Barcelona, March 3, 2026 – Barcelona Activa, the municipal agency for economic development, is commemorating two decades of fostering entrepreneurship in the city. Its significant impact, particularly amplified by the Mobile World Congress (MWC) over the past twenty years, is being showcased at the 4YFN (4 Years From Now) event, a global benchmark for startups taking place alongside the MWC.
Barcelona Activa’s 200-Square-Meter Stand at 4YFN
The Barcelona Activa stand, spanning 200 square meters, serves multiple purposes. It features a dedicated space for discussing technological and investment trends, an exhibition area highlighting the agency’s services for businesses, and a showroom presenting projects that have received support from Barcelona Activa.
Over the past two decades, Barcelona Activa has hosted more than 450 companies in its incubators. Currently, fifty science-based entrepreneurial companies are located in the StartupLab. Among these, thirteen specialized in deep tech are situated in the new economic activity hub dedicated to digital talent, located in the Nou Barris Technology Park.
Five Innovative Projects on Display
The municipal stand’s exhibition area is promoting the activities of five new, groundbreaking projects:
- Mica Eco: A sensor installed in the meter that monitors real-time water consumption at each point in the home, sending data to a mobile application. Users can track consumption, receive personalized advice, and get alerts for leaks.
- The Balance Phone: A smartphone operating with its own system that systematically blocks access to social media, games, gambling, pornography, and other distractions.
- Vrain: An advanced medical visualization platform that transforms images such as CT scans and MRIs into immersive digital twins, facilitating more precise anatomical exploration by professionals.
- Hoop Slam: Technology integrated into an interactive and portable basketball hoop and a mobile application, designed to organize accessible games, challenges, and competitions in urban spaces for people of all skill levels.
- Safe Hands: A device that, using artificial intelligence and ultraviolet light, instantly detects bacterial contamination and verifies proper hand hygiene in seconds.
Growth in Female Entrepreneurship
In 2025, the rate of female entrepreneurship in the Barcelona area reached 7.8%, still below the 9.8% for men, but significantly higher than the 6.1% recorded in 2021, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM).
Women represent 60% of participants in Barcelona Activa’s entrepreneurship promotion programs and services. Furthermore, 38% of the companies located in the Glòries StartupLab have a woman on their founding team, marking the highest figure in the entity’s history.
Female leadership in deep tech companies will be the central topic of a panel discussion at the Agora Stage of 4YFN. Participants will include Judit Camargo, founder and CEO of Roka Furadada; Sara Toledano, CEO of Sycai Medical; and Marta Vizcaíno, CEO of Tetrax.
Parallel Activities and Future Plans
Barcelona Activa’s presence at 4YFN 2026 will be complemented by parallel activities at venues such as the Talent Arena (Fira Montjuïc) and Beat Barcelona, the official meeting point for Barcelona within the Mobile World Congress. Throughout the four days, sessions will be dedicated to digital talent, female entrepreneurship, impact economy, the internationalization of the Barcelona-Catalonia ecosystem, and the presentation of successful cases driven by the city.
The agency’s long-standing commitment to fostering innovation and supporting local talent underscores Barcelona’s position as a leading hub for startups and technological advancement in Europe.
