12.00 pm: Sustainable futures: bridging talent values and corporate success

(Beta Lab, hall 8.1)

Embark on a journey into the future with our Mobile World Congress panel – where student values, professional insights, and HR strategies converge for a dynamic discussion. Join us as we explore the vital link between companies embracing sustainability and their ability to attract top talent. Let’s discover how the sustainability ambitions of the rising generation align with the trends and strategies shaping corporate environmental innovation.

Maja Tampe, Academic Director of the Esade Master of Science in Sustainability Management (moderator)
Alexandre Téchy, Product Analytics Manager, Ecovadis
Alicia Paricio Martin, Director of HR for Southern Europe, ERM
Borja Segura, Sustainability Manager, ClimatePartner
Ximel Bladh, Autodesk Sustainability Ambassador

12.15 am – 1.00 pm: How can we make machine learning sustainable?

(Beta Lab, hall 8.1)

Learn about the environmental impact of training AI models and how machine learning can contribute to environmental mitigation. Experts will reflect on the balance needed for using AI responsibly and so avoiding unintended environmental consequences.

Irene Unceta, Academic Director of Esade Bachelor of Business Administration & Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence for Business (moderator)
Idoia Salazar, Founder and President of the Observatory of the Social and Ethical Impact of Artificial Intelligence (OdiseIA)
Paloma de la Puente, Sustainability expert. Partner Conese 
Joan Ramon Mallart, Director, IBM Consulting Experiences

3.00 pm – 4.30 pm: Mentoring Session - Green Tech Startups

(Founder Zone, Hall 8.0)

Suzanne Jenkins, Manager, Esade Center for Social Impact

Thursday 29 February

From 10 am: Developing ideas for a brighter future

(Hall 8.0)

Academic activity with BITLASI students at 4YFN – MWC 2024 (Matteo Prato)

Bitlasi students will dissect the strategies of companies at 4YFN-MWC by delving into aspects such as competitive positioning, resources, and business models. They will then formulate innovative ideas regarding the future trajectory of their industries and propose growth strategies tailored to the competitive landscape.

11.30 am – 12.30 pm: Esade's choice: best startup at 4YFN 2024

(Pitching Stage, hall 8.0)

In this challenge organized by Esade, Deloitte, and 4YFN, Esade’s MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship students will use knowledge acquired in the master's degree course to select the best startups at 4YFN. The six selected groups will detail the reasons for their selections in a pitch. The Best Startup at 4YFN Award Ceremony takes place on Thursday 29 February on the Pitching Stage. We want to reward talent and the ability to respond to the challenges facing society. Come and discover Esade’s choice and the winning startups!

11.52 am – 12.14 pm: Investing in a Sustainable Tomorrow

(Earth Stage, Hall 8.0)

Journey into the realm of impact investing, where stories of projects with deep and enduring influence uncover the pivotal role of investments in innovation. These tales illuminate ventures that prioritize social impact and environmental sustainability, reshaping the financial landscape. Yet, this path is not devoid of hurdles. These stories also illuminate the challenges faced by impact investing and the unwavering determination required to surmount them. Join us in this session to immerse yourself in a realm where investments extend beyond monetary gains, propelling us toward a more promising and sustainable tomorrow.

Fireside Chat: Maximizing Impact: Achieving Sustainable Returns Through Purpose-driven Investment

Moderator: Dalia Silberstein, Manager, Esade Social Impact Lab
Katrien Buys, Head of Strategy, Innovation and Sustainability, Grupo Ageas Portugal
Andy Lurling, Founding Partner, LUMO Labs

Esade 2024 4YFN

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