All the texts I’ve recently published in The Slow Burn have been born from a desire to share and inspire. I emphasize this because I recognize that it wasn’t always like this. In the past, when I called myself a publicist and entrepreneur, my writing was often driven by a need to build my personal brand and to present myself as successful. But that’s behind me now.

Today, I write out of gratitude for the gift of life—grateful for the chance to learn and discover, always open to new experiences, and with the sole intention of opening my heart to those seeking new paths and more human connections.

 

A reunion almost a decade later

My latest adventure took place on the picturesque northeast coast of Spain, in the area known as the Costa Brava. A region of wild beauty, with rugged cliffs and captivating beaches, where you can contemplate breathtaking landscapes while savoring wonderful Mediterranean cuisine.

Undoubtedly, the perfect setting for a groundbreaking gathering: Kinnernet Costa Brava.

For those who don’t know it, this event is much more than a series of conferences. It’s a retreat where inquisitive minds come together to imagine, create, and collaborate without the limitations of traditional structures, completely redefining how we think about professional and personal collaboration.

It’s been that way since I first attended, almost ten years ago.

It was in June 2015 when my good friend Roberto Saint Maló—who shares with me both angel investing experiences and an insatiable curiosity for the new—invited me to what he described as a social, cultural, and creative experiment.

I have fond memories of that first gathering. It marked the beginning of an important phase in my life. It was the first time I experienced learning in a truly relaxed environment—open to ideas and people, with no agenda or pretensions. And it has always stayed with me because immediately afterward, I traveled to Paris to finalize the sale and purchase agreement of Tribu with Yannick Bolloré’s team at Havas. The non-conference I had just attended helped me break the ice in those conversations, which had a very positive impact on the negotiations.

A decade after that first Kinnernet, I reconnected with Roberto at the Kinnernet Santa Teresa in Costa Rica, which was also attended by David Grebler, the host of Kinnernet Costa Brava. That reconnection later brought me to Spain, to the charming village of Santa Cristina d’Aro, for another edition of this unique retreat.

Coming back was like rediscovering a part of myself. That beautiful place I had tucked away in my memory as a distant echo came alive again. And even more so, because during my stay I visited the spectacular “Magic House”—a museum dedicated to the art of illusionism, where the veteran magician Xevi, now in his eighties, has spent years gathering an amazing collection of gadgets and magical curiosities. Even today, he continues to delight young and old with his tricks.

I was amazed by how his passion for magic, after more than 60 years in the business, still seemed as vibrant as if he had just begun. It was palpable in the air. I have no doubt that many of the children who visit the place end up making magic their life.

It felt like a place of endings and new beginnings—just like my own experience at Kinnernet.

 

More than entrepreneurs

The most valuable part of Kinnernet is its people. 120 beautiful souls, including technology entrepreneurs, gamers, designers, social capitalism advocates, philosophers, doctors, artists, scientists… The richness of the event lies in its diversity. But beyond their professions, what truly unites those who attend is a shared inner attitude: curiosity, humility, and a genuine passion for learning and contributing.

I have to say, I’m proud to be one of the participants with the most laps around the sun. Gray hair is rare at these events, as if those of us with more years don’t belong there. But I believe it’s precisely us who have the most to offer—perspective, calm, and the gift of listening.

In my experience, there are few things more enriching than seeing the world through the eyes of people 10, 20, or even 30 years younger.

It’s in that intergenerational exchange where the real transformation happens—and I’ve benefited from it wholeheartedly.

 

Unexpected activities as the norm

One of the things that sets Kinnernet Costa Brava apart is its activities. Some are as unusual as they are unforgettable: the “gadgeton,” where inventions are showcased and tested live; the “cooking madness” evening, where everyone cooks together; the “talent show,” filled with laughter, emotions, and surprises; the themed party, where we get to play and break free from rigid molds; and the ice baths that awaken both body and soul.

All these activities are simply a pretext to connect, to let go of egos, to share from a place of authenticity.

For my part, just like I did in Santa Teresa, in this edition I chose to offer something other than a presentation: a conversation about the art of letting go. Inspired by the book Becoming Nobody by Ram Dass and my own book The Art of Detachment (to be published in September), I shared reflections with Roberto Saint Maló on what it means to open your hands and let go. Because so often, true success comes not from holding on, but from letting go.

What you take with you

At Kinnernet, not everything happens on stage. Sometimes the most impactful conversations unfold while walking on a hill at sunset, in the kitchen chopping tomatoes, or in a cold water pool at seven in the morning. In this space, technical and specialized topics like the future of applied intelligence, analog activism, and the need to create shared value in a hyperconnected world coexist without hierarchies or barriers with deeply human and even controversial topics like teenage suicide, immortality, and the death of death itself.

Talks about science, ethics, technology, and existence make the event unique. But none of this would be possible without the right environment for micro-connections to spark—seeds for the future.

After each retreat, many people return home with that spark ignited. Countless companies and foundations have emerged from Kinnernet, as have educational workshops and documentaries. But there are also the more subtle transformations: shifts in mindset, new questions, unexpected friendships. These small impacts don’t make it to Instagram, but they stay with us forever.

These kinds of experiences expand the mind and open the heart. Sharing space and experiences with people who think differently helps us grow—especially when done from a place of curiosity and respect. Listening without interrupting, asking ourselves why this person thinks this way instead of how to refute them—these are some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned.

 

One last gift: soccer, travel and gratitude.

My adventure didn’t end there. After the event, still feeling the Kinnernet energy in my body and mind, I headed to Barcelona, a city that has always inspired me. There, I attended a classic of classics: the duel between Barça and Real Madrid.

I was lucky enough to experience it live, surrounded by thousands of voices, in that electric atmosphere only soccer can generate.

Watching Barça—my team—win 4-3 was the perfect end to a week of encounters, shared creativity, and reflection. The final whistle made me smile, not just because of what it meant for the club, but because in the overflowing joy of those around me, I paused for a moment to appreciate what it means to be alive, present, and open.

In that smile, I celebrated what I had lived, what I had learned, and what I had let go of after more than 40 years of work. Being able to pause, to choose to go to an event and then to a game—it’s not a luxury, it’s the harvest of what’s been sown.