Norrsken Barcelona

Healthcare innovation isn’t just about big ideas - it’s about execution, funding, and navigating one of the most complex regulatory landscapes out there. Bringing a new drug to market? 9.1 years and $2.6B. Expanding across borders? A logistical barrier. Building a scalable healthcare startup? Nearly impossible without the right support. That’s why CG Health Ventures is more than just an investor. They’re operators first - rolling up their sleeves to help healthcare startups validate, connect, and scale. Behind the team is Founder & Chairman of Investment Committee Carlos Gallardo, and Pablo Prieto, Managing Director. Because transforming healthcare isn’t a waiting game, but a hands-on mission. 📢 Read more about their approach and why they believe in backing startups that disrupt the status quo.

Norrsken <3 Europe. Alright people - it’s time for Europe to build its own future, with sustainability and clean technology at the core. We're proud to officially announce our newest location is Norrsken House Brussels. It's a state-of-the-art physical space and vibrant community, to bridge the gap between those who are building Europe’s future and those who are shaping its policies. Created together with SustainableHub, our new hub is a permanent representation of sustainability and entrepreneurship to the EU - right on the doorstep of the European Parliament. Europe is perfectly positioned to lead the transition to the next economy, one that is designed with the best for both people and planet at heart. We have no time to waste - so let’s get started. Read more here: www.norrsken.org/brussels

In celebration of #FathersDay in Spain, we had a room full of 40+ Dads and future dads who are also founders, leaders, and executives - rain and all - for a conversation that too often takes a back seat: How to balance being a leader with being a dad? This wasn’t just about juggling work and parenting - it was about redefining success and recognizing the cultural shifts needed to make fatherhood a fully supported journey. When discussing paternity leave one panelist shared: “Paternity leave is and should be a labor right. But being a founder isn’t - it’s a choice. And all founders know that it's about trade-offs. ” A powerful reminder that leadership is about making tough decisions, but also about understanding the trade-offs we make between our roles as parents and professionals - and shaping a culture where both can thrive. Beyond the panellists' personal experiences, the conversation touched on a reality we can’t ignore: not all fathers have the privilege to "choose" between work and family. Many still face societal and cultural barriers that define them solely as providers. A reminder that the work towards true balance is far from done. Today's session was just the beginning. As leaders, entrepreneurs and Dads, they have the power to challenge outdated norms and build workplaces that support fathers in showing up fully - both at work and at home. A huge thank you to our moderator Azahara García Espejo for steering the discussion and to Marc Antoni Macia, Bartek Kunowski, Jordi Romero, and Marc Jordana Soldevila for their unfiltered takes. What’s one thing your workplace is doing (or could do) to support fathers? Let’s keep this conversation going. Write your thoughts below. 👇 And of course, Happy Father’s Day to all the incredible dads out there!

Brainpower, Unlocked. At the Norrsken Impact Pitch, we opened the stage not just to our members but to some of the most exciting innovators in Barcelona’s startup ecosystem. One of them? BrainFocus, a game-changer in epilepsy diagnosis. Using cutting-edge tech, they analyze brain activity to help doctors detect epilepsy more accurately - especially in complex cases where medication doesn’t work. Their breakthrough could mean faster diagnoses, better treatments, and improved lives for millions. The brilliant minds behind this innovation? Carlota Pagès-Portabella, Manel Vila-Vidal, Adrià Tauste, Bart Huisken, Ana Tost Abadias, Ferran Craven-Bartle, Arnau Manasanch, Antonio J. Donaire. From lab to real-world impact, BrainFocus is on a mission to redefine neurological care - and we’re here for it. Investors took note. Are you? ✏️ #impactstartups #impactinvesting #barcelonatech #spainstartups

Fashion needs fixing. How can we unlock the true value of regenerative materials, and circular fashion? And where do startups fit into the mix? We'll be talking all things sustainable fashion and circularity next week 20th March. Join industry leaders Muzaffer Kayhan (CEO of SÖKTAŞ TEKSTİL), Edward Brial (CEO of Materra), and Mario Borroi (COO of Citizens of Humanity Group) as they explore how regenerative practices in the cotton industry is transforming fashion, the challenges ahead, and how startups can drive real impact.  🗓️ March 20th ⏰ 18:00-20:00 📍 Norrsken Club Link in the comments to grab your tickets. Members & non-members are welcome! Join the conversation (free).

Mark your calendars folks! What better way to celebrate Father's Day than with a conversation on the balancing act of fatherhood and being a leader? Hear first-hand from formidable founders, investors and fathers:  Jordi Romero (Founder & CEO at Factorial HR & Partner at Itnig - Startup Ecosystem), Bartek Kunowski (Co-founder & CEO at ara hiJoey, and ex CPO at Glovo), Marc Antoni Macia (Founder, Novicap) and Marc Jordana Soldevila (Co-founder at Norrsken Barcelona) as our guest panelists, who will share their personal journeys and reflections on juggling these two demanding roles. As dads themselves, they’ll dive into topics like: ↳ The challenges of balancing fatherhood and professional leadership ↳ How expectations and success are redefined after becoming a parent ↳ The complexity of combining these two identities The conversation will be moderated by Azahara García Espejo, Investment Director at HearstLab International. March 19th Father's Day Agenda: ↳ Doors Open: 9:00 AM ↳ Panel Session: 9:30 - 10:30 AM ↳ Audience Q&A: 10:30 - 11:00 AM ↳ Standing Networking: 11:00 AM onwards at Norrsken Club Don’t miss out on this insightful discussion and networking opportunity! Link to register in the comments.

