In venture capital, who you know matters just as much as what you build. Around 60% of deals come through an investor’s network: roughly 30% through professional contacts and another 30% through other investors.
When a fund invests in a startup, it is not acquiring an asset with guaranteed value. It is backing an idea that still needs to prove itself. If the founding team comes with trusted references, uncertainty does not disappear, but it is approached differently. That is why trust is not a bonus; it is the foundation. And trust is not built in a first meeting. It is built over time, through conversations, relationships, and active participation in the ecosystem.
This applies to all three sides of the table:
Carlos Blanco, Mercè Tell, and Javier Darriba have spent decades building relationships across the startup ecosystem—as entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders. Those relationships are what brought together the people we are introducing today: our Venture Partners.
They are entrepreneurs and sector specialists who bring expertise, connections, and hands-on experience to Encomenda, helping us identify and evaluate the companies we invest in.
Ernest Sánchez
With more than two decades in the European technology and venture capital ecosystem, Ernest co-founded Nekko Capital and was part of Entrée Capital, a fund with a portfolio of more than 40 successful investments, among them Glovo, Monday, Coupang, Houseparty etc. He currently leads Mestral Ventures, a firm focused on acquiring Spanish family-owned SMEs undergoing succession processes.
Telmo Pérez
Telmo brings more than 20 years of experience leading innovation and corporate venturing initiatives across technology, telecommunications, and infrastructure. He currently serves as CEO Office Infrastructure and Chief Innovation & Digital Officer at ACCIONA. Previously, he was VP of Digital Corporate Development at Orange Group in Paris, where he helped build the founding team of Orange Ventures.
As a business angel, he has invested in more than 35 startups, including Trucksters, Velca, and GOI, with a focus on logistics, fintech, and B2B SaaS.
Victoria Gago
Victoria is one of Europe’s leading voices in blockchain and digital assets. She is Co-CEO and Co-Founder of the European Blockchain Convention, Europe’s leading blockchain and crypto event. She also directs the Master’s Program in Blockchain and Business Applications at Three Points School and OBS Business School.
Her investment focus includes blockchain, crypto, fintech, and digital assets. She is also the founder of Accelerate Network and an ambassador for the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC).
Miguel Sanz
Miguel combines operational and financial expertise. He co-founded SmashInn and Sphera Global Healthcare, both of which achieved successful exits. He is currently Co-Founder and CFO of Twenix, a B2B conversational English platform recognized in HolonIQ’s Europe EdTech 200 and LinkedIn Top Startups 2024.
His investment interests focus on B2B business models, e-commerce, and digital health.
Marc Vicente
Marc has more than 15 years of experience in international digital ecosystems, specializing in e-commerce, marketplaces, and omnichannel strategy. He has held leadership positions at Rakuten, Cdiscount, and Kingfisher Group, and currently serves as General Manager of InPost Iberia.
His investment expertise is centered on e-commerce, retail technology, and logistics.
Miguel Planas
A serial entrepreneur, Miguel is the Founder and CEO of Iris Venture Builder, focused on B2B technology in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and data solutions. Through Iris, he has launched companies such as Nubalia, Tranxfer, and uCloud. He is also a Co-Founder of Tech Barcelona and a member of its Board of Directors.
His investment focus includes B2B technology, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.
Carlos Buenosvinos
Carlos is one of the leading technical profiles in the Spanish startup ecosystem, with previous experience at Atrápalo and IFCO Systems. He currently serves as CPO and CTO of Qualifyze, an international pharmaceutical and healthcare compliance and audit management platform.
His investment interests include technology, digital health, and education.
Together, they represent decades of experience across the startup ecosystem—building companies, leading teams, executing transactions, and investing in innovation. That journey creates something that cannot be bought: a network of relationships and a reputation built over time.
And in venture capital, that makes all the difference.
Because before anything else, venture capital is a business built on people, trust, and connections.
By Encomenda
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