Where does the eHealth sector currently stand?
The eHealth sector is in a phase of growth and expansion—just look at recent analyses, where it consistently ranks among the top three most attractive industries for investors.
That said, it’s also a sector heavily influenced by regulations, and there is some uncertainty regarding how legislation will continue to evolve, particularly in relation to Artificial Intelligence (AI). The key question is how AI can be utilized and where limits will be set, especially considering the challenge of explaining AI-driven decisions in certain cases.
In any case, it is a booming sector that is gradually transforming the healthcare and medical landscape, increasingly shifting towards preventive medicine and early disease detection, often thanks to the application of AI.
What role has the growth and dynamization of Valencia’s tech sector played in this positioning?
I believe the growth of Valencia’s tech sector is driven by three key factors, which at this moment seem to be creating the right synergies. First, the attraction of talent to Valencia—something that, for those of us who have been in the industry for a while, once seemed unthinkable. Not long ago, local talent had to leave the country to find job opportunities; I myself was abroad from 2012 to 2022.
Secondly, the influx of investment. Valencia has solidified itself as a major European startup hub, attracting investors from beyond our borders.
And, of course, institutional support. While we always demand more—because the startup world moves fast and institutional processes don’t always align—government bodies have been committed for years to fostering innovation and supporting startups within their capacity.
All of this has created a thriving environment that, over the past few years, has positioned Valencia as Spain’s third-largest startup hub, behind Barcelona and Madrid. However, the perception is that Valencia is the hub with the highest level of collaboration and satisfaction among startups in the Valencian Region. I am confident that, in the medium to long term, this will translate into greater success for Valencia’s startups.
And in the trajectory of EBHealth3?
For us, support from the tech sector has been essential—from direct backing by other entrepreneurs to the support of the Polytechnic University of Valencia through its StartUPV program, as well as institutional support through grants and awards. Honestly, I don’t think we could have made it this far without Valencia’s existing entrepreneurial sector.
The path of an entrepreneur is challenging, even more so in sectors like eHealth, where bringing a market-ready product is not always straightforward. As a result, startups in this field often go longer than usual without generating revenue, making it difficult to sustain operations. The only way to keep research, development, and technological transfer alive for these startups is through the support of the tech hub.
What are your plans and projects for 2025?
For 2025, we have very ambitious plans. We are finally launching our product, Wellness Watcher, in the B2C market. Additionally, we are working on implementing Wellness Watcher in senior care facilities, with our first pilot project already signed.
Beyond that, we continue our research efforts, collaborating with La Fe Hospital in Valencia on a study with patients suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. We are also starting a new research project for colorectal cancer screening and early detection, supported by a grant from the Valencia City Council.
EBHealth3 participated in VDS and was even recognized in the 2023 edition as the best startup in the health and wellness sector. How would you assess this international event, both for the tech sector and for your company?
VDS has become one of Spain’s flagship tech events, helping to place Valencia on the international map in the technology and startup ecosystem.
For us, VDS has fulfilled all the objectives that an event like this can offer a startup: visibility, connections with investors, potential collaborators, networking with other industry startups, and establishing relationships with institutions and research centers.
In short, I would say it is the perfect event—or at least, it has been for us in its recent editions.
Valencia is adding a new space to promote entrepreneurship and technology with the Startup Valencia Hub. What impact do you think this will have?
It’s a major step forward—not only for Startup Valencia, which is gaining a prestigious new location, but also for the consolidation of the tech sector around Valencia’s Marina.
Furthermore, I am convinced that any step forward for Startup Valencia is, in general, a step forward for the entire Valencian entrepreneurial and tech landscape.