That’s a wrap! What an epic MWC / 4YFN 2025 🚀 We’re honored to have collaborated with so many great partners for the 2025 edition, to bring together more impact founders, ecosystem builders and capital allocators. Here’s a recap of some of our highlights from the week: 📍 Circularity & Impact Roundtable - with Inclimo Climate Tech Fund, EIT InnoEnergy, LUMO Labs, and Santander. 📍 Powering the Sustainable Future Together with Itziar Blasco from Barcelona Activa; Andreas Fogelqvist from Stockholm Business Region; Guillermo Ricarte from Ship2B Foundation, and Rocío Alcocer Magirena from Norrsken Barcelona. 📍 Discover the Norrsken Ecosystem led by Amanda Kai Putley, from Norrsken Barcelona. 📍 Founders & VC Night with our good friends at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Wayra, Santander, Kibo Ventures, Kfund, Inveready , Bonsai . 📍 Spain & US Startup Success - with Stefano Melchior from BeChained and Alba Forns from Climatize. Moderated by Júlia Devin Altès, from Norrsken Barcelona. 📍 Food Innovation Meetup featuring Norrsken startups with Evgeny Savin from Green Growth, Nil Damià from PAKA, Sanne Hordijk from Orbisk | Zero Food Waste, Giuseppe Scionti from NOVAMEAT. Hosted by Ryan Edwards from Naked Innovations together with ACCIÓ and Oriol Sans i Ballart. Thanks to all of our friends and partners for making this week epic! ACCIÓ, Barcelona Activa, Banco Santander & ICEX! 

What a Tuesday morning! Our HER/O Breakfast, this time an official 4YFN side event, brought together an incredible group of women leaders in tech for an insightful conversation. With Kimberly Washington, Co-Founder & CEO of Deep Space Biology, taking the stage, we explored the power of bold moves. She shared how one of her first major opportunities came from joining a Zoom call she hadn’t been directly invited to. A reminder that sometimes, stepping into the room (or call!) is all it takes. Kimberly also highlighted the importance of representation through Space4Girls, a project dedicated to giving young girls hands-on experiences in STEM and showing them just how much is possible when they step into these spaces. A huge thank you to Kimberly, our co-host Azahara García Espejo, Director of HearstLab, Rocío Alcocer Magirena, Managing Director of Norrsken Barcelona, and FILS for making this gathering possible. Here’s to creating more opportunities for women to connect, lead, and drive change. Meet the amazing women who make up the rest of the Norrsken Barcelona team: Amanda Kai, Noelia Almagro Sánchez, Katia de Toledo, Veronica Zambon, Maria do Mar Ferreira, Manuela Mejia Tobar, Júlia Devin Altès, Paulina Drewniak, Jana Ferrer. Now, let’s make the most of these final days at MWC / 4YFN! 🚀

Mobile World Congress / 4YFN is on! We're bringing topics on circularity, and sustainability to the stage all week. Come see what we're up to and say Hi! to our founders. ⬇️ Circularity & Impact Roundtable - Marc Jordana Soldevila, Co-founder Norrsken Barcelona; Fernando Casado Cañeque. Inclimo Climate Tech Fund; Giovanni Bologna, EIT InnoEnergy; Jorge Blasco, LUMO Labs; Led by Rubén SIMÓN, Where: Santander  8.1 A10 | Time: 16:15-17:00 Mon 03 March Powering the Sustainable Future Together - Rocío Alcocer Magirena, Norrsken Barcelona; Itziar Blasco, Barcelona Activa; Andreas Fogelqvist, Stockholm Business Region; Guillermo Ricarte, Ship2B Foundation. Where: Barcelona Activa | Time: 17:00-18:00 Discover the Norrsken Ecosystem - Amanda Kai Putley. Norrsken Barcelona Where: Pitching Stage, Hall 8.1. | Tues Mar 4 Time: 15:15-15:45 Spain & US Startup Success - Stefano Melchior, BeChained; Alba Forns, Climatize. Moderated by Júlia Devin Altès, Norrsken Barcelona Where: ICEX Stand Hall 8.1 C50. | Time: 11:30-12:00 Weds March 5th Food Innovation Meetup featuring Norrsken startups; Evgeny Savin (Green Growth), Nils Damia , PAKA; Sanne Hordijk, Orbisk | Zero Food Waste; Giuseppe Scionti, NOVAMEAT Hosted by Ryan Edwards, Naked Innovations Where: ACCIÓ Stand Hall 8.1 B25 Time: 12:00-12:35 Weds March 5th Thanks to all of our collaborating partners for making this week epic! ACCIÓ, Barcelona Activa, Banco Santander & ICEX! #Startups #Techecosystem #SpanishStartups #VC #impactinvesting

We’re giving Barcelona’s biggest tech week the sendoff it deserves. Even when MWC × 4YFN closes, the startup ecosystem powers on. ⚡ Come to the Closing Party of 4YFN on 06 March. Starts at 19:00 till late. 🪩 Live music & DJ all night long. 📍Norrsken Club 🎟️ Get your tix.http://bit.ly/43jaKRy Dress code: It's a Black & White ⚪⚫ party. See you on the dancefloor.