First transnational scaleup held at IE University's New York campus

The event featured roundtables and talks led by global leaders in investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship, who shared insights on the trends set to shape the future of scaleups worldwide. Attendees included unicorns like Oyster and Capchase, as well as high-potential tech startups such as Seedtag, among others.

María Benjumea, president and founder of South Summit, emphasized the significance of this collaboration with IE New York College, noting that the growth of scaleups is closely tied to education, knowledge, and developing leaders capable of navigating an increasingly complex world. "Education and entrepreneurship are interdependent. Education shapes vision and values, while entrepreneurship turns them into real, purpose-driven impact," she said. She also highlighted the event[s role in building bridges across continents.

Juan José Guemes, Vice President of IE University and President of the IE Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, underscored the role of IE New York College as a transatlantic bridge linking Europe and the United States and projecting entrepreneurs onto the global stage.

"We are proud to contribute to its dynamism with an ecosystem that connects talent, investment, and innovation... Initiatives like South Summit[s Scaleup Series not only accelerate the international expansion of startups but also multiply opportunities for collaboration and investment in the economy of the future," he stated.

Speakers at the Scaleup Series at IE New York College on Oct. 6, 2025. Photo courtesy of IE New York College

Following New York, the Scaleup Series will continue with new editions in 2025 and 2026 in Amsterdam, Lisbon, Germany, Paris, and London, with the mission of connecting innovation ecosystems in these dynamic hubs.

South Summit is a global platform that brings together all actors in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to drive business opportunities. Over its 14 previous editions, it has hosted more than 42,500 startups, produced nine unicorns, and featured over 1,500 finalists, with a 90% survival rate and US$19 billion in investment raised through its Startup Competition