B Founders Club is born, the network that connects leading figures in local entrepreneurship to boost the startup ecosystem of Bizkaia

Six leading figures in entrepreneurship make up the founding group of the new B Founders Club, an initiative led by BAT B Accelerator Tower that aims to bring together successful startup founders to share experiences, generate knowledge, and promote actions that strengthen Bizkaia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The group includes Fernando Bacaicoa, founder of Grupo Educaedu; Eneko Knörr, serial entrepreneur (Hostalia, Ideateca, Ludei, Stabolut) and startup investor; Gurutz Linazasoro, founder and Executive Chairman of VIVEbiotech; Ander Michelena, Founding Partner of Acurio Ventures and Co-founder of Ticketbis; Oier Urrutia, Founder and CEO of Lookiero; and Iratxe Zuluaga, CEO of Ariadna Grid and Merytronic.

B Founders Club emerges as a benchmark network that seeks to showcase local success stories, foster collaboration among entrepreneurs, and inspire new generations—positioning Bizkaia as an attractive territory to create, grow, and invest.

An initiative driven by BAT B Accelerator Tower
The project is promoted by BAT B Accelerator Tower, the International Entrepreneurship Center of Bizkaia located in Torre Bizkaia and supported by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the City Council of Bilbao, with the collaboration of the Basque Government. It is an international hub that connects startups, corporations, investors, technology centers, universities, and public institutions worldwide.

Its mission is to foster innovation and new business initiatives that strengthen and renew the business fabric of Bizkaia and the Basque Country, while also attracting and connecting international talent to the region.

Currently, 214 organizations are part of this community, including 114 startups, all working to promote open innovation, technological development, and business competitiveness. Since its creation, BAT has consolidated a model that combines incubation and acceleration programs, networking activities, access to funding, international connections with more than 140 entrepreneurship hubs worldwide, and specialized support services for startups.

A space for inspiration, knowledge, and action

B Founders Club is structured as an active forum for knowledge and collaboration, where the most experienced founders share lessons learned and best practices with entrepreneurs leading growing projects.

The club features two levels of participation:

Successful Founders Committee, made up of the six founders of established startups with more than €5 million in investment or revenue.
B Founders, composed of entrepreneurs who have raised a professional investment round of at least €500,000 or exceeded €1 million in revenue over the past three years.

The club will transfer knowledge, identify key levers for ecosystem growth, and share proposals and insights with public institutions, corporations, and investors in order to continue strengthening Bizkaia’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Open call for new members

Following the creation of the founding group, a call for applications has been opened to incorporate startup members who will join the first cohort of B Founders. The first meeting will take place on December 1 at Torre BAT. Interested companies can apply through BAT’s official website.

With the creation of B Founders Club, Bizkaia reaffirms its commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and talent, consolidating a community of founders who share the vision of making the region an international benchmark in advanced entrepreneurship.