Tenerife once again positioned itself on the map of technological innovation with the celebration of DemoDay, which marked the closing of the fifth and final edition of ciberEmprende, the entrepreneurship program specialized in cybersecurity promoted by mentorDay and funded by the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE).
A program that boosts cybersecurity talent
The event began with an institutional welcome from the mentorDay team and Estrella Martínez, Project Management Technician for Cybersecurity Entrepreneurship at INCIBE, who highlighted the role of ciberEmprende as a key initiative for fostering innovative projects in an increasingly strategic field for businesses, public administrations, and citizens.
Representatives from the entrepreneurial and financial ecosystem of the Canary Islands also took part in the event, including Raquel Bezares (SODECAN), Gema Báez (CaixaBank DayOne Canarias), Nelson Yanes (Inversiones Suvican), Igor Suárez (CidiHub), and Imanol Navarro (UGT Canarias).
Entrepreneurs specializing in technological solutions also shared their experience in the sector, such as Santiago Cavero, CEO of BalanzIA, and José María Fraile from Marpel Energy, providing their insights on the growth of the cybersecurity market and the opportunities for new startups.
Exploring Tenerife’s technological ecosystem
As part of the program agenda, on the day prior to DemoDay, the finalist entrepreneurs took part in an immersion into Tenerife’s innovation ecosystem. During this session, they visited Innovalia, a company specialized in advanced technological solutions, and the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER), a key center for scientific and technological development in the archipelago.
These visits allowed participants to gain first-hand insight into the potential of the Canary Islands as an environment for developing technological projects and to strengthen ties with local companies and institutions.
InvestorDay and Pitch Combat: proving their potential
One of the central moments of DemoDay was InvestorDay, a space designed for entrepreneurs to present their projects to potential investors and validate the strength of their proposals.
Four startups participated in this phase: Sennia IA, led by Mer López; GOCANARY, by Osiris Márquez; TemotivaLab, by Gabriela Musterova; and LocalBird, by Edoardo Giani.
Subsequently, ten finalist projects presented their initiatives in a one-minute pitch, explaining their solution, business model, and the cybersecurity elements integrated into their proposals.
After this round, the jury selected eight entrepreneurs to advance to Pitch Combat, an elimination competition in which projects faced off in direct duels, defending their proposals before a jury and audience, who decided progression in each round through voting.
Award-winning projects of the edition
In this edition, the jury recognized LocalBird, led by Edoardo Giani, as the most investable company in the program—an app designed to connect travelers with local communities and experiences. The award for greatest dedication went to Alba López for her project Friends2Go, highlighting her commitment and progress throughout the acceleration process.
Meanwhile, the awards granted by INCIBE recognized Sennia IA, led by Mer López, as first place—a platform aimed at reducing teachers’ administrative workload—followed by Almogatec in second place and Elena Domingo in third.
The event concluded with the Pitch Combat final, where MUYAMAMA, a project led by Irene Rueda focused on supporting motherhood and parenting, was crowned winner after a competition featuring projects led by women entrepreneurs.
A program connecting talent and ecosystem
The event closed with a networking session where entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem representatives exchanged ideas, explored collaborations, and created new development opportunities.
With this fifth edition, ciberEmprende consolidates its role as a platform for boosting startups specialized in cybersecurity, strengthening connections between entrepreneurial talent, investment, and the technological ecosystem.
The conclusion of the program also confirms the growing positioning of the Canary Islands as a strategic territory for digital innovation and the development of cybersecurity solutions—an area that is key to the future of the technological economy
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