By Arjay L. Balinbin, Assemble the Editor
MADRID – Artificial intelligence (AI) may be dominating discussions across the technology sector, but Silicon Valley investor and entrepreneur Kim Perell said emerging investors continue to focus on fundamentals that have long guided investment decisions.
At Wednesday’s press conference at the South Summit Madrid 2026, organized by IE University, Ms. Perell said that investors are still looking closely at market opportunities, management teams, diversification, and decline when evaluating startups.
“I look at how big the market is. I also look at the team,” he said. “Then I think about what you’re building and whether it has a unique separation and scale.”
Ms. Perell, who has established nine companies and invested in more than 100 plants using the investment and brand building company 100.co, said entrepreneurs must not forget the basics of business.
Asked what advice he would give to startups in emerging ecosystems like the Philippines, he said entrepreneurs should be willing to adapt as markets change.
“I think the advice for every founder is to start,” he said. “And it’s okay to go around.”
He cited examples of successful technology companies that achieved growth only after changing direction from their original ideas. YouTube, for example, started as a video dating platform before becoming the world’s largest video sharing website. Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, emerged from Odeo, a podcasting startup that started after Apple entered the podcasting market.
“As a founder, you believe it should be X, but if the market tells you to do something different, you have to be flexible and quick to move with the market,” he said.
Ms. Perell also emphasized the importance of mentorship, describing a lack of guidance as one of the biggest mistakes she made in her early years as an entrepreneur.
“I made the mistake of thinking that I could do it alone, I couldn’t,” he said.
He encouraged founders to seek advice from experienced entrepreneurs and investors, saying mentors can help startups avoid common pitfalls and accelerate growth.
“It doesn’t matter what country you are in. Finding quality mentors is the key to your success,” he said.
His comments come as entrepreneurs from emerging markets seek more visibility into the world’s first environmental initiative.
South Summit Founder and President María Bennjumea said that Asia remains one of the most dynamic innovation regions in the world and continues to produce innovative technologies and startups.
“Asia is incredibly strong. The technology coming out of the region is amazing, and many Asian countries have innovative ecosystems,” he said in an interview.
He said startups from the region must continue to expand beyond their domestic markets and strengthen connections with international investors, companies and business networks.
“The key is to help startups grow internationally, gain exposure, connect with investors, and become part of the global ecosystem,” he added.
Four startups from Asia were selected among the top 100 in this year’s South Summit Startup Competition: South Korea’s HISTRAGER and Singapore-based Omnishelf, Ailytics and Peris.ai. The wider Middle East is represented by Turkey’s OneNewOne and Israel’s Tissue Dynamics.
For governments looking to strengthen environmental initiatives, Spain’s Minister of Digital Transformation and Public Works Óscar López said policy support is still important.
Asked what advice he would give to countries looking to emulate Spain’s growth as one of the best start-up locations in Europe, Mr. López identified three key areas: tax-friendly startups, supportive regulations, and public investment.
“First, the tax,” he said. “Secondly, we have created a good regulatory framework.”
Mr. López said Spain’s startup law has helped create a favorable environment for entrepreneurs and investors, while government support has helped accelerate the growth of new businesses.
“Then, it’s a public investment,” he said. “We’ve made great efforts to invest in new startups and help new startups.”
However, he said governments should not only rely on tax money to stimulate businesses.
“All the conversations you do yourself,” said Mr. López. “If you lower taxes to get more investment, at the end of the day that will create more growth.”
Looking ahead, he said Spain’s digital transformation strategy goes beyond startup policies and includes investments in education and digital infrastructure.
“It’s not the only question” of attracting young people, he said, adding that Spain’s future competitiveness depends on innovation and education.
“We have invested hundreds of millions of euros in infrastructure,” said Mr. López. “There are many things there. Not only taxes.”
