IESE's 40 best entrepreneurs under 40 for 2026

IESE Business School has celebrated its IESE 40under40 awards, the school’s flagship entrepreneurship event held every four years. The awards spotlight outstanding entrepreneurs and innovators under the age of 40 from IESE’s global network of more than 60,000 alumni.

Across the three editions to date, IESE 40under40 award winners have created over 5,000 jobs, generated more than €600 million in revenue, and raised upwards of €1 billion in capital.

The awards ceremony in Barcelona brought together key players in the entrepreneurship ecosystem to celebrate their achievements and discuss the challenges, trends and best practices in innovation and entrepreneurship. 

The winners are alumni of a range of IESE’s programs, including the Master in Management (MiM), School of Founders, MBA, Executive MBA, Programa de Desarollo Directivo (PDD) and Programa de Dirección General (PDG). 

The 40 entrepreneurs, all students or alumni, were selected for the 2026 edition through a rigorous evaluation process that assessed the viability and growth of their ventures, with particular emphasis on their social impact, including contributions to society and job creation.

The complete list of the IESE 40under40 2026 honorees:

• Aitor Casal Escobedo — LIN3S Sports Business SL
• Alan Ramírez — Coperva
• Andres Sendagorta — FRENKIT
• Ayús Corcia — Thunder Hunter
• Benjamin Nachoom — OneCoWork
• Bernardo Sa Pereira — Amelia
• Borja Álvarez — Wikend Smile
• Borja Bolivar — Cropsalsa
• Carla Barber — Clínicas Carla Barber
• Carolina Carrillo Alvarez — Performer Group
• Elena Criado — Wikend Smile
• Federico Richardson — Lexidy Tech SL
• Felipe de los Rios — LIFT | Almagro Capital
• Francesc Xavier Gastaminza — Homity
• Ignacio Fuente — FRENKIT
• Ignacio Zaera — Simpling Pro
• Inés Serra — BIOSORRA
• Inés Urés — Arpías
• Jan Jursa — Finax, o.c.p., a.s.
• Javier de Ros — Goros Investments
• Javier Muñoz Posse — Furtivo
• Juan Miguel Goenechea — Goros Investments
• Manuel Coterillo — LIS Data Solutions
• Mar Raposo — Automatic
• Marc Vilar — Apartool
• Mathias Tholey — the nu company GmbH
• Nacho Rivera Balius — Blue Banana Brand
• Nicola Grünenfelder — Digt AG
• Nicolas De Paul — Minders
• Nicolas de Luis — Shakers
• Pablo Martinez — Routal
• Pablo Urbano Villaescusa — Auara
• Pedro Sánchez de Alba — Novas&Mar
• Pere Padrosa Sayeras — Truck Parking Network SL
• Raúl García Blàzquez — MICRORELLEUS, S.L.
• Ramón Martín Núñez — Albor Capital
• Ricard Guillem — Cafler
• Rubén Molina — Innitius
• Santiago Navarro-Rubio Polo — Namencis Education
• Sebastiaan Kloppenborg — HousApp

Four special prizes for growth, social impact, female entrepreneur & innovation 

Out of the 40 honorees, four were also chosen by an international jury for the additional prizes given out during the event: 

• Bernardo Sá Pereira, an IESE PDD alum (PDD 2022) and co-founder of Amelia Hub, received the award for the most innovative entrepreneur; 

• Pablo Urbano, an IESE Executive MBA participant (EMBA 2026) and founder of Auara, won the award for the entrepreneur with the most social impact; 

• Carla Barber, an IESE PDG alum (PDG 2025) and founder of Clínicas Carla Barber, won the award for the outstanding female entrepreneur; 

• Borja Bolívar, an IESE Executive MBA alum (EMBA 2021) and co-owner of Cropsalsa, received the award for the entrepreneur with the best growth track. 

The four winning companies are involved in very different sectors and businesses: 

Amelia Hub develops technology solutions that combine drones, software and hardware to improve efficiency and quality control in the construction and operation of renewable energy infrastructure, particularly photovoltaic plants. Its proprietary systems automate inspection and measurement processes, helping reduce errors, costs and installation times in large-scale solar projects.  

Auara is a social enterprise that sells water and other sustainable products while dedicating 100% of its dividends to projects that provide access to clean drinking water in developing countries. Since its founding, the company has helped bring potable water to thousands of people across Africa and other regions through a business model that combines sustainability and social impact.  

Clínicas Carla Barber is one of Spain’s leading aesthetic medicine groups, founded and bootstrapped by Dr. Carla Barber. The company operates clinics across Spain with a business model built on medical specialization, innovation and a strong patient experience.  

Cropsalsa specializes in the development and production of tailor-made sauces for the food industry, retail and foodservice sectors. Under Borja Bolívar’s leadership through the search fund model of entrepreneurship, the company has expanded significantly through acquisitions and now generates more than €30 million in annual revenue. 

The IESE 40under40 Awards are part of IESE Business School’s broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, led by the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center. IESE supports founders through research, mentoring, networks, funding access, and specialized programs for entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors.

Approximately 30% of IESE graduates launch a venture within five years of completing their program. IESE alumni entrepreneurs have collectively raised more than $20 billion in funding and created more than 100,000 jobs worldwide.