• Data Value Management, a technology company from Vitoria, specialized in the implementation of Big Data techniques, has been awarded the Entrepreneurship Award in Álava for the best young entrepreneurial career
• At Ekin Day, the central day of this initiative held today in Europe, the awards of the 10 categories of the 2024 edition of the ‘Your idea counts’ competition were also given

Álava Emprende, the initiative that aims to promote entrepreneurship in the territory organized by the Municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Provincial Council of Álava, the Basque Government, through the SPRI Group and BIC Araba, and Fundación Vital Fundazioa, has presented today, in the framework of Ekin Day, its annual awards, which aim to recognize the trajectory of successful people and entrepreneurial projects.

In this edition, the winner of the Gran Emprendedor Award was the president of the Rioja Alta wineries, Guillermo de Aranzabal. The winner, who also chairs the Agromotor Group and the social health services company Albertia, is the head of these 3 family businesses that, in the case of Rioja Alta, already has five generations since it was founded in 1890. The winemaking group is currently present in Rioja Alavesa, with the winery Torre de Oña, and in the appellations of origin of Ribera del Duero and Rías Baixas.

For its part, Data Value Management, a consultant specialized in the implementation of Big Data techniques in the company, has been the winner of the Entrepreneurship Award in Álava that recognizes the best young entrepreneurial career in the territory. This technology, located in the Álava Technology Park, is driven by Olaia Gómez and Borja Balparda and in the last two years has increased its turnover by more than 140%. At present, there are already 12 employees specialized in process optimization and business management using the most advanced data analytics techniques.

The awards have been given by the mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Maider Etxebarria and the Deputy General of Alava, Ramiro González right after the awards of the contest ‘Your idea counts’, which was attended by the Director of Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship of the Basque Government, Leyre Madariaga, and the president of the Vital Fundazioa Foundation, Jon Urresti.

Family businesses

Guillermo de Aranzabal has developed most of his career at Bodegas Rioja Alta where he promoted the entire export department, publicizing all his wines in the world, created the marketing and communication department and, from 2005, promoted wine tourism generating synergies with the surrounding wineries and territory, as in the case of Torre de Oña in Páganos. In addition, he chairs the Agromotor Group, a company created by his father in 1961 and dedicated to the sale of automobiles, financial services and real estate management. Aranzabal is also the founder and president of Albertia, a company dedicated to the management of nursing homes that has become the main family group in the sector with 22 centers throughout Spain that serve more than 3,200 people.

Data Value Management was established in 2019, the following year it participated in the acceleration program of BIND 4.0 and in 2021 it became part of Araba Industry 4.0. In 2022, they left BIC Araba to move to their own office in the Álava Technology Park and last year they were selected as one of the 100 best start-ups in the State by APTE, the network of technology parks in Spain. They participate in the Basque Open Industry

Contest ‘Tu idea cuenta’

Ekin Day has also served as a framework to announce the winning projects of the XX Contest ‘Your idea counts’ among the 17 finalists who presented their proposals to the public and the jury on Monday, May 6. This edition of the contest had 45 participants. The winners in the 2024 edition were:

• Vital Fundazioa Foundation Award for the best idea: Kirola Taupaka. A sports emotional education program adapted to children from the age of 6 who participate in physical-sports activities outside school.   Receives diploma and 1,000 euros
  Aclima Award for the most sustainable initiative: 2cyBIKES.  It is a sustainable urban mobility solution through the refurbishment and electrification of bicycles. It receives a diploma and 1,000 euros.
• Gasteiz ON Trade and Tourism Award: Events with 4 hands. A proposal of commented dinners in the framework of the roof of the Market of Supplies of Vitoria-Gasteiz where each of the experiences is unique. He receives a diploma and 1,000 euros.
• Eroski Award for the best agrifood initiative: O Live Living.  Innovative agroecological project to revitalize the traditional Basque olive grove, highlighting regenerative agriculture with social and environmental impact.  He receives a diploma and 1,000 euros.
• Michelin Award for the best industrial initiative: Vagary Mobility.  It consists of the manufacture of auto-rechargeable electric tricycles that limit the maximum connection to the network, by means of the implementation of energy self-generation systems based on renewables.  He receives a diploma and 1,000 euros.
• i + Med award for the best initiative in the field of health: Dermal monitoring with biosensors.  A project that proposes the measurement and monitoring of calcium ions in the skin along with sodium and potassium to study their relationship with stress, anxiety and/or depression to then collect data and train an AI to make predictions and send alerts.  He receives a diploma and 1,000 euros.
• Special prize RPK social transformation business: Integram.  This project focuses on the development of a device that can convert spoken language into sign language through artificial intelligence and a hologram. It also works in the opposite direction. It receives a diploma and 1,000 euros
• Special Audience Award: Integram.  He was chosen from the audience attending the presentation of finalist ideas and fell in this initiative that has been awarded in the previous award. Receives diploma and 300 euros.
• Mobility Lab Special Award for innovation for energy transition: 2cyBIKES. This is the first year of this recognition that has fallen in the same project chosen in the Sustainability category. He receives a diploma and 1,000 euros.
• Special Prize University of Deusto through its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit: Deusto undertakes the best presentation: Naturaren Lagunak. This idea focuses on a farm in the town of Castillo that produces and sells food from animals and organizes educational and family activities to promote contact with nature. He receives a diploma and 1,000 euros.

Inspiration and networking

The Ekin Day has been developed since 16:30 hours with a first initiative, which under the name of Crossing Bideak, sought to promote networking and collaboration between different entrepreneurs in the territory and connect them with entrepreneurship agents and support and advisory entities. Prior to the awards ceremony, two members of Poets in May have recited two famous poems related to the path of entrepreneurial activity and the event ended with the intervention of Mikel Feijoo founder and CEO of Skunkfunk, the sustainable Basque fashion firm that has become a benchmark brand in values with international projection.