‘The Gap in Between’ will celebrate its third edition and will donate the money proceeds from ticket sales to recovery projects post-DANA

• Margarita Albors, founder and president of Social Nest Foundation, and Marta del Castillo, its CEO, presented this edition, which will be held on the 21^st of October in La Marina, Valencia (Spain).
• Also present were Yaisa Córdoba, coordinator of the DANA Response and Recovery Project at the Felisa Foundation; Orfeo Balboa, Partner & Investment at First Drop; and Luz Martínez, director of communications & PR at Zubi Group.
• Under the slogan “Future Forward Business”, the event is committed to business-driven innovation aimed at solving social and environmental challenges, and 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to post-DANA recovery and resilience projects, in partnership with the Felisa Foundation.
• A new edition of the Startup Challenge is also being launched, with prizes of up to €10,000 for the best solutions with impact. Applications are open until the 14^th of July.

Valencia, 25th of June, 2025 – Social Nest Foundation presented today at a press conference the third edition of The Gap in Between, an international meeting that will bring together leaders and agents of change committed to promoting purpose-driven sustainable and innovative solutions on 21st of October at La Marina in Valencia (Spain). In addition, this year, the event will be more social than ever and will donate the proceeds from ticket sales to post-DANA recovery projects in partnership with the Felisa Foundation and co-organised with the Zubi Group and First Drop.

As highlighted during the conference held at The Terminal, under the slogan Future Forward Business, The Gap in Between promotes a vision of innovation as a tool for systematic change in which technological, social and financial solutions are presented not only as ideas but as concrete actions and fairer, more regenerative and sustainable business models.

To this end, it will feature presentations by high-level experts such as Paul Hawken, environmentalist and NYT bestselling author; Javier Peña, environmentalist and founder of Hope!; Laura Durán, from IKEA; Jorge Blasco, from LUMO Labs; Fernando Valladares, from the Spanish National Research Council; Santi Mallorquí, from Organic Cotton Color; Erik Brunn, from Merika; Cynthia Reynolds, from the Circular Economy Coalition; Franco Bianchini, from Fondazione Fitzcarraldo ETS; and Ugo Biggeri, from the London School of Economics, among others.

The conferences will focus on three themes: ‘Cities of Tomorrow’ (resilient cities, energy transition, housing of the future), ‘From Extraction to Regeneration’ (regenerative agriculture, biodiversity and sustainable materials) and ‘Socio-economic Resilience’ (ethical AI, social cohesion, mental health and financial inclusion).

“The Gap in Between is a space where innovation translates into real impact. At a time when companies must go beyond rhetoric and prioritise business models that look to the future, we reaffirm our commitment to concrete, fair and regenerative solutions. By working together—businesses, investors and society—we can build a more equitable future, moving away from superficial practices such as “greenwashing” and committing to actions that generate authentic change,” said Margarita Albors, founder and president of the Social Nest Foundation.

As Albors explained during the conference, this year, in partnership with the Felisa Foundation, the funds raised through ticket sales will go entirely to post-DANA recovery projects in the Valencian Community, helping to build a more resilient system for future climate emergencies.

‘Thank you to The Gap In Between for trusting in our work. This donation allows us to continue supporting those who need it most in the reconstruction after DANA. Gestures like this sustain and multiply our work,’ said Yaisa Córdoba, Dana Emergency Coordinator at the Felisa Foundation.

Startup Challenge

In line with its commitment to innovation, The Gap in Between has launched a new edition of the Startup challenge, an international call for startups to present innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges.

The aim is to connect these projects with capital, networks and strategic allies that will enable them to accelerate their growth and scale their impact. In this edition, the call will be open until 14^th of July and will feature two categories: “early stage” for startups with an MVP launched and initial metrics, and “growth stage” for startups with traction and an expansion model.

The 10 finalist startups in each category—in addition to competing for a prize of €5,000 in the case of “early stage” and €10,000 for “growth stage”—will also have a personalised stand and networking sessions during the event, visibility in the media, networks and channels of the Social Nest Foundation, as well as access to mentors, investment networks and international events.

In previous editions, more than 800 startups were presented and 11 winning projects were selected, including BettaFish, winner of the second edition, a German startup dedicated to transforming seaweed into an everyday, sustainable ingredient. Thanks to its participation in the Startup Challenge, it has been selected for the EIT Fast Track programme and has incorporated its first industrial partner, Oh-Mami, advancing its B2B strategy.

The Gap in Between is supported by Caixa Popular, CAPSA, COVAP, Enisa, Renfe, Hijos de Rivera, Iberia, CaixaBank and The Terminal, among others.

Photos here

Information and instructions for the startup challenge here

Tickets here

About Social Nest Foundation: Founded in 2010, Social Nest Foundation is a global platform that provides entrepreneurs and impact investors with the resources they need to consolidate and grow new solutions to the most pressing challenges facing humanity. Currently, the foundation has 670 startups, 800 investors and 80 companies in its network and leads programmes and activities, in which more than 16,000 people have already participated, with the aim of paving the way for the generation of positive social and environmental impact. For more information: https://socialnest.org/es/

About Fundación Felisa: Fundación Felisa is an organisation deeply committed to the Valencia region with a clear mission: to act where it is most needed, with effective and humane solutions. Since the emergency began, it has mobilised more than 1,400 volunteers, coordinated almost 4,000 aid deliveries, led key initiatives in housing recovery, sport, resilient commerce and community strengthening, and intervened with more than 12,000 vulnerable people affected by the storm.