One-liner: the ports/logistics innovation hub of Fundación Valenciaport — an initiative of the Valencia Port Authority, matching startups/scaleups with corporates in the maritime, logistics and port sector, with real-world pilot testing across the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandía (managed by APV).
What a founder gets
- Challenge–Solution matchmaking — corporates in the port/logistics sector post real operational challenges; Opentop matches them with startups whose tech solves them, streamlining concept-to-collaboration.
- Real-port-environment testing ("Living Labs" / Valenciaport Sandbox) — pilot and demonstrate new technology in the live operating environment of three ports (not a simulated testbed).
- Valenciaport Hackathon — the flagship port/logistics innovation hackathon; 6th edition selected 9 international startups; prizes reported at €6k + €3k, with a Pilot Launch opportunity in the Sandbox for winners.
- PEIC 2026 — Port Entrepreneurship International Congress — the 4th edition, held 20-21 October 2026 at Valencia's Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias; startup registration deadline 13 July 2026. Includes a "Premio del Público" audience-choice award. Where global port innovation converges.
- Port Innovators Network (PIN) — founding member (created 2023) of an international network of port-innovation hubs alongside homePort (Hamburg) and The PIER (Halifax) — gives Valencia-based startups a route into those ports' ecosystems too.
- OpenTalks — recurring content/thought-leadership series ("the voice of Port & logistics innovation").
- Specialized networking — targeted events/forums connecting industry leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.
- For corporates: global open-innovation sourcing — tap Opentop's network to find startups/technologies rather than build in-house.
Who it's for
- Startups and scale-ups with technology relevant to port operations, maritime logistics, supply-chain efficiency, decarbonization/energy transition, safety/security/resilience, or the blue economy.
- Best fit: seed through growth stage — companies with a working product ready to pilot in a live port environment, not pure idea-stage.
- Corporates in the port/hinterland/logistics value chain looking for open-innovation partners.
How to engage
- Join as a startup: apply via opentop.es ("Join as a startup" CTA) to enter the matchmaking pool or a specific program (e.g. the annual Hackathon).
- Partner as a corporate: separate application track for companies wanting to post challenges / source innovation.
- Attend PEIC or the Valenciaport Hackathon as an entry point — both are recurring flagship events.
- Direct contact: info@fundacion.valenciaport.com · +34 96 393 94 00 · Sede APV, Edificio III, Avda. del Muelle del Turia s/n, 46024 Valencia.
- Subscribe to TOPnews (opentop.es) for challenge calls and hackathon announcements.
Key facts
- Legal home: Fundación Valenciaport, the foundation/innovation arm of the Valencia Port Authority (APV), which itself manages the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandía.
- Fundación Valenciaport's broader portfolio (beyond Opentop) includes Imarport, Pharos 39.0, market intelligence, training offer, and thematic lines: Port Logistics, Blue Economy, Digital Transformation, Energy Transition & Sustainability, Safety & Security, Latin America.
- Main innovation focus areas: sustainability/decarbonization/energy transition · safety, security & resilience · blue economy · supply-chain efficiency.
- Ecosystem ties: collaborates with Puertos del Estado's Ports 4.0 program, Startup Valencia, and the All4Zero hub — situating Opentop inside the wider Comunitat Valenciana startup-support map, not just the port sector.
- Founding PIN member since 2023 — one of only three hub-cities in the network as of the last verified scrape.
- Edition-count discrepancy flagged 2026-07-05: opentop.es's dedicated hackathon subpage (
/hackathon-valenciaport) shows cumulative stats of 5 editions, 440 total participants, €27,000 in prizes awarded so far, 19 challenges solved — while the homepage news item references a "6th Valenciaport Hackathon" with 9 international startups selected. Both facts are recorded as-found rather than reconciled by guesswork; likely either an off-by-one in edition labelling or the subpage not yet updated for the latest edition. #status/verify — recheck via opentop.es/en/blog or direct contact. - Applications for the current/most recent Valenciaport Startup Hackathon cycle are closed as of the 2026-07-05 scan; no next-edition date announced yet.
- New in 2026: PEIC 2026 now has its own program page (4th edition, distinct registration deadline of 13 July 2026) — see Relations.
Relations
- See also: Testbeds (support)
- See also: Packaging-Logistics (niche)
- Runs: Valenciaport Sandbox
- Runs: Opentop Accelerator & Valenciaport Hackathon
- Runs: PEIC 2026
- Partners with: Startup Valencia
- See also: All4Zero
- See also: CEEI Valencia