Startup School 25: The solid foundation every entrepreneur needs to get started

If you're reading this, you've probably had an idea at some point. Something that seemed so clear, so necessary, that you thought, "Why hasn't anyone done this yet?"

At Tetuan Valley, we believe that moment is the true starting point. Not when you launch your website, nor when you secure your first client, but when you feel there's a problem worth solving . And that's exactly what we explore in the first training block of Startup School 25, our incubation program co-organized with INCIBE and funded by the European Next Generation EU funds . Furthermore, this program is designed to offer training to launch your startup in a solid way, even when you don't know how to get started.

Our trainers are entrepreneurs who have been entrepreneurs, who continue to do so, and who today dedicate their time to sharing what they've learned along the way. It's worth mentioning that the sessions in this program are exclusive to those participating in the program. But we believe their vision can inspire far beyond the classroom.

Block 1: Introduction to entrepreneurship

They say beginnings are important. In this case, the first block of Startup School 25 lays the foundation for the project. We're not talking about building, but about understanding. Asking good questions before giving quick answers.

Here we work on two key pillars: Validating the problem and understanding the market . Because no matter how much you want to build an app, a tool, or a platform, if you're not clear about who you're helping and why, everything else falls apart.

Our trainers in this section help teams put themselves in the user's shoes, analyzing whether the "pain" they're experiencing is real and at what level. They teach them to listen intentionally, test hypotheses, and start off on the right foot. No smokescreens. No shortcuts.

All of this happens within Startup School, the program where we help founders turn their ideas into real projects. If you think it's your time, check back when we open the next edition.

Meet the expert entrepreneurship trainers

Through these short interviews, you'll learn what motivates them, what they seek to convey, and what they themselves take away from working with teams that are just starting out. Because yes, at Tetuan Valley, we believe in mutual learning.

Félix López Capel , Director of SEK Lab EdTech Accelerator

What is the most valuable thing you try to convey to the participating projects?
My extensive experience in the areas of marketing and sales, and that any of your team can become the best salesperson or ambassador for your company by working on some skills to open doors and scale your startup

What do you hope teams take away from your session?
A good number of tips to improve your marketing, sales, and communication strategy, both online and in person. Also, some key contacts from my network to help you validate your value proposition, a beta test, or even a business.

What motivates you to be part of initiatives like Startup School 25?
I have a true passion for mentoring entrepreneurs and have wanted to join the Tetuan Valley family for a long time. I love starting out in pre-seed and seed phases to see projects grow. This Startups School 25 is undoubtedly powerful; it's coming on strong. All the projects look promising, with solid products that address real problems, and several with social impact.

What do you personally take away from working with early-stage entrepreneurs?

For over 12 years, I've been learning from entrepreneurs, staying on top of all the new trends and technologies that are coming to solve real problems more efficiently. They help me strive for excellence in my work and continue to seek out contacts and alliances that will help them grow.

Angélica Pimentel , Co-founder of POiN

What is the most valuable thing you try to convey to the participating projects?
I always try to convey 2 things:
1. Your main value proposition is you. No two life paths are the same, no two brains are the same. Your vision for solving a problem is also unique.
2. Every idea that solves a problem is worth pursuing. You just need courage, tools, and a plan.

What do you hope teams take away from your session?
Before worrying about business scalability, you need to think about operational scalability. The startup mindset must begin with doing more with less, with how to achieve greater results using fewer resources.

What makes Startup School 25 special from your point of view?
The concept of "giving back to the community" was also present in my early days. Supporting new ideas is not only a pleasure, it's a commitment to the ecosystem we've created.

What do you personally take away from working with early-stage entrepreneurs?

Because I know what it's like to fight for an idea when everything is against you. I'm inspired by supporting other entrepreneurs in their first steps, not from a theoretical perspective, but from the reality of someone who's been there and knows what truly helps.

Julian Azofra , Co-founder of Sharpei

What is the most valuable thing you try to convey to the participating projects?
I try to share what I wish someone had taught me when I started out at 19: how to focus on what really matters, how to finance and talk to clients from day one, and how to build something useful rather than beautiful. I always use real, straightforward examples, and I also recount the many times I've made mistakes, because if I can prevent someone from falling the same way I did, it's already worth it.

What do you hope teams take away from your session?
The reality of entrepreneurship. What doesn't always come across in books or LinkedIn posts. If I can make them come out with more clarity, with a desire to get started, and with the awareness that this isn't done alone, that they need support from other entrepreneurs like those they have at their side in Tetuan, I'll be satisfied.

What makes Startup School 25 special from your point of view?
I'm motivated to give back a little of what the ecosystem has given me, and also everything Tetuan Valley has taught me over the years. Startup School 25 particularly surprised me with the level of projects. It's clear that entrepreneurs in Spain are more prepared. I didn't see many underage people with a crazy idea written on a napkin.

What do you personally take away from working with early-stage entrepreneurs?

A tremendous energy. Seeing how ideas are born, how excited the teams are, how they launch into validation and construction is contagious. I always come away with a new idea or a conversation that sticks in my head. It forces me to stop, to look outside the day-to-day life of Sharpei, and to reconnect with what led me to start my own business.

Programs to help you start a business with real support from day one

This is just the beginning of the journey. In the next article, we'll tell you what happens when the project begins to take shape: product, planning, and client. But that's in Block 2.

For now, if you're also toying with an idea... maybe it's time to ask yourself: Who are you helping, and how do you know this problem matters?

At Tetuan Valley, we've been helping people like you take that first step for over 15 years. We do this through programs like Startup School, but also through training, mentoring, and community initiatives that you can discover on our website. If there aren't any open calls now, don't worry: you can sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know when we launch again.

👉 Check out all our programs here

And if you want to continue exploring, you can check out what happened in previous editions of Startup School . Because we believe that entrepreneurship isn't just about launching a startup. It's a journey. And if you decide to take it, there's a community here ready to support you .