Tenerife once again became a hub for cybersecurity innovation with the DemoDay of the fourth edition of CiberEmprende , a program promoted by INCIBE and mentorDay . The event, held at the Hotel Escuela de Canarias, brought together startups, investors, mentors, and representatives from public and private institutions for a day focused on talent, collaboration, and the growth of the digital ecosystem.
The Canary Islands ecosystem as a setting for innovation
The day began with an institutional welcome from the mentorDay team, accompanied by Carmen, a technician from INCIBE, who emphasized the importance of the program as a growth engine for emerging cybersecurity projects.
Next, several representatives from the Canary Islands' ecosystem took the floor to present the resources and programs that support entrepreneurship in the islands. Speakers included Lucía Dobarro from the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands; Raquel Bezares from SODECAN; Gema Báez from CaixaBank DayOne Canarias; Imanol Navarro from UGT Canarias; Alfonso González from AC Conseil; and Javier Garabal, Senior Fund Manager at Archipélago Next. Each offered a complementary perspective that helped to explain why the Canary Islands are establishing themselves as a particularly fertile ground for technological innovation.
InvestorDay and Pitch Combat: two key scenarios for measuring the potential of startups
The day continued with InvestorDay , a space designed for entrepreneurs to test the strength of their projects with potential investors. In this edition, Ester Pérez Ribada with Teamworkz , Marta Walliser with Infinite Spur and English for US, and Jaime Marco with Kharty each had three minutes to present their value proposition, business model, and growth prospects to representatives from SODECAN, CaixaBank, and Archipélago Next. The session allowed for a quick assessment of the startups' maturity and provided them with strategic recommendations aligned with their next stages of development and funding.
Before reaching the competitive phase, the 10 finalist projects presented their proposals in a 90-second pitch , outlining their solution, model, and cybersecurity measures. Following the presentations, the jury selected the 8 projects that would advance to Pitch Combat , the most dynamic phase of DemoDay. In this elimination competition, the teams faced off one-on-one in one-minute head-to-head duels, defending their projects before the jury and the audience, who decided with their votes which team would advance in each round. The intensity increased as the final approached, making Pitch Combat one of the most exciting moments of the event.
Awards for the most outstanding projects
The jury recognized Kharty as the most investable company , while the award for the most dedicated person went to Riham Al Hosni , who stood out for her constant commitment and progress during the program.
The first prize awarded by INCIBE went to English for Us , followed by Teamworkz in second place and Online Platform to Sustainable Finance in third. As the grand finale of the day, and after a very close competition with strong audience support, Marta Walliser (English for Us) and Ester Pérez (Teamworkz) were crowned two-time champions of the Pitch Combat competition .
CyberEntrepreneurship: connections that strengthen an expanding ecosystem
The day concluded with a networking session where entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders could deepen their conversations and explore new collaboration opportunities. This closing event reflected the true value of the program: an environment for exchanging knowledge, validating ideas, and strengthening connections that create real growth momentum.
Thus, the fourth edition of CiberEmprende once again demonstrated its ability to boost technological innovation and reaffirm the Canary Islands as one of the territories with the greatest potential in the future of cybersecurity and digital entrepreneurship.
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