4YFN

4YFN26 will take place from March 2 to 5 alongside Mobile World Congress, bringing together startups, investors, corporations, and institutions.

Wayra, Telefónica’s corporate venture capital, will participate with its international portfolio and in various panels on investment and the latest technology trends.

Agenda at 4YFN 2026

When AI Becomes Agentic: The Next Evolution of Telco Intelligence by Alaian

11:55 – 12:25. Agora Stage, Hall 8.0 – 4YFN

Description

Discover how Agentic AI is redefining the future of telecommunications and transforming the way telcos operate, decide, and innovate.
In this panel, industry leaders will explore the next evolution of AIfrom predictive analytics to autonomous, goal-driven agents capable of orchestrating networks, optimizing operations, enhancing customer experiences, and unlocking new revenue models. As AI becomes increasingly proactive and decision-capable, telecom companies face a fundamental shift: how to integrate agentic systems responsibly, securely, and at scale.

Join us to explore what this transformation means for telco intelligence, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage, and why the move toward agentic AI may mark the most significant leap in telecom innovation in decades.

  • Agustín Moro, Innovation Services Managing Director, Wayra
  • Jérôme Berger, Head of Strategy, Orange Group & Board Member, Orange Ventures
  • Silvan Lohri, Head IA Transformation Management, Swisscom Group
  • Leander Zapheriou, GTM, ElevenLabs
  • Óscar Pallarols Brossa, VP Innovation Commercial & Product Development, Cellnex

Beyond the Hype: Scaling Technology into Tangible Impact

10:00 – 10:30. Agora Stage, Hall 8.0 – 4YFN

Description

In this fireside chat, Sebas Muriel, Chief Digital Officer of Telefónica, joins Enrique Linares, Co-Founder of Plus Partners and letgo, to discuss how breakthrough technologies move beyond experimentation to become scalable business impact. The conversation will explore how AI, cybersecurity, connectivity and digital platforms are industrialized at global scale in companies like Telefónica — combining startup agility, corporate execution and a strong foundation of trust and responsibility.

  • Sebas Muriel, Chief Digital Officer, Telefónica
  • Enrique Linares, Founding Partner, Plus Partners

Key Lessons for Scaling Startups

10:30 – 11:00. Agora Stage, Hall 8.0 – 4YFN

Description

Scaling a startup goes far beyond growth and funding. In this session, ecosystem leaders and innovation experts share practical lessons from supporting and scaling high-growth startups across different markets and stages.

The discussion will highlight common scaling pitfalls, the role of corporate partnerships and platforms, and what founders should focus on to build scalable, resilient businesses.

  • Montse Junyent, Head of Entrepenership, Cambra de Terrassa
  • Ana Abade, Government Relations Senior Manager, TikTok
  • Paloma Castellano, Managing Director, Wayra
  • François Centeno, Co-Founder & COO, Iqana

The CVC Compass: Navigating the 2026 Investment Reality

11:30 – 12:15. Founders Stage, Hall 8.0 – 4YFN

Description

Where is the smart money actually landing? This session cuts through the noise to reveal the real-world strategy of 2026. Join us to see where the giants are placing their bets and why.

  • Vikram Taneja, Head, AT&T Ventures
  • Tamara Steffens, Managing Director, Thomson Reuters Ventures
  • Jorge García, Head of Investments DACH, Wayra

Corporate Venture Capital in Energy: What Founders Need to Know

12:30 – 13:00. Founders Stage, Hall 8.0 – 4YFN

Description

Energy companies are increasingly investing in startups through corporate venture capital and other investment vehicles. But how does corporate venture capital really work in the energy sector? What do energy corporates look for in startups, and how can founders successfully engage with them?

In this panel, corporate investors, venture capital funds and founders share practical insights on how energy corporates invest in startups, which technologies they prioritize, how decisions are made, and what founders need to know to move from first conversations and pilots to real investment and scale.

  • Vicente Echandía, CEO, Econva Ventures
  • Gonzalo Martínez de Azagra, Founder & General Partner, Cardumen Capital
  • Bruno Moraes, Managing Director, Wayra Capital

Building Resilient Defense Ecosystems – Innovation and cyber for modern defence

15:00 – 15:30. Ágora Stand Telefónica (Hall 3 – 3K31)

Description

This startup-focused roundtable will examine how the integration of commercial connectivity technologies into defense architectures is reshaping traditional national security models. The discussion will address the operational use of commercial wireless networks in defense scenarios, the need for deeper collaboration frameworks between mobile network operators and public authorities, and the role of dual-use applications in the sector’s technological evolution. The conversation will also explore how cybersecurity capabilities such as advanced detection, threat simulation, deception, and operational validation help assess the effectiveness and resilience of these ecosystems against real-world scenarios. The panel will further address ISAC as a foundational 6G capability and the importance of public–private cooperation for the secure deployment of these technologies.

