On March 3, GMV hosted the event “What no one tells you: Successes and failures of aerospace startups” at its headquarters, a networking day focused on the challenges facing entrepreneurship in a sector as demanding and strategic as aerospace. The initiative brought together startups, institutions, and experts to share practical experiences and strengthen the innovation ecosystem.

The event was held in collaboration with Redes de Emprendimiento Digital, a project led by the Regional Government of Madrid, through the Regional Ministry of Digitalization, as part of RETECH (Territorial Networks of Technological Specialization), an initiative launched by the Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, and financed by the European NextGenerationEU funds within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

The day was opened by Pedro J. Schoch, GMV’s Director of Corporate Development, Marketing and Communications, who welcomed attendees, the Mayor of Tres Cantos, Jesús Moreno, and the Councilor for Economic Development, Ana Isabel Pérez, who joined us for the inauguration of the event. Following his remarks, the Mayor highlighted the strength of Tres Cantos’ innovative business fabric and the role of the local environment as a catalyst for talent, investment, and public-private collaboration.

His words gave way to a roundtable discussion moderated by Javier Romero, Director of Innovation at the Aerospace Node, featuring Schoch himself; Miguel Ángel Molina, Chairman of GMV's Space Council; and José Prieto, Director of Business Development and Institutional Relations for Defense and Security at GMV, in which the speakers shared their experience and addressed the challenges facing startups in the aerospace sector.

The discussion allowed for an in-depth exploration, from a business perspective, of what distinguishes a one-time supplier from a strategic partner, what the requirements are for operating in critical environments such as defense and space, and what mistakes startups typically make when scaling. The debate underscored that, beyond technology, the key to establishing oneself in this field lies in credibility, operational maturity, and the ability to generate long-term trust. Javier Romero participated on behalf of RETECH, reinforcing the institutional commitment to technological specialization and the consolidation of a robust regional ecosystem in the space sector.

The event featured the participation of startups including H2 Dron Energy, Systratec Instruments, Usyncro, Cedrion, Invicsa Airtech, Eye4Sky, 3Top, Vigsecdrone, Hydra Space, 40º West, Hispansion, Net2Fly, and Global Zone Objectives, who, following the roundtable, gave a brief presentation of their activities and technological focus.

The event concluded with a networking session that facilitated direct exchange between companies, institutions, and professionals.

Initiatives like this strengthen the connection between industry, government, and entrepreneurs, helping to build a more robust ecosystem prepared for the future challenges of the space sector. Through this type of forum, GMV reaffirms its commitment to promoting spaces for dialogue and cooperation that foster the growth of new technology ventures and the strengthening of the innovation fabric.