The GTIAE and the path of financial analysis and management to risk capital

Ernest welcomes us online at the end of April 2025. He belongs to the GTIAE first promotion (2018 – 2019 academic year) and his experience is a good case in pint of one of the possible alternatives that open during the degree.

Before deciding on the GTIAE

Originally from Tiana (el Maresme), he went to study at a school in Badalona and did his scientific and technical baccalaureate. He always wanted to do some technical training related to enterprise management. In addition, due to his family’s vocation, he also had in mind to study medicine since there are many doctors in his family. In this context, he soon began to look for options to decide.

The combination of scientific and technical studies in high school and an interest in business management made Ernest set his sights on the United Kingdom. Not because he had already decided, but rather to open the range of possibilities. From the offer of the Catalan universities, there was nothing similar at first.

Therefore, he went through the process to be admitted to a UK university until he was admitted to more than one. At that time, he had already discovered that there was a new degree that mixed the scientific and technical part with enterprise management.

Ernest had in mind studies halfway between physics and business management or engineering and business. Ernest, logically, was also looking for within the offer of degrees in the Catalan university system. Therefore, in the first year of high school he already heard about a new degree in engineering and economics that had to be launched soon. However, its start was still delayed by a year.

GTIAE 1, United Kingdom 0

Thus, he already had a university place in the United Kingdom before taking university exams. At that time, he saw that the GTIAE was being launched next year. Therefore, he took the university exams considering that physics and chemistry were the subjects that weighted him. Thus, he chose medicine as his first choice. Actually, due to family impulse despite being clear that he would not be admitted because of the high cut-off mark required. And, as a second option, he chose the GTIAE, his true option.

And in relation to the United Kingdom, he asked to delay its incorporation by one year, a possible option. This way, the first year of the GTIAE began with the UK possibility. Ernest explains that he liked it so much and, therefore, he gave up his university place in the United Kingdom.

A well-defined path to the job market

In relation to his incorporation into the job market, Ernest tells us that from a very young age he was attracted to mobile video game programming. For example, he developed the first video game at the age of 13 and quite successfully, reaching 1M downloads on Google.  Likewise, he was attracted to developing software for  the economic management of the company (web apps) through freelance platforms. Secondly, during the first year of the GTIAE, with a group of classmates, they stood for election to the government of the ETSEIB.  His proposal  swept with 24 seats (the maximum per candidacy, through the A New Hope candidacy). He concludes that it was a success and they had a great time.

In addition, he opted for the Erasmus program and went to Gothenburg (University of Chalmers) in the third year of the GTIAE. He remembers it as one of the best experiences in his life because of the great cultural exchange he experienced. Before that, however, between the second and third year, he had already had his first business contact. He did optional extracurricular internships at a start-up called Lodgi. There, he developed his technology platform and supported in raising its first round of funding.

Erasmus and Inveready

Thus, during Erasmus he continued to look for more internships in both technical and the business field. He get in touch with the consulting company Accenture Strategy, which is the most business and financial branch of this multinational consultancy. In this way, he meet the world of venture capital. Ernest started working as a strategy analyst for seven months, more specifically in the automotive business sector and the industrial branch. This work interested him a lot and it was the first contact with his actual job.

Ernest clarifies that during Erasmus and because of doing an internship at Accenture, he took fewer GTIAE subjects than he was officially entitled to. Therefore, in the last semester of the fourth year he had to pass eight subjects, which was very hard. This is how the degree ended, and the bachelor’s degree final project (TFG) was done later. Upon graduation, Accenture made him a new offer and, by personal contacts he had, he ended up signing for Inveready, where he now works.

At Inveready, after the interview, he was offered a position as a venture capital fund analyst even though he did not yet have the TFG. Ernest says that the economic analysis part of the GTIAE has been useful from the very beginning.  Firstly, the start-up companies they manage. Secondly, in the financial part of the business. This way, he started firmly in the job market, working at Inveready and finishing the TFG with a tutor from the company itself.

Understanding the world of financial management

In relation to its job, Inveready is dedicated to the active management  of investors’ capital in the so-called <<alternative assets>>. In particular, its team or fund is venture capital: it invests in high-growth private companies specialising in digital technology (software).

The investment alternatives are in equity and debt through venture capital funds, and for a period of approximately  ten years. During this period, the companies in which they invest are expected to gain value to subsequently sell their stake and make a profit. Inveready is the largest alternative asset manager in Spain with 2.100 million euros. For example, it invested in MásMóvil in its origins. Inveready also invests in biotech, venture debt, listed on the European alternative market, market capital, telco infrastructure and smallcaps.

In addition, Ernest explains that the alternative asset sector is a private market and that there is very little information about the companies likely to invest in it. Therefore, as a software developer, he has led a data capture and management strategy that automate processes. The aim is to have tracking information on the internet and social networks such as LinkedIn. This is the way to identify new companies to invest in.

Finally, in relation to his job, Ernest is very satisfied to have facilitated that once in Inveready, other GTIAE students have landed there. To date, about ten people have done internships, to the point that two people have stayed to work.

The wisdom of betting on the GTIAE

In relation to his time at the GTIAE, Ernest is very clear about the points that make the difference. For them, he would repeat the choice or recommend studying the degree:

• Firstly, because of the duality and complementarity between UPF and UPC. They are very different universities and provide a double vision of reality that always accompanies you.
• Secondly, during the GTIAE they were less than forty students, a very small and compact class, something unheard of in the university system. A very good feeling is established to connect with people, make friends and develop a differential internal culture.
• Thirdly, Ernest also highlights the initiative of the Enterprise Challenge and the Focus Days. Clearly, this is where the contribution made by the BEST Foundation becomes noticeable, because it complements the proximity of the company very well. 
• Finally, despite not being specific to the degree, the second point made him meet  seven years ago those he now considers part of his closest circle and best friends. With them,  he enjoys traveling and keeps in daily contact, he even works together with one of them at Inveready.

… in addition to insistently recommending that participation in the Erasmus program it is a must due to the learning it entails. Nobody should skip that!

Asked for the university master’s degree that gives continuity to the GTIAE (MUEi), Ernest clarifies that he did not rule it out. Simply, its job came out before finishing the degree. However, he specifies that he has friends who have followed his professional path and have done the master’s degree: It is also a recommended option. Part of the contents of the MUEi is also economic analysis. In fact, there are students from the MUEI at Inveready who have a position of analyst.

A open future

In relation to how he sees his immediate future, for example two or four years from now, he will continue at Inveready. However, beyond that, he does not rule out going to work abroad either. And, in the longer term, to have more maturity and knowledge to develop their own business project. In any case, this does not seem to be an issue that worries Ernest much.

For now, he also wants to continue qualifying professionally as a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA). There are three levels, and he has already reached level 1, together with the other GTIAE promotion partner who also works at Inveready. CFA exams are difficult: they last between four and six hours each, and candidates must answer one hundred and eighty questions.

Finally, Ernest emphasizes that his job allows for a lot of flexibility. So he can travel all over the world for conferences, training or working with clients. For example, recently he has been  working at Bali.

Thank you, Ernest for sharing your trajectory before and after the GTIAE.

And a lot of success in your future decisions!