Majadahonda launches €12,000 entrepreneurship awards

Majadahonda’s second “Majadahonda Emprende” awards will distribute €12,000 across seven prizes in November, the Majadahonda City Council said.

The council will dedicate the month to promoting entrepreneurship through awards, workshops and talks. The program opens this Thursday with the second-edition awards ceremony.

The ceremony runs from 11.30 to 13.30 at the Francisco Umbral Municipal Library, at Las Norias Street 39. A City Hall information note gives it the slogan: “Recognize talent and make it visible”.

Local entrepreneurs will open the event by sharing their experiences and lessons learned in podcast format. The program will then honor companies with a long track record linked to Majadahonda before announcing the projects selected for awards in this edition.

What do the seven prizes recognize?

Seven cash awards will recognize three categories, according to the City Council’s information note.

• Best Consolidated Company: three endowments of €2,800, €2,000 and €1,500.
• Best StartUp: two awards of €2,500 and €1,500.
• Best Entrepreneurial Initiative: two awards of €1,000 and €700.

The council said the financial amounts remain unchanged from the first competition call. The seven awards account for the full €12,000 endowment.

In plain terms, Majadahonda is putting money behind established businesses, startups and new initiatives.

What happens after the awards?

The first Pop Up Market of Entrepreneurial Initiatives will run on Nov. 13 and 14 in Colón Square. The council describes it as a temporary market for emerging projects and businesses.

Participants will have the opportunity to sell products, test ideas and gauge how the public receives them, according to the City Council.

On Nov. 17, 280 sixth-grade Primary students from six municipal educational centers will enter the second junior hackathon. They will look for innovative solutions to everyday problems and challenges from 9.30 to 12.30.

The council will stage the event at the Polideportivo Municipal La Granadilla.

The market tests business ideas with customers; the hackathon asks 280 students to solve everyday problems.

Who does the AI interview session target?

The City Council scheduled a pilot job-interview simulation day using artificial intelligence for Nov. 23.

The General Directorate of Employment of the Community of Madrid is promoting the initiative, which targets unemployed people over 45.

The pilot gives unemployed residents over 45 a structured setting to practice job interviews with AI.

What will participants learn in November?

The council’s training calendar starts on Nov. 6 with the workshop “Don’t fall in love with your idea: validate before investing”.

• Nov. 20: A master class on Digital marketing to start a business.
• Nov. 23: Talks on Artificial Intelligence applied to tourism and Entrepreneurship in screen tourism.
• Nov. 24: Workshops on Speak, connect, and convince and Emotional intelligence in entrepreneurship.
• Nov. 26: Sessions on Introduction to using the Digital Certificate and AI applied in a tech company.
• Nov. 27: Entrepreneurship and startups: apply your business plan.

The full list covers idea validation, digital marketing, tourism, communication, emotional intelligence, digital certificates, AI in technology companies and business plans.

The curriculum runs from checking an idea to applying a business plan.

Where will the activities take place?

The council lists two venues for the activities: the classroom of the Department of Economic Development, Employment and Trade at Avenida de Guadarrama 34, and IES María de Zayas y Sotomayor at Romero Street 2.

The Francisco Umbral Municipal Library will host the awards ceremony. Colón Square will host the two-day market, while the Polideportivo Municipal La Granadilla will host the Nov. 17 hackathon.

Prospective participants can consult the detailed schedule and registration form on the municipal Economic Development website, the City Council said.

For local founders, Nov. 13-14 offers the first direct test of public demand, while the seven prizes will provide €12,000 in backing for selected companies and projects.