Global Startup Awards – South Europe 2025: Celebrating Innovation and Entrepreneurship Across the Region

Global Startup Awards – South Europe 2025: A Celebration of Innovation and Collaboration

On 8 October 2025, the city of Málaga, Spain, became the beating heart of South Europe innovation. The inaugural Global Startup Awards – South Europe 2025 ceremony was more than an event — it was a celebration of creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship shaping the region’s future.

As co-founder of XO Group, MeOut Group was proud to be part of this dynamic ecosystem, connecting brilliant minds and empowering communities that drive the future of entrepreneurship across borders.

The two-day celebration began on 7 October at the Cybersecurity Centre Málaga, hosting the South Europe Ecosystem Summit, and continued with pre-networking sessions at Polo Digital Content Málaga before culminating in the awards night at the Colección del Museo Ruso.

Inspiring Voices and Global Perspectives

The evening opened with powerful keynote speeches from Kim Balle and Zoltan Vardy, setting an inspiring tone for the night.

“Over more than a decade with the Global Startup Awards, I have witnessed three key forces reshaping innovation: the democratization of technology, the exponential growth of access to knowledge, and the rise of cross-border collaboration,” said Kim Balle, CEO and Co-founder of XO Group and GSA.

“Together, these forces signal that the next wave of global innovation can truly come from anywhere, and Málaga is making a bold statement in placing itself firmly on that map.”

This message reflected the essence of the Global Startup Awards – South Europe 2025: celebrating a community that values collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation as the foundation of a strong startup ecosystem.

Recognising Excellence in the South European Startup Ecosystem

With 272 finalists from nine countries, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and Türkiye, the ceremony showcased the diversity and talent driving the European startup ecosystem forward.

Across 13 award categories, innovators were celebrated for their technological breakthroughs, sustainability efforts, and entrepreneurial leadership, highlighting the region’s global potential in AI startups, digital transformation, and sustainable innovation.

Key Winners of the Global Startup Awards – South Europe 2025

• Startup of the Year: SendingBay (Spain) – Revolutionising last-mile logistics through AI-powered delivery optimization and sustainability.
  
  
• Founder of the Year: Ana Karina D’Orazio (SendingBay) – Recognised for her visionary leadership in urban logistics innovation and female entrepreneurship.
  
  
• Best Accelerator/Incubator Program: Migros Up (Türkiye) – Promoting collaboration between entrepreneurs and corporate innovation teams.
  
  
• Best Coworking Space: MUG – Magazzini Generativi (Italy) – An inclusive innovation hub driving community impact and sustainability.
  
  
• Best Greentech Startup: Hydros Power (Spain) – Accelerating green hydrogen adoption for cleaner mobility and logistics.
  
  
• Best Healthtech Startup: Omniscope (UK) – Building the world’s largest Immune Databank through advanced AI and biotech solutions.
  
  
• Best Youth Startup: Dr.Medkit (Spain) – An AI health assistant making wellness and diagnostics more accessible.
  
  
• Best Fintech Startup: GAG Token (Türkiye) – Innovating at the intersection of cryptocurrency and market research.
  
  
• Ecosystem Hero of the Year: Katerina Saridaki (Greece) – Empowering the travel and hospitality startup ecosystem through mentorship and investment.
  
  
• Diversity Role Model of the Year: Julia Ruiz Vozmediano (Spain) – A leading oncologist promoting equity and integrative care for underserved communities.
  
  
• Investor of the Year: Acurio Ventures (Spain) – Championing founder-first investment with a hands-on entrepreneurial approach.
  
  
• Best Newcomer: Mistikist (Türkiye) – Redefining mental well-being with AI-assisted brainwave regulation technology.
  
  
• People’s Choice Award: GAG Token (Türkiye) – Recognised by the community for its innovative contribution to digital research ecosystems.
  
  

A Night to Remember: Building the Future Together

The Global Startup Awards – South Europe 2025 marked a milestone in European entrepreneurship, uniting visionaries from across borders to exchange ideas, celebrate success, and ignite new collaborations.

Thirteen outstanding winners now advance to the Global Stage in 2026, carrying with them the ambition, creativity, and resilience of the South European startup community.

Beyond the awards, the night embodied the true spirit of cross-border entrepreneurship, a reminder that when innovators, educators, and investors join forces, they can change the world.

Congratulations to all the finalists, winners, and partners who made this inaugural edition in Málaga an unforgettable celebration of innovation.

🔗 Read more about the event: Global Startup Awards – South Europe 2025 Ceremony