The 2026 Sifted 100 features ten startups founded or co-founded by IESE alumni: Titan OS, Multiverse Computing, STAMP, Shakers, Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, Flanks, Nymiz, BizAway, seQura (Southern Europe), and Shayp (France and Benelux). Their presence across two regional rankings reflects the diversity of industries, with ventures spanning industries from quantum computing and enterprise software to fintech, travel tech, privacy, and sustainability. Explore the Southern Europe and France & Benelux rankings and join us in congratulating the featured startups!

Barcelona-based NeuralTrust, co-founded by IESE alumnus Joan Vendrell (MBA’15), has raised €20 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its platform for securing AI agents in enterprise environments. The round, backed by Alstin Capital, Banc Sabadell, Finaves, Kibo Ventures, Plug and Play, Seaya, and VentureFriends, will support product development and European expansion. As organizations increasingly deploy autonomous AI systems, NeuralTrust is helping enterprises govern, monitor and protect AI agents at scale, reinforcing Europe's growing leadership in AI cybersecurity. Find out more. 

Entrepreneur, investor and IESE Senior Lecturer Matthieu Carenzo shares the experiences that have shaped his career in a recent interview on the EIC blog. Drawing on more than 25 years of building, investing in and advising technology companies, he reflects on resilience, entrepreneurship and the importance of creating lasting value. He also discusses the inspiration behind his recent book, Straight Talk (Hablando en Plata in Spanish), which distils practical lessons for founders and investors navigating the entrepreneurial journey. Read the full interview to learn more.

In a recent MBA blog post, Devyangana Sagar (MBA’26) reflects on her experience of organizing the MBA Startup and Entrepreneurship annual event Founders Day and the lessons it reinforced about entrepreneurship. From the importance of community and collaboration to the value of learning directly from founders, investors and faculty, her reflections highlight the people and conversations that make the IESE entrepreneurial ecosystem unique. As she writes, her “biggest takeaway” was the community’s genuine desire to “pay it forward”—a spirit that continues to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

How do you turn an idea into a viable business? That was the challenge for participants in the IESE EMBA Brazil entrepreneurship course, led by Professor Yuliya Snihur. Through workshops, negotiations, investor discussions, and final venture pitches, students explored how to evaluate opportunities, refine business models, and build investor-ready ventures. The course also featured entrepreneurs and investors who shared real-world insights on venture building and fundraising, complementing the hands-on learning experience. The result: a showcase of promising venture ideas and entrepreneurial talent. Find out more. 

The 7th IESE International Search Fund Conference will take place on October 15–16 at IESE's Barcelona campus, bringing together search fund CEOs, active and aspiring searchers, investors, and faculty from around the world. Now in its seventh edition, the conference has established itself as a leading forum for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and exploring the latest trends shaping the search fund ecosystem. Applications are now open for what promises to be another opportunity to learn, connect, and strengthen ties within the global search fund community. Find out more. 

In a new article published in the Journal of Management Studies, Professor Yuliya Snihur and her co-authors revisit three concepts that shape how organizations are perceived: legitimacy, reputation, and trust. Rather than treating them as interchangeable, the authors clarify how each influences relationships with stakeholders and organizational success. Their framework offers researchers and practitioners a fresh lens for understanding how companies can build credibility and navigate an increasingly dynamic and uncertain business environment. 

When is the right time to scale—and when is it better to sell? A new IESE case by IESE's Mathieu Carenzo and Jeroen Neckebrouck examines the strategic crossroads facing Babelia, a fast-growing language technology company. Through the perspectives of its founders and venture capital investors, the case explores the trade-offs between pursuing further growth and accepting an acquisition offer. It offers valuable insights into entrepreneurial decision-making, founder-investor alignment, board dynamics, and the strategic choices that shape value creation in high-growth ventures.