Dr. Miquel Bastons, the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, kicked off the event by welcoming all those present and stressing the key contribution made by entrepreneurs in driving the creation of businesses that have a vital role to play in overcoming the financial crisis. This was followed by an introductory lecture by Francesc Homs, the chairman of consultancy firm RJCE and president of the UIC's Academic and Social Council. In his talk, Homs pointed out that entrepreneurship should be approached "not as a work-related necessity, but rather as an opportunity to earn your living by doing something you like".
The rest of the conference was split into two parts. In the first, four UIC alumni outlined their experiences as entrepreneurs, while the second consisted of a roundtable discussion featuring representatives from four institutions that offer alternative sources of funding.
One alumnus who shared his experiences was Lluís Carbó, the founding director of B Car Auto Parts and a co-founder of ACROSS Business Partners, who said, "To be an entrepreneur, it is crucial that you have a very clear idea of your objectives".
Miquel Espinet, a founding partner of Lead Solutions, spoke from a contrasting position, as his company is in the process of being wound up. Nevertheless, Espinet argued that he had not failed, because, "Success is about believing in something and giving it a go, whereas failure is when you believe in something but never act on it".
Two other alumni offered their views. On the one hand, Dionisio García, a founding partner of Know Capital, picked out five key attributes for budding entrepreneurs: passion, application, generosity, gratitude and innovation. On the other hand, Cristian Rovira, a founding partner of SIFU, said, "While some view the glass as half-full and others as half-empty, the entrepreneur aims to fill it".
In the second part of the event, the roundtable discussion, four representatives from businesses providing alternative funding solutions outlined the work carried out by their respective companies.
Josep Cervera, a financial consultant at Pimec Enisa, made a direct appeal to members of the audience with potential business ideas by telling them to "go for it". Paco Gimena, a founding partner of Mola Factory, said, "Christopher Columbus was the quintessential entrepreneur". Ramon Saltor, the CEO of the Crowd Angel, described how his company earmarks small amounts to help get ventures off the ground. He said, "Many people only need a small amount of money to finance their projects". Finally, Jaume Baró, the COO of Barcelona Activa, stressed, “As budding entrepreneurs and for the future, it is very important for us to prove we can do it, even though we are young".
