How do you find your community when you’re new to a city?
Valencia has a growing ecosystem of communities built around technology, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, digital product, remote work, sports, wellbeing and new ways of connecting.
The challenge — especially for international talent arriving in the city — is knowing where to find them.
That was the idea behind Nomads Connect | Community First, held on September 18 at La Harinera and organised by València Nomads Hub, part of València Innovation Capital.
The concept was simple: bring some of Valencia’s most active communities together in one place, giving international professionals the opportunity to discover them, meet the people behind them and find new ways to get involved in the city.
The event attracted 180 registrations representing 39 nationalities.
But beyond the numbers, Community First highlighted something even more interesting: just how diverse and active Valencia’s community ecosystem has become.
10 communities, 10 different ways to connect
During the event, ten communities took the stage to introduce who they are, what they do and — most importantly — how people can get involved.
Together, they represented a wide range of professional and personal interests.
GenAI Community Valencia, represented by Jean François Gutierrez, introduced its community of professionals and builders working with generative AI and its connection to a wider European network.
Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC), represented by Juan Fuentes, brought the perspective of sports technology and innovation.
Google Developer Group Valencia, with Paula Villamarín, presented the opportunities available for developers and technology enthusiasts to learn, build new skills and connect with the local tech ecosystem.
La Mutable, represented by Marcin Wosinek, introduced a different approach to community building through movement, wellbeing, culture and social activities.
Genome, from the digital product ecosystem, represented by Joan Pérez, showcased its community for designers, engineers, managers and operations professionals.
Meeting Point, with Carlos Ortiz, presented its ecosystem of social initiatives designed to create new connections and experiences between international and local residents.
Valencia Tech Women, represented by Sindy Medrano, brought its mission of connecting and empowering women within Valencia’s technology ecosystem.
Clay Club Valencia, with Fruzsi Peti, introduced a community focused on Clay, data, AI, automation and practical go-to-market solutions.
Remote Work Europe, represented by Maya Middlemiss, highlighted resources and connections for people building location-independent careers across Europe.
The Offline Club Valencia, represented by Mario Sanchez Kist, brought a simple but increasingly relevant proposition: swapping screen time for real time through phone-free social experiences.
From stage introductions to real conversations
Community First was designed to be more than a series of presentations.
The pitches were simply the starting point.
Afterwards, the Community Fair gave attendees the opportunity to meet community leaders directly, ask questions and explore which initiatives best matched their professional interests, hobbies or lifestyle.
The stage was also opened to additional communities in the audience through an open mic.
Among them was Valencia Interactive, an informal, public and free meetup for professionals, students and enthusiasts from Valencia’s video game industry, alongside other initiatives represented among the attendees.
This spontaneous element reinforced one of the ideas behind the event: the community ecosystem is much bigger than any predefined programme.
The evening then transitioned into informal networking, with attendees continuing their conversations until the end of the event.
Finding your place is part of feeling at home in a city
For someone who has lived in Valencia for years, knowing where to find professional events, interest groups and local communities might seem straightforward.
For someone who has just arrived, it can be much harder.
This matters in a city that attracts international professionals, entrepreneurs, remote workers and digital nomads from around the world.
Integration is not only about choosing a city in which to live and work.
It is also about building relationships, participating in local initiatives, sharing knowledge and finding spaces where a genuine sense of belonging can develop.
That is where communities play an important role.
Community First was designed as a gateway into that ecosystem: instead of expecting newcomers to discover every initiative independently, the event brought different communities together and made that first connection easier.
A community connecting communities
The event also generated an immediate result for València Nomads Hub: at least 27 new members joined its WhatsApp community following the event.
But the potential impact goes beyond the growth of a single community.
Community First created a space where community leaders from very different fields could meet one another while also connecting with a new international audience.
AI, technology, sports, digital product, remote work, wellbeing and offline experiences may initially seem like separate worlds.
In reality, they are all part of the same urban ecosystem.
Creating spaces where those worlds intersect can lead to new relationships, collaborations and opportunities — both for community members and for the people building those communities.
Find more pictures of the event here
