Celebrating Women and Girls in Science: Sploro’s Ongoing Commitment to Gender Equality in European Innovation
11 February 2026
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The Sploro team Marcos and Paula has just returned from Cádiz with recharged energies and a renewed sense of purpose after attending South Impact 2025:
We travel across Europe to explore and share innovation stories, but this time we didn’t have to go far. Staying in Spain gave us a powerful reminder that the southern innovation ecosystem is thriving full of passion, ambition, and a strong sense of belonging.
What struck us most was the deep pride everyone expressed in their roots. Even those who had expanded to international markets carried Cádiz in their hearts. That emotional bond, that collective love for their land, was tangible throughout the event.
This edition was especially meaningful for us at Sploro, as it marked our first experience as an official media partner a milestone we’re truly proud of. Through Efecto Cascada, our podcast dedicated to European innovation and funding, we had the opportunity to interview inspiring founders and thinkers shaping the region’s future.
We kicked off with María Rosado, CEO of Kiota, a startup helping investors make fairer, bias-free decisions. A digital product designer turned entrepreneur, María shared lessons from her journey “building and unbuilding” startups a conversation filled with insight, humility, and creativity.
Next was Andrea Pilan, founder of Climbing Talent, who transformed personal resilience into a mission to help others climb towards professional success. From Amazon Barcelona to managing €40M portfolios in Luxembourg, Andrea’s story is one of self-determination and impact now amplified to over 100,000 followers online.
We then met Jorge Galindo and Raúl Raja, co-founders of Predictable Machines, whose vision for artificial intelligence is as human as it is technological. Combining Jorge’s background in innovation and Raúl’s expertise in tech ethics, they’re proving that trustworthy AI is not only possible but necessary.
The second day brought two remarkable conversations.
José Antonio Dorado, co-founder of Orbitant, shared his evolution from coder to company builder. With a track record that includes scaling Sherpa Platform to over 350 employees before a successful exit, his focus remains on people and adaptability the true core of innovation.
Then came Bea Díaz Garduño, environmental scientist, communicator, and project manager at Oikos MSP. Her work bridges science and storytelling, transforming complex topics into messages that connect and inspire. Bea reminded us that sustainability and communication must go hand in hand if we want to achieve real impact.
One of the most exciting moments of South Impact was hosting our first-ever live podcast session with a real audience! It felt like a live roundtable, full of laughter, questions, and connection. Seeing and feeling the listeners’ reactions in real time was energising; it reminded us that there are Splorers on the other side of the mic, and that our mission to amplify innovators’ voices is truly resonating.
As Paula, Efecto Cascada’s hostess, shared:
“Speaking into a camera can sometimes feel lonely. But this time, surrounded by an engaged audience, the energy was electric. It reminded me why we do this to connect, share, and celebrate those who are shaping Europe’s innovation landscape.”
While Paula was leading interviews, Marcos Sacristán, our Business Developer, was engaging directly with startups and SMEs eager to scale their projects through EU funding opportunities. Due to the unawareness of the instruments available across sectors, and through our Cascade Funding Hub, Marcos guided participants on how to identify and apply for these calls, particularly the startups from the South of Spain, whose creativity and resilience are driving a new wave of digital and sustainable ventures.
Marcos also introduced our Partnerships Programme inviting companies with online products or services, to join as partners. It’s a call to collaborate, expand visibility, and strengthen a pan-European ecosystem where southern innovation has a well-deserved spotlight.
We won’t spoil all the details just yet the Efecto Cascada South Impact series will be released soon, featuring all these conversations and more. Stay tuned for new episodes in both English and Spanish!
A heartfelt thank you to the South Impact organisation team for making this possible, and to everyone who came to listen, laugh, and share their stories with us.
Yes, we travelled all the way to the South, and every kilometre was worth it. Cádiz reminded us why we do what we do: to celebrate innovation with purpose, from every corner of Europe.
