SUMMARY REPORT · FIRST EDITION
Spain–United States
Business Summit 2026
April 13–14, 2026 · The Foundry (Cambridge) and Winthrop Center (Boston)
The Spain–United States Business Summit was organized by ICEX, which selected the Richi Foundation to drive
and deliver it, with M&T Bank, St. Mary’s Credit Union (SMCU) and the City of Boston as local partners. Over two
days it brought together government, investors, corporations and a delegation of 23 Spanish companies to
strengthen the innovation bridge between Spain and Massachusetts, with a focus on biotechnology and fintech.
350 23 $200M 51 47 86.6M
unique attendees Spanish companies venture capital fund confirmed B2B media appearances media reach
over two days in the delegation announced meetings (as of May impressions
21, 2026)
Summit Highlights
$200M transatlantic fund Institutional backing at the highest level
First Vice President and Minister of Economy Carlos Cuerpo Speakers included Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Boston
announced a VC fund led by the Richi Foundation and Dreavent, Mayor Michelle Wu and ICEX CEO Elisa Carbonell. The opening of
with a $57M commitment from the Government of Spain, to scale a new Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Boston was
Spanish life sciences innovation from Boston. also announced.
Boston joins in with its own capital Culture and networking at full capacity
Mayor Wu chose the Summit to launch a multimillion-dollar The opening at The Foundry featured a Teatro Real recital and a
business attraction fund, contributed by M&T Bank with The reception with Spanish cuisine that brought together some 350
Boston Foundation, as part of her “You Can’t Beat Boston” people from the Boston ecosystem.
initiative.
Welcome reception · The Foundry “Crescendo” recital by Teatro Real Grace Lee, SMCU · Winthrop Center
Spain–United States Business Summit 2026 · Summary Richi Foundation · 1/3
PROGRAM AND PARTICIPATION
Two days, six panels and two sector tracks
Attendance by sector APRIL 13 · THE FOUNDRY, CAMBRIDGE
Life sciences / biotech 65%
Afternoon Private session for the Spanish delegation —
Welcome from the Spanish Commercial Office in Fintech 25%
Chicago; Ricardo García prepares Institutional and other 10%
the companies for their Boston immersion.
Professional profile
5:00 PM Welcome Session: Boston Innovation Panel 82
SMCU, M&T Bank, MassMEDIC, Bain Capital, attendees Founders and C-Suite 45%
Flagship Pioneering. Investors and VC
25%
Partners
6:00 PM Teatro Real recital and networking reception 300
Full capacity; additional screens in the hall. attendees Corporate executives 20%
Government and
10%
APRIL 14 · WINTHROP CENTER, BOSTON institutions
9:00 AM Institutional opening and fireside chat 230
Healey, Wu, Cuerpo (virtual), Carbonell. attendees B2B Agendas
Announcement of the $200M fund.
meetings confirmed as of May 21, 2026, above
10:10 AM Building From Scratch Into a Global Innovation 216 the initial forecast 51
Ecosystem attendees
J&J, Richi Foundation, Zenon Biotech, Alira Health, Life sciences 75%
Neuroelectrics.
Fintech / digital 25%
11:45 AM Life Sciences · How Boston Built It 188 With VCs, corporate funds, clinical networks, pharma, banks and
Dreavent, Hercules Capital, Grove, Casma, C10 attendees credit unions. The Richi Foundation committed to closing at least
Labs, Syneos. four meetings per company, completing any outstanding ones
virtually after the Summit.
11:45 AM Tech · Boston’s Tech Sandbox 69
Mass Fintech Hub, Fintech Sandbox, SMCU, attendees
Mendoza Ventures, WNE.
1:45 PM Life Sciences · 360° Funding Ecosystem 180
Zubi Capital, J&J Innovation, SV Health, BrightEdge attendees
(ACS), RA Capital.
1:45 PM Tech · The Capital Mosaic 72
M&T Bank, MassMutual, Vestigo Ventures, F-Prime, attendees
Giving Credit.
6:30 PM The Final Toast · Boston Harbor Hotel 270
Closing and networking. attendees
Building From Scratch Into a Global Innovation Ecosystem
Spain–United States Business Summit 2026 · Summary Richi Foundation · 2/3
SPEAKERS
More than 40 leaders from government, investment and industry
Maura Michelle Wu Carlos Elisa Ricardo Grace Lee Jeff Lee Pelton Jim Rooney Chris Kay
Healey Mayor of Cuerpo Carbonell García CEO & Carpenter CEO, The CEO, Greater Sr. EVP, M&T
Governor of Boston First VP and CEO, ICEX President, Richi President, MA Regional Boston Boston Bank
Massachusetts Minister of Foundation SMCU President, M&T Foundation Chamber
Economy, Bank
Spain
Ignacio Evan Greif Brian Pedro Arce Janice William Imran Keith Dionne Shahid Azim David
Martínez Principal, Bain Johnson SVP Innovation, Bourque Korinek Nasrullah Board, Casma CEO & MP, C10 Burnham
General Capital President, M&T Bank MD Life Translational CBO, Grove Therapeutics Labs SVP & MD,
Partner, MassMEDIC Sciences, Unit, Dreavent Biopharma Syneos Health
Flagship Hercules
Pioneering Capital
ECOSYSTEM AND SCALE-UP LIFE SCIENCES FUNDING TECH CAPITAL
Elena Díez Cecilia, Johnson & Johnson Katie Ellias, Zubi Capital · Christine Brennan, Michael Sinclair, M&T Bank · Mohammed
Innovative Medicines · David Lagares, Zenon Johnson & Johnson Venture Investments · Dastigir, MassMutual · Ian Sheridan, Vestigo
Biotech / Mediar Therapeutics · Gabriele Miles Gerson, SV Health Investors · Farnaz Ventures · Sarah Lamont, F-Prime · Ashley
Brambilla, Alira Health · Ana Maiques, Bakhshi, BrightEdge (American Cancer Sherwin, Giving Credit
Neuroelectrics Society) · Alex Miller, RA Capital
WELCOMING THE DELEGATION
TECH SANDBOX Erik Rovina, Trade Commissioner of Spain in
Rob Sarnie, Mass Fintech Hub · Sarah Biller, Chicago
Fintech Sandbox · Santiago Aldana, SMCU ·
Senofer Mendoza, Mendoza Ventures · Charles
Mutigwe, WNE
MEDIA IMPACT
47 media appearances and 86.6 million impressions
More than 20 journalists and photographers covered the institutional opening. Coverage centered on
the $200M fund and Spain’s new commercial office in Boston, with front-page stories in The Boston
Globe (digital and print editions) and wide rotation on radio and television throughout April 14.
The Boston Globe Boston Business Journal Boston Herald Axios Pro Deals Fierce Biotech
WBZ News Radio WBUR WCVB-TV WHDH-TV NBC10 Boston NECN State House News
“The inside story of Spain’s big bet on Massachusetts” · The Boston Globe
A replicable model
The Summit gave Spain a recognized identity in Boston and a capital-backed framework for its
companies to scale. Several trade offices and international delegations have already reached out
to the Richi Foundation to study the model.
Ricardo García with the Spanish delegation · The Q&A with the audience · Winthrop Center Official website · us-spain-business-summit.org
Foundry
Source: Spain–US Business Summit Report (Richi Foundation) · us-spain-business-summit.org Richi Foundation · 3/3