KIM PERELL,
ONE OF THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE VOICES IN THE STARTUP ECOSYSTEM AND A LEADING FIGURE IN SILICON VALLEY, COMES TO SPAIN WITH SOUTH SUMMIT MADRID 2026
Kim Perell, one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent figures, is one of the leading names in the U.S. startup ecosystem. She launched her first venture at the age of 23, founded nine companies throughout her career, and became a multimillionaire before turning 30, culminating her entrepreneurial journey with the sale of her latest company for 235 million dollars.
She is currently a global benchmark in entrepreneurship and investment, as the founder and CEO of 100.co, a company that invests in emerging brands, supports their growth, and has been involved in more than 100 startups.
Joining Kim Perell will be some of the most influential figures in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, including Lucy Chow, General Partner at WBAF Angel Investment Fund and author of Changing the Game; Maya Noël, Chief Executive Officer of France Digitale; Nicole Pérez, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blum; and Mikayel Vardanyan, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Picsart, among many others.
South Summit Madrid will hold its fifteenth edition, co-organized by IE University, from June 3 to 5 at La Nave, Madrid. Under the theme “AI Convergence,” the event will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming industries and how we can harness it to build a better future.
Madrid, April 11, 2026 - Madrid will welcome Kim Perell, one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the U.S. startup ecosystem. South Summit Madrid 2026, co-organized by IE University and taking place from June 3 to 5 at La Nave, will feature the American serial entrepreneur and investor as the first confirmed speaker for its fifteenth edition. Considered one of the leading figures in the U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystem and a global benchmark in entrepreneurship and investment, Perell became a millionaire after reshaping the startup world through the creation and sale of several technology companies.
Perell founded her first startup at the age of 23, “from her kitchen table,” as she puts it, and became a multimillionaire before turning 30. Throughout her career, she has founded nine successful companies, including Frontline Direct, a digital marketing company with more than 100 million dollars in annual revenue, and Turn, which she sold to SingTel for 310 million dollars. Most recently, she capped off her entrepreneurial journey with the sale of her latest company for 235 million dollars.
She is currently the founder and CEO of 100.co, a company that invests in emerging brands, supports their growth, and has invested in more than 100 ventures. To identify product opportunities, anticipate market fit, and support strategic decision-making, the company uses artificial intelligence and its own proprietary data analysis system.
In addition to her entrepreneurial career, Perell is the author of three bestsellers on personal development and business execution: The Execution Factor, Jump: Dare to Do What Scares You in Business and Life, and Mistakes That Made Me a Millionaire. She is an international speaker and a strong advocate for entrepreneurship and leadership among the next generation of founders. Perell frequently appears as an expert in media outlets such as CNBC, Forbes, and The New York Times, and she is part of Entrepreneur’s Elevator Pitch program.
Alongside Perell, South Summit has confirmed the participation of many other leading figures from the international entrepreneurial ecosystem. These include Lucy Chow, General Partner at WBAF Angel Investment Fund, author of Changing the Game, renowned investor, and advocate for women’s entrepreneurship; Maya Noël, Chief Executive Officer of France Digitale, the largest organization in the French startup ecosystem with more than 2,000 members; Nicole Pérez, founder and CEO of Blum, a platform focused on leadership development; and Mikayel Vardanyan, co-founder and COO of Picsart, one of the world’s leading creative platforms, with more than 100 million users.
The event will also bring together other recognized names in entrepreneurship and investment, including Karin Tenenboim, Partner at Practical Venture Capital; Hian Goh, Founding Partner at Openspace Capital; Colette Ballou, Founder and President of Ballou; Ekaterina Gorbacheva, Global Head of Expansion at Flowwow; Joleen Liang, Co-founder and CEO of Squirrel Ai Learning; Zivile Einikyte, presenter, moderator, and creator of the podcast Perception Paradox; Christian Nagel, Co-founder and Partner at Earlybird; Andre Penha, President of Antiwire and Co-founder of QuintoAndar; and Martin Tantow, Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures.
Under the theme ‘AI Convergence,’ South Summit Madrid 2026 will once again turn the Spanish capital into a meeting point for the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. Some of the world’s foremost leaders and experts will discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming industries and how we can work together to ensure that technological development helps build a better world.
About South Summit
South Summit is the global platform that brings together all the key players in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to foster business opportunities among them. Its flagship event is South Summit Madrid, co-organized by IE University, which over the course of its previous fourteen editions has welcomed more than 42,500 startups. Through its Startup Competition, more than 1,500 finalist startups have emerged, with an 85% survival rate and over 20.5 billion dollars in investment raised.
Following its editions in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, South Summit held its fourth edition in Brazil, also co-organized by IE University, in April 2025. This latest edition brought together more than 23,000 attendees from 62 countries, including over 3,000 startups, 800 speakers, and 900 investors with combined assets under management valued at 215 billion.