Alex Barrera

Corporate event host, deep tech advisor, and pitch coach. Based in Madrid. Twenty years at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and business.

I run the Deep Tech Institute as Founder & Director, working with corporations on deep tech readiness. I also work with European deep tech funds on deal flow and due diligence, and I write about technology every week at The Aleph, where I am Editor-in-Chief. Before that I co-founded tech.eu (acquired), a European technology publication, and co-founded the Tetuan Valley accelerator. I have consulted with Seedcamp and Techstars.

On stage I am a lead emcee for South Summit, across all fifteen editions, and for Valencia Digital Summit. In 2026 I introduced His Majesty King Felipe VI at the South Summit opening. I have also hosted World Summit AI Amsterdam, EDP’s corporate event during Web Summit week in Lisbon, and the KOTRA deep tech pitch competition at Mobile World Congress. Corporate work includes innovation days and leadership sessions for Iberia, FCC, Air Liquide, and WIVI Vision.

I teach innovation at IE Business School, ISDI, and StartupsInstitute, and have been a guest lecturer at UCLA Anderson, UC Berkeley, and UC3M. I also work with the IE Climate Tech Lab and CinnovatE (EIT Higher Education Initiative, with South Summit): deep tech programmes focused on sustainability and circularity, in partnership with research and academic institutions.

Through Press42 I help companies at different stages prepare fundraising and acquisition narratives. TechCrunch featured that work .

MBA from Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI). Former member of the Global Shapers community (World Economic Forum).