22nd CETT Foundation Entrepreneurial Project Awards | Meet the finalists

Innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to turn industry challenges into opportunities are once again at the heart of the 22nd CETT Foundation Entrepreneurial Project Awards. 

This year, the awards received 32 applications, reflecting the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem across tourism, hospitality, gastronomy, technology, and experiential services. Following the evaluation process, seven finalist projects have been selected, standing out for their growth potential, innovative value propositions, and ability to make a meaningful impact on the industry. 

Meet the 2026 finalists 

• Controlá, a solution that automates hotel climate control by connecting it to property management systems, improving energy efficiency and the guest experience.

• WOWIST, an AI-powered platform that creates immersive, personalized conversational guides for destinations, museums, and tourism businesses. 

• Savvy Tech Hotels, a technology solution that integrates guest communication, process automation, and revenue generation for hotels.

• Costabella Sailing Events, a company specializing in premium experiences at sea that combine sailing, culture, gastronomy, wellness, and sustainability.

• CUVO Foods, a culinary venture that reimagines premium pastries and desserts for the HORECA sector through a distinctive, scalable business model.

• Eventstur, a digital platform that streamlines event planning and booking, bringing the entire process together in one place.

• MindChef, an AI-powered tool that helps restaurants optimize operations, manage costs, and improve business profitability.

The grand finale at the CETT Foundation Entrepreneurship Day 

The seven finalists will present their projects on Tuesday, November 17, as part of CETT Foundation Entrepreneurship Day 2026, an event designed to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among students, alumni, and industry professionals.

During the final competition, the entrepreneurs will pitch their initiatives to the jury, outlining their value propositions, business models, and growth opportunities.

At the end of the event, the three winning projects will be announced, along with the recipient of the Audience Choice Award, selected by attendees.

A jury of leading industry professionals and institutional representatives 

The projects will be evaluated by a jury of distinguished professionals with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, tourism, and business: 

• Narcís Coll Ferrer, President of the CETT Foundation. 

• Dr. Maria Abellanet i Meya, President of CETT. 

• Albert Domingo Melgosa, CETT Foundation Board Member and Mentor. 

• Alicia Gatius, Chief Marketing Officer at Niche Beauty Lab and member of the Board of Directors and Communications Committee of FIDEM. 

• Anna Maria Sánchez Orensanz, Head of the Tourism Marketing Office within the Tourism Services Department of the Barcelona Provincial Council. 

• Xavier García, Cluster Manager at Tech Tourism Cluster. 

• Jessica Canalda, Head of Innovation and Business at the BCN Vocational Training Foundation. 

• Dr. Xavier Font Urgell, Deputy Director General for Territorial Tourism Development at the Department of Business and Labor of the Government of Catalonia. 

More than 20 years of supporting entrepreneurial talent 

The Entrepreneurial Project Awards are part of the CETT Foundation’s ongoing commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment, recognizing innovative initiatives, and nurturing the talent that will shape the future of tourism, hospitality, and gastronomy.

With more than two decades of history, the awards have become an established platform for supporting entrepreneurs who are developing new ideas, innovative business models, and solutions that address the industry’s most pressing challenges.