IBTM World will launch IBTM Ignite – a new initiative that connects start-ups with industry advisors and investors, and provides space for early ideas, creativity, and fresh thinking – at the 2025 of the show, which runs November 18 to 20 at Fira Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain.

More than a hundred new start-ups representing sectors including event technology, sustainability, new event agency concepts, and inclusive talent sourcing businesses will take part in the program. Each will have the opportunity to showcase their emerging ideas to an audience of around 30 experienced industry advisors and motivated investors during the show.

IBTM Ignite will feature a mix of formats. The Future Stage will host 30 lightning talks from emerging innovators, followed by investor feedback. The BEFuture Pavilion will offer a dedicated space on the show floor for 30 start-ups to showcase their products and services to investors. On day two, the Ignite Lounge will provide an informal setting for one-to-one investor meetings, with expert advice available on marketing, financial planning, fundraising, and sales.

IBTM Ignite will be run in partnership with BEFuture, a project dedicated to driving positive change in the Business Events sector across Europe. IBTM Ignite advisors include Eva Lopez Alvarez, PUNTO MICE; Lori Pugh, MPI (Meeting Professionals International); Max Fellows, allpoints; Sonia Serracarbassa, Catalunya Convention Bureau / BEFuture; Richard Morris, Active Media Events; and Julius Solaris, Boldpush.

“The business events industry is entering a new era of transformation and innovation, and start-ups are leading this charge. It’s up to us as an industry to ensure they have the platform and the resources needed to develop their ideas, and to connect them with investors and advisors who can help them on their journeys,” explains Claudia Hall, exhibition director, IBTM World. “Our new IBTM Ignite programme does just this. It is a destination for serious business growth, providing a platform for under-represented voices and creating new opportunities and connections. We are thrilled to play our part in fuelling the future of business events and look forward to seeing what this year’s cohort will achieve.”

Sonia Serracarbassa of BEFuture and director of Catalunya Convention Bureau, said: “At BEFuture, we work to future-proof the business events sector by advancing sustainability, inclusivity, resilience, and competitiveness through research, innovation, and cross-ecosystem collaboration. Our acceleration program has supported 81 SMEs and start-ups that are at the forefront of this transformation. Partnering with IBTM Ignite further strengthens this effort, providing these initiatives with the visibility, mentorship, and strategic connections necessary to scale their impact and shape the future of business events.”