Celebrating Women and Girls in Science: Sploro’s Ongoing Commitment to Gender Equality in European Innovation
11 February 2026
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On 22 and 23 October, Sploro brought its vision for a more inclusive and innovative Europe to the stage of the Valencia Digital Summit (VDS) 2025 one of the continent’s most vibrant gatherings of entrepreneurs, investors, and visionaries. Held at the iconic City of Arts and Sciences, this year’s summit was a celebration of bold ideas, global ambition, and, above all, the women founders driving the next wave of deep tech innovation.
Sploro’s presence shone brightest during the panel, “Going Global from Day One: Women Leading Deep Tech Towards Scaling Up,” co-hosted with EmpoWomen, Women TechEU, and Club Globals. Expertly moderated by Virginia Gómez, Sploro’s Head of EU Department, the discussion brought together four remarkable leaders:
The session delved deep into the real levers of internationalisation from intellectual property and regulatory challenges, to funding, partnerships, and talent. The panellists shared actionable advice, founder-first insights, and candid stories of scaling up, proving that women are not just participants but trailblazers in the European deep tech ecosystem.
Immediately after the panel, the Women-led Deep Tech Lightning Pitches brought energy, speed, and a burst of inspiration to the stage. Female founders from across Europe had just three minutes to pitch their cutting-edge solutions, followed by expert feedback from Virginia Gómez and Agathe Acchiardo.
The spotlight ultimately fell on Evolving Therapeutics, whose three-minute pitch on using natural bacteriophages to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria stood out for its promise and impact, earning them well-deserved recognition as the session’s winner.
From AI and health tech to robotics and sustainable innovation, the session showcased the creativity, resilience, and ambition of women founders breaking new ground. More than just pitches, these moments were a testament to the unstoppable momentum of women-led ventures across Europe.
This year, the Efecto Cascada Podcast returned to the summit floor, capturing raw, real stories from founders and ecosystem leaders involved in EmpoWomen and Women TechEU. Hosted by Paula Ostiz, these conversations dived into the journeys of scaling deep tech, unlocking EU funding, and growing on an international stage. Look out for our special VDS episodes, coming soon!
As Sploro continues its journey across Europe, one thing remains clear: our commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs, bridging innovation ecosystems, and driving the future of European deep tech is stronger than ever.
We invite all innovators and aspiring founders to join us, connect with our programmes, and become part of a movement building a more inclusive, impactful, and ambitious tech landscape.
