A year ago, DANA left a scar on Valencia that has yet to fully heal. The human and material losses still weigh heavily on the city’s memory — and if there was any light in those dark days, it came from solidarity. A sense of community swept through the citizens, who stepped up to help, while the Valencian tech ecosystem mobilized to do what it does best: provide innovative solutions.
From Startup Valencia, we contributed our part to take action and cooperate in the reconstruction efforts. Today, we look back at the results of those initiatives and how they have, in part, helped improve the lives of those affected by the tragedy.
When DANA struck, our first concern was to make all the capabilities of the tech sector available to those impacted. In the first days, we launched Startup Valencia DANA Help, where we provided guidance and connections through the network of over 1,600 entities that make up the Valencian innovation and tech hub. We also gathered all solidarity initiatives in one place, sharing them through our channels and the media. The main goal was to ensure that vital information reached those who needed it most, as quickly as possible.
In parallel, we partnered with Admundi to raise and manage funds for direct aid to victims. Through various initiatives coordinated by Juan Luis Hortelano, President of Startup Valencia, the association raised close to one million euros, both directly and indirectly.
“Adopt a School”: Education, Hope, and the Future
If one thing became clear after DANA, it was that the most vulnerable were children. Many schools were damaged, and education was interrupted. That’s why the initiative “Adopt a School” was born — with an integral approach: economic, technological, and emotional.
After months of collective effort, the solidarity initiative led by Startup Valencia, ATH21, and the teaching community of Para Profes has succeeded in transforming the educational experience of thousands of students affected by DANA. Thanks to this project, direct financial aid totaling €100,000 has been provided, benefiting over 30 schools across 15 municipalities.
The project not only contributed to the reconstruction and improvement of school infrastructure — including entrances, playgrounds, and fences — but also provided furniture and educational materials, ensuring safe and suitable learning environments. With the aim of promoting digitalization and educational continuity, more than 300 computers and digital devices were distributed among participating schools.
Moreover, volunteers, educators, publishers, and psychologists dedicated hundreds of hours to providing emotional support, while new pedagogical resources were created and distributed to strengthen day-to-day teaching. As part of Christmas and Carnival solidarity campaigns, families and students also received over 3,000 toys, adding a gesture of joy and hope to the educational recovery effort.
During the closing ceremony of VDS 2025, the main contributors to the “Startup Valencia DANA Help” and “Adopt a School” initiatives — Daniel Perelló, Cristina Carrascosa, David Baratech, Pedro Trujillano, David Nieto, and Juan Luis Hortelano — were recognized. In addition, the award for the most innovative initiative in DANA recovery was given to Marina de Empresas for its project “Alcem-se”, acknowledging its commitment to reconstruction and resilience.
Inspiration for the Future
This unprecedented wave of solidarity and collective response from society has inspired Startup Valencia to define the focus of the eighth edition of VDS. This international tech event, a reference point in Europe, brought together 12,000 attendees from 120 countries, more than 3,000 startups, over 1,500 corporations, and 800 investors managing over €300 billion in assets. Under the concept of Symbiosis, it explored how collaboration and connection between entrepreneurs, technology, and innovation can generate transformative impact for the future.
With the theme “Collaborate Today. Transform Tomorrow”, VDS 2025 highlighted technological solutions that prevent and mitigate the impact of natural disasters, demonstrating how technology and innovation can make a difference when they are needed most.
Along these lines, Hack the Future — an international hackathon driven by e-Residency and Startup Valencia with the collaboration of the City Councils of Valencia and Tallinn and Garage48 — was also held. The event, celebrated in May, gathered over 100 participants and 14 international teams with the goal of developing technological solutions to help cities anticipate and respond to extreme weather events. The startup Sol Navitas emerged as the winner with a solar ventilation system now being implemented in homes affected by flooding in the district of La Torre, becoming a model of climate innovation with real impact.
Today, one year after DANA, we can look back and see how solidarity, resilience, and innovation have left a tangible mark on the lives of thousands of people. Collaboration between citizens, institutions, and the tech ecosystem can turn challenges into opportunities — because innovation must always serve society.
