There is a question that, despite being uncomfortable, is symptomatic in the professional field: how many people added by Linkedin in the last year could be written to today without it being forced? The answer, in most cases, reveals a reality: networking has become a matter of accumulation rather than relationships.

PonteCara once again positions itself on this reality, the meeting that proposes precisely the opposite. Next April 23, at the Iroko Space in Madrid, it will celebrate its sixth edition with the same premise as in previous editions: to vindicate the value of shared time, quality conversation and contact as the basis of professional relationships. A humanist commitment that values ​​the authentic connection of professionals in the face of the rise of the digital environment.

An event that builds links

Born in 2017 from a post on Linkedin that reached an unusual level of virality – with hundreds of thousands of impacts and a conversation that overflowed the platform itself – PonteCara has become proof that the digital environment amplifies contacts, but does not necessarily build links. Hence, its promoters and organizers Carlos García Trillo, current Marketing Director at Gaes, and Andrea Franco, Professional Development Coach, aim to invite professionals to do real networking.

The post that led to the creation of PonteCara in 2017

That first conversation led to a format that, since then, has connected more than 1,000 professionals in its different editions, as a real meeting point for those who understand that the value of connecting must go beyond an exchange of corporate cards or accumulating contacts on LinkedIn.
This journey has given shape to an active community that recognizes in PonteCara something unusual in this type of meeting: a space where networking does not remain on the surface and, on the contrary, is translated into tangible relationships, projects and opportunities.

PonteCara’s proposal to move from online to offline responds precisely to this need to provide context and depth to professional relationships in an environment increasingly mediated by digital. The event experience is designed to facilitate that leap with dynamics aimed at breaking the ice, guided conversations and interaction spaces that reduce the initial friction of contact. Added to this is the elevator pitch format, which turns the attendees themselves into protagonists, offering them a visibility platform to present their projects or ideas.

“Most of our contacts couldn’t explain what we do or what we’re good at because we’ve never built that connection. That’s why many professional networks are, in reality, collections of names,” Carlos García Trillo commented through Linkedin. “The networking that makes a difference works differently. It is slower, humane and more intentional. It is based on conversations, shared context and a sustained presence over time. On someone understanding who you are and when it makes sense to think about you.”

In this new stage, PonteCara will also have the support of reason.Why as a partner for the strategic development of the project as well as its visibility and coverage.

A format to make things happen

The sixth edition of PonteCara will maintain the elements that have defined the meeting since its first calls. For example, the capacity, deliberately limited to around 150 people, responds to a strategic decision to encourage closeness between attendees.

The agenda, for its part, will combine presentations with dynamics aimed at facilitating conversation. Among those confirmed so far are Juan Luis Polo, President and Founder of Good Rebels; Andrea Ramos, employability content creator; or Sara de Pablos, Co-Founder of Greater.
Here are the speakers who have participated in previous editions.

Among the key moments of the meeting, the block of elevator pitchwhere around twenty attendees will have 45 seconds to introduce themselves to the room and explain what they are looking for or what they can contribute. A mechanic that introduces a layer of direct visibility and reduces the initial “cold door” of contact.

Added to this is a structured networking format, which includes a cocktail-style dinner with small tables organized randomly to encourage unforeseen conversations. It is, in essence, a design designed so that the interaction does not depend on chance or individual initiative.

One of the aspects that have defined the evolution of PonteCara throughout all its editions is its ability to extend the value of the meeting beyond the event itself. Professional projects, collaborations and even job opportunities have arisen in previous meetings, consolidating a community that continues active after the event. “It is not the typical event where you enter alone and leave without having connected with anyone”explains García Trillo himself in relation to the first editions.

The event will be hosted by Javi Sancho, comedian and screenwriter, who will assume the role of master of ceremonies with the aim of maintaining an agile and relaxed tone without losing focus on the purpose of the event.