The Valencia Association of Young Entrepreneurs (AJEV) has officially revealed the list of the 16 companies that will compete as finalists in the prestigious AJEV Awards 2026 edition. This announcement marks a fundamental milestone in the Valencian Community’s business calendar, highlighting the talent, innovation, and resilience of the young entrepreneurs who lead the regional economic fabric. The final selection was carried out after a rigorous technical evaluation process and deliberation by an expert jury, which had to choose from a total of 53 submitted candidates, a figure that demonstrates the growing interest and vitality of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The grand awards ceremony will take place next Thursday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the La Rambleta cultural center in Valencia. For this edition, the organization has chosen the motto “Each company has a heartbeat,” an expression of intent that seeks to humanize the figure of the businessman and businesswoman. The objective is to shift the focus away from mere financial balances to center on the people behind each project: their deep motivations, personal sacrifices, fears overcome, and the unbreakable passion that drives them to continue building a business despite the difficulties.
One of the most significant novelties this year is the territorial expansion of the awards. For the first time, the bases have opened to the participation of companies based in the province of Castellón, which has notably enriched the diversity of the projects and allowed the integration of new trajectories from the Castellón business fabric into this recognition network.
The 16 finalist companies are: Fivecomm, Tu Arrocero, Crowmie, Winncare, Sanideco, Sky Mantenimientos, Equipo Nerea López, Aspai Obrador, Bermell Inversiones, Clotsy Brand, Javier Coves Paisajismo, IMAE, Bruma Atelier, Pequeños Grandes Héroes, Peralta Vidavi, and Terraneum. These firms cover sectors as diverse as 5G technology, textile sustainability, artisanal gastronomy, logistics, and landscaping, demonstrating the versatility of Valencian young entrepreneurship.
In the main category, the AJEV Award for “Young Entrepreneur of the Year,” the finalists are Davinia Tomás (Peralta Vidavi), Alba Hoyo (Aspai Obrador), and Juan Vicente Marín (Terraneum). In addition, five special prizes will be awarded recognizing specific areas of excellence. In Innovation (Cupra JR Valle), the finalists are Fivecomm, Tu Arrocero, and Crowmie. In the People category (ESIC), the selected are Aspai Obrador, Equipo Nerea López, and Sky Mantenimientos. For the Impact prize (MAPFRE), the finalists are Bermell Inversiones, Clotsy Brand, and Javier Coves Paisajismo. The International category (Valencia Chamber) features Sanideco, Winncare, and Fivecomm. Finally, the Revelation prize (Caixa Popular) will be decided among Bruma Atelier, IMAE, and Pequeños Grandes Héroes.
The jury has been composed of representatives from key institutions such as the City Council of Valencia, Valencia Chamber, and various sponsoring entities. In addition to the competitive prizes, a Honorary Mention will be awarded to M.ª José Félix for her outstanding career. The winners will not only receive the trophy but also substantial media visibility, including outdoor advertising campaigns in Valencia, thereby consolidating their status as leading benchmarks of young business success.
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