StartUB! participated once again in 4YFN, the platform dedicated to entrepreneurship at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona
A total of 16 spin-offs and start-ups that are growing in our incubator were able to show their innovative projects at the 4YFN fair, at the stand that StartUB!, together with the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Fundació Bosch i Gimpera, set up in the University and spin-off hub space, where more than 15 academic institutions exhibited. In addition, other start-ups incubated at StartUB! were present at 4YFN, creating an ecosystem of more than twenty emerging companies with the UB seal present at the great event for start-ups in Barcelona.
The rector of the University of Barcelona, Joan Guàrdia, visited the StartUB! space at the 4YFN in recognition of the institution’s drive for innovation and the promotion of entrepreneurship, and thus reaffirming its commitment to innovation and its desire to contribute to technological and social progress. The rector showed his interest in each of the exhibiting companies’ projects, and provided advice and interesting comments to many of them.
Entrepreneurship, a strategic line of the UB
“The presence of the University of Barcelona at the Mobile and at 4 Years From Now -explained Guàrdia – is of crucial importance within our strategy of promoting companies and entities generated and born from the University of Barcelona, so that all entrepreneurial action can be transformed into market action. The mechanism for promoting great ideas needs showcases of the impact of the Mobile, and that is why the University of Barcelona is present at the fair.”
The head of the UB highlighted that “entrepreneurship is currently not only a fundamental axis of the latest reports on economic development of the European Union, but it is also a rising value in university growth.” From his point of view, “this translates into university training that incorporates entrepreneurship and the skills necessary for entrepreneurship, and also into the fundamental need to identify units that assume responsibility for the management of this strategic line, such as StartUB!.”
“StartUB! is the entrepreneurship and innovation unit within the University of Barcelona, responsible for supporting both students and teachers in their entrepreneurial projects,” explained Elena Maestre, deputy director of StartUB!.
Social impact projects
StartUB!’s participation in 4 Years From Now aimed to showcase the most relevant technological developments and innovative projects with the greatest social impact arising from students and research staff at the UB. This work of promoting and mentoring entrepreneurship was recognised with various awards, such as those received by The Blue Box and LogMeal and NIMBLE Diagnostics:
- The Blue Box was finalist in the 4YFN Awards in the Digital Health category, in which emerging companies offering innovative digital solutions and technologies to improve prevention, detection and healthcare delivery were selected. The start-up The Blue Box has created an innovative urine test for the early detection of breast cancer. The test is painless, radiation-free and has a sensitivity of 88.42%. This fast, accessible and low-cost solution could lead to an additional 30% of women with breast cancer being diagnosed.
- LogMeal and NIMBLE Diagnostics were finalists in the 4YFN 2025 Spin Off Pitch battle, a competition won last year by ColorSensing, a spin-off with the seal of UB and Fundació Bosch i Gimpera.
Companies that have emerged from university technology (spin-offs) and emerging companies (start-ups) that participated in this edition of the Mobile World Congress entrepreneurship event with the support of StartUB! and the Fundació Bosch i Gimpera were:
Spin-offs:
– Colorsensing. Working to reduce food waste by developing a smart packaging solution that can detect damaged packaged products before they reach the consumer.
– Log Meal. It uses an artificial intelligence system based on image recognition that allows food recognition and food tracking based on the most advanced deep learning techniques.
– Oniria Therapeutics. It focuses on the development of targeted therapies to eliminate tumor cells that persist in conventional treatments and are responsible for the progression of cancer to fatal stages.
– Impetux Optics. Development of force measurement instruments based on optical tweezers.
– NeurekaLAB. Assessment and re-education of learning difficulties.
Start-ups:
– CellFlow. They develop medical devices based on lab-on-a-chip technology for the efficient separation of blood cells. Their technology improves diagnostic processes and therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine.
– Ludens Studio. They help incubators improve recruitment, retention and monitoring of entrepreneurial learning through video games.
– Omashu. It offers a comprehensive service that certifies the correct transfer and forecasting of value for e-sports players, both at professional and amateur levels, using blockchain technology and machine learning.
– Pets & Vets. It is a platform that connects pet owners with veterinarians and other animal welfare professionals to democratize access to animal health.
– YOUCards Collection. It is an application developed by Ediverse Group that transforms influencers’ content into unique digital cards that fans can collect, exchange and sell.
– Bend It Sports. A digital platform to connect footballers, coaches and clubs, facilitating the discovery of talent and the development of careers in grassroots, amateur and semi-professional football.
– DEKINES. It is a platform for managing work teams and monitoring the shifts of your employees.
– Imaz Technology Innovation – MAXSENS. They develop AI-powered biomedical devices for remote health monitoring and rehabilitation.
– Loop Diagnostics. They diagnose sepsis at an early stage using biomarkers of immune activity that become detectable only one hour after the bacteria infect the blood.
– Sistema THEAD. It contributes to quality education for all children in Catalonia, Spain, Latin America and beyond, and strives to inspire a change of consciousness about the planet, reduce the digital divide and promote equal opportunities in society.
– WardUs Safety. It is a mobile application designed to improve personal safety and promote citizen solidarity through real-time alerts, recording of evidence and calculation of safe routes.
StartUB!, fundamental support for entrepreneurship
All these companies have received advice and mentoring from StartUB!, and participation in the 4YFN was the opportunity to bring their solutions closer to both end users and potential investors.
All these companies have received advice and mentoring from StartUB!, and participation in the 4YFN was the opportunity to bring their solutions closer to both end users and potential investors.