• Six social entrepreneurs have been selected to take part in the ‘Social Leaders’ support programme, which aims to strengthen the leadership and strategic skills of entrepreneurs by connecting them with networks, leading figures, and opportunities within the impact ecosystem
• The aim of the application process is to promote social impact solutions that expand opportunities for young people in vulnerable situations
A total of six social entrepreneurship projects have been selected for the first edition of the ‘Social Leaders’ application process, organised by the Banco Sabadell Foundation and Ashoka Spain. This is an initiative created to promote and strengthen social impact solutions that work with and for young people.
More than 60 projects and social entrepreneurs applied to the process, and their applications were assessed by a specialist panel comprising representatives from Ashoka and the Banco Sabadell Foundation, and leading figures from the social innovation ecosystem. Following a rigorous selection process, six projects with high potential for social impact were chosen, focusing on key challenges facing young people such as inclusion and the reduction of inequalities, access to education and employment, the prevention of social exclusion, community engagement, youth participation, and the creation of positive role models.
• Dylan Cadavid (Madrid): social entrepreneur and professional in the cosmetics sector. He supports GEST, a project that transforms the barbershop into a space for community and opportunities for young people, making the most of this local setting as a meeting place and a source of opportunities.
• Nicole Conoco (Madrid): a social entrepreneur committed to the emotional wellbeing of older people and young people. She leads ConectArte, an initiative that combats unwanted loneliness by bringing generations together through human, technological, and emotional support.
• Sara Fernández (Vigo): a social entrepreneur with a track record of working with vulnerable children and young people. She heads up Hijo Público, a project that raises awareness of, and transforms, the lives of children and young people in care.
• Alexandra Ruiz de Azúa (Malaga): a social entrepreneur who runs Más Allá de un Cuerpo, an initiative aimed at preventing eating disorders that focuses on emotional education for young people in educational settings.
• Monica Requeijo (Abadín – Lugo): a social entrepreneur committed to the future of rural areas. She leads Vacantes.gal, a project that reimagines the future of rural youth by linking employment, housing, services, and the community to halt depopulation and foster a sense of belonging.
• Vicky Nieto (Madrid): a social entrepreneur with a deep commitment to young people’s mental health. She heads up Guardianes por la vida, a project that works to break the silence surrounding youth suicide through prevention, awareness-raising, and support.
The selected projects have been taking part, since May 2026, in an intensive support programme that includes online and face-to-face training in social entrepreneurship, systemic change, and impact design; personalised mentoring with the Ashoka team, professionals from Banco Sabadell and Ashoka Fellows; as well as access to the Ashoka Learning Ecosystem e-learning platform and strategic connections with networks and partners within the impact ecosystem. The process will end with a Demo Day in January 2027, where the six projects will present their proposals to the social innovation community, and the two cash prizes will be awarded.
Banco Sabadell Foundation ‘Social Leaders’ programme
The Banco Sabadell Foundation ‘Social Leaders’ programme serves as a gateway to the impact ecosystem of the Banco Sabadell Foundation and Ashoka, supporting projects at an early but crucial stage: when the idea is there and the commitment is real, but the structure, confidence, and support needed to move forward are still lacking. The application process also serves as a preliminary and preparatory phase for consolidation and scale-up programmes such as the B-Value social innovation programme.
The programme, delivered in partnership with Ashoka Spain, focuses primarily on three areas: strengthening the leadership and strategic skills of entrepreneurs; impact design, supporting the development of the theory of change, prototyping, and the identification of beneficiaries; and connecting with the ecosystem, facilitating partnerships, networks, and opportunities for scaling up that prepare projects for future stages of consolidation and impact investment.
