“If you want speed, go alone; if you want distance, go together; and if you want both, build an ecosystem.” A quote that feels fitting for a gathering poised to become one of the globe’s most vibrant tech ecosystems. After four years, 4YFN 2023 officially opened, and the host’s energy matched the room’s full attendance. Leaders and entrepreneurs shared confidence in the future, even as global macro trends and geopolitics loom large. The organizers view this as only the start of a larger momentum, with plans to scale the event in the coming year. The conversation around World Mobile Congress emerged as a keynote thread, hinting at a bigger footprint for 2024 and beyond.
At this edition, more than 700 companies spanning multiple sectors and geographies gathered, echoing the pre-pandemic scale in diversity and ambition. Various Catalan institutions—the Generalitat, the City Council, Mobile World Capital, Barcelona Health Centre, University of Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and Pompeu Fabra University—play central roles. Yet the exhibit space also welcomed participants from Andalusia, Asturias, Valencia and even international delegates from Japan, Austria, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. One representative summarized the moment by saying the mission remains clear: the tech sector must keep pushing forward even in challenging times. Ukraine’s national investment fund selected eight startups to participate, underscoring a commitment to showcasing entrepreneurial potential despite ongoing disruptions and the need for ongoing investment.
“The most important takeaway from this edition is that after two difficult years, the startup ecosystem is present in full,” remarked Pere Durán during his keynote. The week highlighted areas seen as pivotal: immersive digital environments, advances in artificial intelligence, and sustainability as transformative forces shaping the agenda.
Durán’s talk evolved into an optimistic session on how the ecosystem can adapt and thrive. He suggested that the ecosystem’s flexibility will keep startups at the forefront and ready to address whatever comes next. The event also featured a notable reflection on resilience, with Churchill’s maxim about moving from one setback to the next serving as a recurring theme from the organizers’ platform. The ninth edition of 4YFN explored how people shape the future of technology. Meanwhile, a session organized with Tech Barcelona evaluated the real impact of artificial intelligence amid high expectations, attracting a queue that nearly doubled the space’s capacity to host attendees.
The potential of artificial intelligence
“Why the worry? Because technology directly affects us: every major leap has reshaped jobs and redefined what it means to be human,” explained one of the speakers, an engineering expert in AI. He noted we are still writing the first chapters of this story, much as people once wondered about phones, wireless networks, and social platforms. The latest tools were born to entertain and connect, yet they have also become powerful engines for information—and, at times, misinformation.
Beyond the discussion, three Spanish companies offered practical examples of how AI can accelerate positive outcomes. One uses AI to sharpen sales forecasts and optimize processes. Another is developing tools to anticipate natural disasters, using data-driven insights to improve preparation and response. A third demonstrates how AI can enhance disease detection and early intervention, making health care more accessible and proactive.
All speakers agreed that the future of AI, like many technologies, will hinge on human stewardship—people who apply it with intention, minimize bias, and pursue transparent decision-making. The message was clear: artificial intelligence should be a tool to clarify strategy and outcomes, not a force that obscures accountability. The conversations underscored a shared belief that responsible AI can drive measurable improvements across business, industry, and society when guided by principled practice and robust governance (attribution: event organizers).