Sofia Silva Carballido

Growth Lead @Gobe | Transforming Governments with Startup Innovation | GovTech Expert & Faculty | Youth Advocate | Public Speaker

Greater Madrid Metropolitan Area

About

GovTech expert involved in pioneer international govtech projects across de EU, Iberoamerica and the US. Driving the modernization of public sector institutions, helping governments deliver the next generation of digital public services by connecting them with startups, scale-ups and digital SMEs. Currently leading the Business Development & Growth activity of Gobe Studio, liasing with governments in Iberoamerica, and international institutions such as the IDB, World Bank or the European Commission, to support the development of their govtech agendas. Solid track record of govtech project involvement and ecosystem leadership over the past 5 years, delivering GovTech Government Programs internationally. Led the delivery of the 1st European Commission’s Pan-European GovTech Bootcamp for startups; was involved in the launch of Govtechlab Madrid, the 1st GovTech Laboratory in Spain; participated in the launch of the US Department of State Tech4Democracy Challenge, amongst other govtech projects. Expert contributor and author on niche knowledge publications from the European Commission Public Sector Tech Watch, the Inter-American Development Bank, GovLab NYU, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America or PUBLIC. Involved in expert advisory and mentorship engagements for OECD OPSI, CAF, Cities Coalition for Digital Rights, PATIO Campus and Ruralizable (first startup accelerator for rural areas in Spain). Visiting Faculty for IE University on Public Sector Entrepreneurship. Recognised as LATAM GovTech Leader by CORLab (2023) and as a Women Leader in the Spanish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (2024). Actively participating as a public speaker in govtech events. Trained in political and social sciences, with Executive Education in digital transformation for government at Harvard’s Kennedy School. Degree in International Relations (IE University), and specialized studies in entrepreneurship and innovation (University of Southern California), behavioral economics and diplomacy (Brown University) and Middle Eastern Politics (LSE London).

Experience

  • Gobe Studio (2 yrs 7 mos)
    • Growth Lead
      Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 7 mos

      Responsible for tender bidding, partnerships & communications, external engagements and value proposition development. Additionally leading the European Commission's GovTech4All (DIGIT) Consortium's work on Institutional Advocacy, Communications and Ecosystem & New Partner Engagement.

    • Project Manager
      Jan 2024 - Jan 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo

      Led the organisation of GovTech for Impact World Congress, Inaugural Edition 2024 (+160 speakers, +1k attendees); the implementation of 2 Editions of the Basque Country's GovTech Open Innovation Program - BIND GovTech (18 startup pilots); the launch of the first GovTech Project in Principado de Asturias.

  • IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs (2 yrs 4 mos)
    • Adjunct Faculty
      Apr 2026 - Jul 2026 · 4 mos

      Master in Technology and Global Affairs – “Policy and Project Design practicum: Technology in the Public Sector”.

    • Visiting Faculty
      Apr 2024 - Apr 2026 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Recurrent delivery of sessions on Public Sector Entrepreneurship and Career Coaching to Master and Undergraduate students (BIR, MIR, MTGA).

  • Guest Lecturer at FUNDACIÓN ORTEGA-MARAÑÓN
    Nov 2025 - Nov 2025 · 1 mo

    Session on GovTech for the International Executive Program on AI and Digital Transformation.

  • Advisor: Emerging Technologies for Civic Participation at OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation
    May 2025 - Jun 2025 · 2 mos

    Expert workshop contribution for the "Emerging tech for civic participation" project (how to set up bootcamps, Spain Action Plan).

  • Expert Group Contributor at CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe-
    Oct 2023 - Feb 2024 · 5 mos

    The 2024 Govtech Index provides an analysis of Govtech ecosystems in Ibero-America through an evaluation of thirty indicators grouped into three pillars: Innovation, Governance, and Collaboration. The objective is to offer a detailed overview of the current landscape and promote the development of innovative solutions to enhance governance in the region.