Aijec will bring together the business and entrepreneurial world at the Young Entrepreneur of the Year gala

The Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Catalonia (Aijec) is preparing to celebrate its Jove Empresari de l'Any award gala again. Representatives from the city's economic, institutional, and entrepreneurial landscape are invited to the event, which this year will be held on Wednesday, November 6, at La Pedrera, starting at 7 p.m.

The award, which reaches its 31st edition as "one of the most important entrepreneurship awards held in Catalonia," has José Bermúdez, Sònia Castelló, and Josep Dosta as finalists this year. The winner will be announced during the gala, which will be presided over by the Minister of Business and Labor, Miquel Sàmper, and the president of Aijec, Ruben Sans.

The three finalists emerge from very diverse sectors and activities, ranging from maritime transport to designer glasses, including the textile sector. As CEO and co-founder of Bound4blue, José Miguel Bermúdez leads the startup for the development of automated wind-assisted propulsion systems, which can reduce fuel costs and polluting emissions from ships by up to 40%. Launched in 2015, the company raised 22.4 million euros in public and private funding a year ago for its systems, which include an innovative suction sail that has positioned itself as the most profitable wind-assisted propulsion technology currently available.

With a very different profile, Sònia Castelló is a candidate for the award as the third generation of the Fil Katia brand of threads, yarns, and fabrics for crafts. Founded in 1951 by her grandmother, who ran a small yarn shop, the company has become a benchmark in Europe, exporting its products to some fifty countries. The company, located in Castellbell i el Vilar, markets its products through 3,600 stores spread mainly across Europe. In addition, among the initiatives promoted by Castelló as CEO is the Escoles Project, which provides materials to schools to conduct workshops aimed at improving children's self-esteem, autonomy, and concentration.

For his part, Josep Dosta founded Woodys at 23 years old to enter the design optics and manufacturing of wooden glasses. The idea arose from his own experience as a nautical sportsman: he thought of creating glasses that would float after his own fell into the water while practicing wakeskate. Afterwards, he boosted Woodys by creating glasses precisely from recycled wakeskate boards. Ten years later, the company has evolved to sell designer glasses with high-quality materials in 75 countries and 15,000 points of sale.

Award for Best Business Initiative

At the gala, Aijec will also present the Award for Best Business Initiative, for which ABLE Human Motion, D-Sight, and Venvirotech compete. The three companies are vying for the recognition, which rewards the most innovative business idea with the most promising future prospects. Along with the finalists of the Premi Jove Empresari, representatives of the three projects presented them last week before the jury that will decide the winner, formed by public and private institutions.

ABLE Human Motion aspires to the award as a spin-off of the UPC. Born in 2018 and co-founded by Alfons Carnicero, the company develops innovative robotic exoskeletons to improve the quality of life and mobility of people with disabilities due to paraplegia caused by a spinal cord injury or after suffering a stroke.

For its part, D-Sight has developed the first drug in the form of eye drops for the early treatment of diabetic retinopathy, the most common neurovascular complication of diabetes and the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. The company, a spin-off of the Institut de Recerca del Hospital Vall d'Hebron and co-founded by Carla Maté, offers an innovative solution to a condition for which there are currently no treatments in its earliest stages. The company, which will begin clinical trials in humans in 2025, is already developing new therapies for the treatment of other neurodegenerative retinal diseases, such as glaucoma.

In the field of biotechnology, Venvirotech is dedicated to the development of sustainable solutions, which aspire to revolutionize the bioplastics industry through a unique technology that produces a totally organic and compostable bioplastic from waste materials. The startup, based in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda and co-founded by Patricia Aymà, has devised a technology that allows reducing production costs, and that achieves a rapidly biodegradable product.

First recognition for blue entrepreneurship

During the event, the association of young entrepreneurs will present for the first time the Recognition for Blue Entrepreneurship. The new award aims to reward the best blue economy project or company for promoting values such as sustainability, innovation and diversity.

In addition, the Recognition for Business Linguistic Quality will also be awarded, for promoting the use of Catalan in business, and the Recognition for Social Entrepreneurship, for companies that are governed by a social purpose. The gala will also include the presentation of the Recognition for Best Business Trajectory, and the Recognition for Future Entrepreneurship, which will distinguish an experienced figure and an entrepreneurial project promoted by minors under 18 years of age.