Fireside Chat with Joaquín Cuenca Abela: Unleashing Creativity at EU-Startups Summit

Exciting news awaits as Joaquín Cuenca Abela, the Co-founder and CEO of Freepik, is set to grace the stage at the upcoming EU-Startups Summit in sunny Malta on May 7 to 8, 2026.

Established in 2010 and based in Málaga, Spain, Freepik has transformed into a global all-in-one creative platform utilized by designers, marketers, and creative teams globally. With over 900k subscribers, the company merges AI-powered creation and editing tools with a vast library of more than 250 million stock assets.

Guided by Joaquín Cuenca Abela, Freepik has grown from a stock content marketplace into a comprehensive creative suite, supporting image, video, and audio creation through generative AI and high-quality editing tools. Despite its international scaling, the company has largely been self-funded, securing a spot in the Financial Times ranking of Europe’s fastest-growing businesses and reinforcing its global presence.

At the EU-Startups Summit 2026, Joaquín will present a keynote titled “When execution is worthless, vision is everything: how to start a business in the age of infinite AI.” Drawing from Freepik’s journey, he will delve into how, in a landscape where AI handles most execution tasks, human input in critical decision-making defines triumph. This session will provide valuable insights for founders, operators, and investors navigating a realm where strategic direction holds more weight than mere execution!

Further event details and additional speakers will be disclosed on the official EU-Startups Summit event page.

OUR EVENT SPONSORS

Malta Enterprise acts as Malta’s economic development agency, fostering economic growth, investment, and innovation by providing various support services for local and international enterprises establishing a productive presence in Malta. Playing a crucial role in Malta’s economic landscape, it attracts investments, aids businesses, and drives innovation, solidifying Malta’s appeal to entrepreneurs and investors. Malta Enterprise actively nurtures a vibrant startup ecosystem, fostering an environment conducive to startups and offering tailored support and incentives to empower emerging businesses.

M. Demajo Group stands as a prominent business entity in Malta, boasting a successful legacy spanning 115 years. With a workforce of 500, the Group’s diversified growth across various sectors stems from a commitment to long-term results. Through organic growth, acquisitions, partnerships, and startups, M. Demajo Group has solidified its financial stability, ethical standards, business reputation, and track record as a reliable business partner, fueling its ongoing expansion.