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Investing is not the same as gambling. Before choosing a Venture Capital fund, I always recommend evaluating risk tolerance, the investment horizon (at least 7-10 years), and liquidity needs. Ideally, one should look for funds with experienced managers, a clear strategy, and a solid track record of returns. It’s also crucial to understand which types of startups to invest in (early stage, growth, specific sector) and the fund’s terms (fees, timelines, capital structure).

According to data collected by Hays, based on a survey of more than 5,600 companies and professionals and published in their “2025 Labor Market Guide”, 89% of companies report difficulties in finding qualified professionals, an 8% increase from 2024.

I can’t stand this type of news boring, as it reflects a recurring issue in the labor market: the apparent paradox between the talent shortage and professionals’ dissatisfaction with their working conditions.

Europe faces a private funding deficit for startups compared to the investment landscape seen in the United States.

A report published by the European Patent Office (EPO), which measures the percentage of companies in an investor’s portfolio that have filed patent applications, highlights one of the biggest structural weaknesses of Europe’s tech investment ecosystem: its excessive reliance on public funding and the lack of private capital in the later stages of startup development.

According to the “Future of Jobs 2025” report by the World Economic Forum, 39% of the core skills required by workers will change in just five years.

The most alarming aspect, from an economic policy perspective, is the projected loss of 1.6 million jobs globally due to the economic slowdown— a phenomenon that could worsen labor inequalities between regions. Coupled with the rising cost of living, this highlights a clear interconnection between macroeconomic dynamics and microeconomic business decisions.

What we witnessed yesterday with the historic drop in the New York Stock Exchange, triggered by this Chinese artificial intelligence application, is neither an isolated phenomenon nor a mere market adjustment; it is a warning about the structural vulnerabilities of Western economies in an era where technology has become a strategic battleground.

The $1 trillion stock market crash, equivalent to 60% of Spain’s GDP, reveals not only the magnitude of the economic damage but also the speed at which technological innovation can redefine market expectations.

The idea of being self-employed is often associated with freedom and the possibility of building something of your own, but in practice, this “freedom” comes with a disproportionate financial and bureaucratic burden. It is evident that, under the current system of tiered contributions and taxation, self-employed individuals with moderate incomes face an unsustainable situation. Fixed costs, such as self-employment contributions and income taxes, along with deductible expenses, significantly erode gross income, leaving many self-employed workers with net earnings barely comparable to the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI).

From my perspective, we are witnessing a structural shift in the dynamics of saving and investing, reflecting both the evolution of financial markets and the growing influence of external factors, such as monetary policy and technological regulation.

The decreasing appeal of fixed income is not surprising. The high yields it offered during 2023 and part of 2024 were a direct consequence of the high interest rates imposed by the European Central Bank (ECB) in the context of an economic crisis.

The index tracking renewable energy stocks plummeted by 26% in 2024. This trend does not surprise me at all, and in fact, I consider it quite predictable given the current context. Several key factors are driving this differential growth in favor of “green” companies.

First, we are witnessing a significant shift in government policies worldwide. Since the Paris Agreement, and especially in recent years, governments have intensified their efforts to combat climate change.

Early withdrawal from a pension plan is a decision that can have very unpleasant tax consequences.

First and foremost, it is crucial to understand that pension plans were designed as a long-term savings instrument with significant tax benefits. When we make contributions, we receive deductions from our taxable income in the Personal Income Tax (IRPF). However, this benefit comes with a catch: the money is “locked” until retirement, unless in very specific situations.