The international startup competition at VDS has its finalists. TaxDown, SPHERICAL, Arkadia Space, Kreios Space, Spendbase, Latitudo 40, Zibra AI, Altum Sequencing, Spacebackend, and CETO Innovation have been selected from among 1,246 applications from 84 countries. These 10 startups will take the stage on October 22 and 23 during the final at VDS 2025, held at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.
In front of an audience of more than 12,000 professionals from 120 countries, the selected startups will pitch their projects to a jury of international investors and executives from leading tech corporations. The final will award prizes in two categories: Early Stage and Growth Stage.
The jury will be composed of Sebastien Lefebvre, Partner at Elaia; Manal Belaouane, Principal at HV Capital; David Guerin, Partner at Brighteye; Gioia Cerbelli, Vice President at GP Bullhound Capital; Stefano Gonelle, member of the investment team at Earlybird; Ramzi Rizk, Managing Director at Rizky Ventures UG; Anna Heim, Reporter at TechCrunch; and Javier Megias, Vice President of Investors at Startup Valencia.
Organized by Startup Valencia in collaboration with Sesamers, a global platform connecting founders, investors, and tech companies across Europe, the competition aims to spotlight the world’s most disruptive startups—those capable of transforming key industries and driving positive impact on a global scale.
The two winning startups will receive prizes including a free exhibition booth at VDS 2026, international visibility, and priority access to networking, investment, and business development opportunities.
The 10 Finalist Startups at VDS 2025
In the Early Stage category, the finalists are SPHERICAL (Rotterdam, Netherlands), which designs semiconductors for electronic systems in the aerospace industry; Latitudo 40 (Naples, Italy), which transforms satellite imagery into geospatial information to support decision-making; Altum Sequencing (Madrid, Spain), a biotech company specialized in liquid biopsy and minimal residual disease assessment; Spacebackend (Belval, Luxembourg), which accelerates satellite payload integration to help space companies launch missions faster; and CETO Innovation (Copenhagen, Denmark), which develops advanced predictive technology for the efficient maintenance of district heating networks.
In the Growth Stage category, TaxDown (Madrid, Spain) optimizes tax management for individuals and companies; Arkadia Space (Castellón, Spain) develops propulsion systems and engines using eco-friendly fuels; Kreios Space (Vigo, Spain) has created an electric propulsion system for satellites; Spendbase (Lewes, USA) offers an all-in-one platform for corporate expense optimization; and Zibra AI. (Kyiv, Ukraine) applies artificial intelligence to generate visual effects and 3D content for video games, television, and film.
VDS 2025: Technology, Impact, and Collaboration
Under the theme “Symbiosis,” the eighth edition of VDS will focus on the transformative power of collaboration between technology, talent, and purpose. The inspiration stems from the floods that struck Valencia in October 2024, underscoring the crucial role of innovation during times of crisis.
On October 22 and 23, VDS 2025 will bring together over 3,000 startups, 1,500 corporations, and 800 investors with more than €300 billion in assets under management.
The themes of this edition reflect the most relevant trends in emerging technology: Smart Cities and Digital Infrastructure, Next-Gen Consumer Tech, Talent and the Future of Work, HealthTech and Longevity, Future of Energy and GreenTech, DeepTech and Scientific Innovation, Aerospace and Defense, and Cybersecurity.
Once again, Valencia will become the epicenter of global tech innovation.
