The Prince of Wales visits IE Business School to promote entrepreneurialism

The Prince of Wales, President of the Youth Business International Foundation, met with young entrepreneurs and senior executives at IE in a workshop debate on entrepreneurialism.

Prince Charles visited IE Business School this morning to meet with young entrepreneurs and senior executives in the Youth Entrepreneurship Seminar, a workshop focused on the challenges facing entrepreneurialism. The seminar was organized by IE and Youth Business International (YBI), a UK foundation presided by the Prince of Wales. The Prince was received by Diego del Alcázar, President of IE Business School, Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño, Dean of IE, and Juan José Güemes, President of IE Business School's International Center for Entrepreneurial Management.

As a world leader in the field of entrepreneurship, IE Business School organized the Youth Entrepreneurship Seminar to explore the current status of entrepreneurship in global terms, including the challenges facing entrepreneurs, the problems they face, and the impact of public policies. During the event, Juan José Güemes presented the main findings of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report, a survey of entrepreneurial activity carried out in 59 countries worldwide, the Spanish edition of which is coordinated by IE Business School. Andrew Devenport, CEO of Youth Business International, explained the main lines of action undertaken by the Foundation to support entrepreneurs and business organizations.

"The commitment shown by HRH The Prince of Wales and the YBI are an example that other institutions should follow. We need greater recognition of the importance of entrepreneurship and the values it represents. We should celebrate the efforts and initiative of entrepreneurs", said Juan José Güemes.

During his visit to IE Business School, Prince Charles showed an interest in entrepreneurial projects developed by young entrepreneurs at the School, businesses like BitBrain, centered on the development and commercialization of brain-computer interface technology; Fluff, specialized in the design of toys for children's development; or Vaelsys, specialized in artificial vision solutions. These projects were developed under the aegis of the Banespyme Orange School, an initiative launched by IE Business School, Orange, and Banesto Society and Technology Foundation, to promote technology-based start-ups.

Prince Charles also met with leading figures from the Spanish government, including María Luz Rodriguez Fernández, Secretary of State for Employment, and Felipe Petriz, Secretary of State for Research. The Prince heard opinions from executives heading companies committed to entrepreneurship, including Carlos Mas, President of PwC, Antonio Basagoiti, President of Banesto, Vicente Moreno, President of Accenture, Fernando Ruiz, President of Deloitte, José Miguel Andrés, President of Ernst & Young, Carlos Domingo, CEO of Telefónica R&D, Miguel Crespo, Secretary General of Bankia, and Blake Winchell and Giuseppe Tringali, members of the IE Advisory Board.  The Prince of Wales also talked with heads of foundations, including IE Foundation, Accenture Foundation, Bankinter Innovation Foundation, BBVA Microfinance Foundation, PwC Foundation, Ramón Areces Foundation, Banco Santander Foundation, Junior Achievement España, and Professor Uría Foundation.