With tools, training and resources for entrepreneurs, freelancers, SMEs and start-ups
Bizbarcelona 2019 puts business to work
Contributing to making business projects a reality for entrepreneurs and taking operating businesses to a higher level. With this objective in mind, the ninth edition of Bizbarcelona by Barcelona Activa will be held from 12th to 13th June, offering tools, training and resources through almost 200 programmed activities, including conferences, presentations, advisory sessions and networking spaces, as well as a commercial area with participation from 70 exhibitors.
Under the slogan “We put business to work”, Bizbarcelona 2019 invites all entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs and self-employed workers who make up the city’s business ecosystem to participate in a benchmark event of proven efficiency in which to share ideas and experiences, resolve doubts, expand the network of professional contacts and find tailor-made resources.
In this edition, Bizbarcelona, which has moved to Hall 8 of the Montjuïc venue, structures its activities around three thematic blocks (Basics, Growth and Trends) according to the interests and the phase in which the visitors’ business projects are located. In addition, the trade fair also has an exhibition area where the promotional entities and institutions participate, as well as companies with products, services and resources for entrepreneurs, SMEs and start-ups, as well as the Bizfranquicias space where consultancies and brands that are seeking to expand their commercial network in Catalonia will exhibit.
The director of Bizbarcelona, Aleix Planas, underlines that “the event is the essence of the entrepreneurial and business ecosystem of the city, capable of transmitting the innovation, attitude and values necessary to promote and update business”.
Three main themes
This year, under the heading Basics, all the tools, services, workshops, conferences and activities will be in one place for those who want to bring to life business ideas or look for self-employment formulas.
The presentations will deal with themes such as the mistakes to avoid when starting a business; the steps to opening a company in 48 hours; forms of entrepreneurship; tax incentives; legal developments for self-employed workers; coworking and business incubation; social entrepreneurship; or tools for cooperatives, among many others.
The block dedicated to business growth will address, for example, issues related to financing, opening up to international markets, attracting customers, digital transformation, innovation in management, values and business culture, the incorporation and retention of talent, the social economy and the circular economy, among others. The aim is to provide practical information that SMEs can apply to boost their activity.
Finally, there will be an important section of conferences dedicated to upcoming trends that mark the birth and development of business. The aim is to identify and analyse the latest technological, social, urban and consumer changes taking place, as well as issues related to sustainability, the social economy, CSR, marketing and digital communication, and the digital transformation of business culture.
This is one of the spaces with the greatest follow-up as it brings together the most renowned speakers. This year Josep Coll, founder of Red Points and president until 2018; Alicia Asín, CEO of Libelium, Alex López, professor of social selling; Pablo Foncillas, expert in business innovation and marketing; Olga San Jacinto, director of Google America (2012 – 2018); Genís Roca, expert in digital transformation, together with journalist Milagros Pérez Oliva; Jesús Vidal, winner of a Goya award for best new actor for the film Campeones; and Donna Pace, consultant and expert in “Lateral Thinking”.
Personalised advice and networking
In addition, Bizbarcelona will have 40 mentoring and advisory spaces run by experts and technicians from different organisations linked to entrepreneurship and business management who will provide personalised assistance to those attending. The BizExporta space, dedicated to the promotion of internationalisation, will also provide guidance to SMEs that are considering expanding abroad or penetrating new markets. In all of them there is the possibility of requesting an appointment through the fair’s website or in person during the trade fair.
On the other hand, in addition to the offer of proposals and the great diversity of themes dealt with at the event, networking is one of the most highly valued aspects each year by visitors to Bizbarcelona. In this edition, 16 activities are being held which are designed to expand the network of professional contacts and to find partners, collaborators or customers. Highlights include the multisectoral networking of the Intercol·legial de Col·legis Professionals de Catalunya, where members of more than 80 professional corporations will take part; the meetings organised by the Centre de Reempresa de Catalunya to facilitate the business transfer of operating businesses; the one-to-one PIMEC Networking between professionals and companies from different backgrounds or a pitch start-up competition organised by Encomenda Smart Capital, together with Conector Startup Accelerator, as well as a talent market, among others.
Exhibition area
And between conferences, activities and advisory and networking spaces, Bizbarcelona 2019 brings together in its exhibition area the stands of promoters linked to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the business fabric, as well as other institutions and companies that offer resources, products and services useful in the daily management of any business. In this sense, you can find everything from talent management consultancies, hourly car rental or communication and marketing agencies, to coworking centres, IT, systems and telecommunications for companies, solutions for the identification, traceability and location of assets, insurance companies, payroll management programmes, online managers, professional associations, training centres or associations.
For its part, the Bizfranquicias space will group the stands of different franchising brands. Local supermarkets, breweries, ice-cream parlours, sweets and treats, low cost hairdressers, beauty salons, gyms and storage rooms are some of the participating business concepts. There are also exhibitions from the main consulting firms that present a varied portfolio of franchises in areas such as food, hotels and restaurants, fashion, specialised stores and services.
However, Bizbarcelona’s director, Aleix Planas, assures that the event “tries to offer, with a very practical approach, useful contents and spaces to entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as real solutions so that businesses can grow in an agile and efficient way”.
Bizbarcelona by Barcelona Activa is promoted by Barcelona City Council, the Catalan Government, CaixaBank, Barcelona Provincial Council, PIMEC, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona and is partnered by 130 entities comprising the BizCommunity, which provide content and disseminate the activities of the event.
Barcelona, 29th May 2019