  • Antonio Guzmán, Discovery Director, Telefónica
  • Dr. Tom Rondeau, Principal Director «Future G Office», US DoW
  • Vicent Soler, CEO, Kenmei
  • David Barroso, CEO, Countercraft CEO
  • Jesús Abraham, Strategy & Innovation Head, Telefónica

Cybersecurity as a Strategic Asset: Protecting Europe’s Digital Future

16:20 – 16:50. Agora stage

Description

This panel will explore how European startups are developing key technologies to protect critical infrastructure, anticipate threats, and strengthen digital sovereignty in an increasingly complex geopolitical context.

  • Gonzalo Pérez, Head of Investments, Wayra Germany

AI that’s already moving the needle

13:15 – 13:45. Agora Stage, Hall 8.0 – 4YFN

Description

This panel will focus on real-world AI deployments that are already delivering measurable business results. It will bring together startup founders, C-level executives and corporate leaders to explore where AI is genuinely creating value—and where it still remains a buzzword.

Speakers will share concrete use cases, key metrics and lessons learned from taking AI from slideware to production. The session aims to provide attendees with practical, actionable insights they can apply immediately in their own organizations. It will also address the pace of AI deployment across the US and Europe.

  • Pablo Moro, Managing Director, Wayra Ventures
  • Ryan Foutty, VP Partnerships, Perplexity
  • Pablo Palafox, CEO, HappyRobot
  • Jon Abrahamson, CDO, Deutsche Telekom
  • Mahdi Yahya, CEO, Ori

Startups

  • Mitiga

    Climate risk analytics platform that combines science, AI, and advanced computing to help companies measure, manage, and report physical risks related to climate change.

    Red Sift

    Cybersecurity solution that automates email and domain authentication and protection to stop phishing and brand abuse.

    Kymatio

    Cybersecurity startup developing solutions to protect industrial systems and critical networks, detecting advanced threats and ensuring operational continuity in sensitive environments.

    Insider Navigation

    Platform that provides hardware-free augmented reality-based indoor and outdoor positioning and navigation solutions to improve asset tracking, workforce efficiency, and operational processes across industries.

    ElevenLabs

    Tech company specializing in AI voice synthesis, capable of generating, cloning, and editing realistic voices for conversational agents and multilingual content.

    Glide identity

    Digital identity verification platform that automates KYC processes and advanced authentication.

  • Wise CX

    Omnichannel customer service solution integrating all contact channels and using AI to improve traceability and issue resolution.

    Whalebone

    Cybersecurity company offering DNS-based protection and AI capabilities to block malware, phishing, and other threats.

    Hiya

    Platform that protects users from fraudulent calls and spam using AI, helping operators and businesses improve customer connections.

    Beegol

    AI -and machine learning- powered platform designed to monitor and diagnose broadband and Wi-Fi networks in real time.

    Crata AI (DesafIA Madrid)

    Startup developing AI solutions for advanced data analysis to optimize processes and enhance decision-making in organizations.

    Remuner

    Platform applying AI to optimize compensation and payroll processes, facilitating salary simulations and reward decisions.

    Aiphoria

    AI-based voice processing platform offering efficient transcription and real-time conversation analysis.

    Lets Data

    Platform using AI to detect and counteract disinformation campaigns in real time across media and social networks.

  • LuxQuanta

    Spin-off deep tech del ICFO (Instituto de Ciencias Fotónicas) que desarrolla soluciones de ciberseguridad basadas en criptografía cuántica para proteger comunicaciones digitales frente a amenazas actuales y futuras.

    Shakers

    AI-driven platform for managing on-demand teams, centralizing hiring, administrative processes, and operational tracking efficiently and securely.

    Sycai Medical (AstraZeneca)

    AI platform helping radiologists detect and monitor abdominal lesions to improve early diagnosis of cancer and other conditions.

    Nedsys AI (AstraZeneca)

    AI platform assisting medical professionals during consultations and diagnosis with real-time suggestions and automatic clinical report generation.

    Capably

    Business management platform that automates operations and improves productivity through integrated AI in business processes.

    Foliume

    Platform automating tasks for insurance brokers and agents using AI assistants, improving efficiency and speeding up commercial processes.

    IKUSA (INCIBE Emprende)

    Spin-off from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya developing cybersecurity solutions focused on data protection and privacy, powered by advanced analytics and AI.

    Omniloy

    Generative AI startup focused on healthcare, automating and optimizing hospital and clinical management.

  • Rever

    Platform automating and optimizing eCommerce returns with AI, improving retention and upselling.

    Ciudadela

    Proptech company digitizing community and property management using technology and AI to automate administration and communication.

    Osmium (INCIBE Emprende)

    Cybersecurity company protecting systems and communications in the space and aviation sectors, incorporating AI for critical environments.

    Bether AI (INCIBE Emprende)

    Platform using AI to analyze team data in real time, helping leaders retain talent, improve performance, and anticipate turnover risks.