Named
“Bank of the Year 2023”
globally at The Banker’s Awards in London last December, UniCredit also counts among its ‘excellences’ the Start Lab business platform, an initiative that sees it promote and support start-ups through a series of activities. Start Lab, which has recently reopened its annual call for the selection of innovative companies (Here is the link to the call), has Record-breaking numbers: in the 2023 call alone, there were about 700 applications 60 start-ups were selected, adding to a history of about 8 thousand applications in ten years and over 500 have been selected and entered into the platform made available to them; 75 open innovation initiatives and match-making events have been carried out in recent years, involving over 1100 leading companies and more than 950 investors. The number of start-ups led by women has also increased over time, accounting for 22% of the total 2023 applications, and 50% among those selected to access Start Lab. Thanks to the special Women Leaders program, 20 female founders were able to meet 18 international VC funds, for a total of 42 one-to-one meetings.
The advantages of Start Lab
For a young innovative company, the advantage of being selected is to be able to travel an important part of the road on the shoulders of a giant like UniCredit and access a very concrete program that aims to create connections with corporate clients, and potential investors, including international ones. With this aim, the latest edition inaugurated a series of ESG Tech Days around Italy, events with a sectoral focus organized to present start-ups and scale-ups of the network to local entrepreneurs. At the same time, the initiative supports businesses in strengthening their skills and supports them in financial development and go-to-market enhancement, through specific initiatives such as the Academy and mentoring.
The Roadshows
To promote the call on a national scale, UniCredit has in recent years launched a Roadshow that touches several Italian cities and involves multiple partners in the area, including companies, investors, start-ups from previous editions and various players who, in various capacities, operate within the Italian innovation ecosystem. These events represent a valuable opportunity to meet the start-ups with the highest potential and to raise awareness of all the initiatives designed to support innovation. For the 2024 edition, the dates have already been set: it will start in Turin (9/2), continue to Padua (13/02), Palermo (23/02), Rome (27/02), Naples (5/3) and finally return to Milan (12/3).
What’s new in 2024
In the 2024 edition, there will be 6 Corporate Partners – Barilla, Cisco, Fincantieri, Granarolo, Iren and Jakala – who will identify among the 50 companies with the greatest potential, a start-up each to be supported thanks to a series of actions that embrace the possibility of developing pilot projects with start-ups, creating investments, sharing skills and mentorship from the top management of the Corporate Partner, make laboratories and company assets available. https://www.startupbusiness.it/granarolo-startup-unicredit-startlab/123030/ This year, in addition to the Corporate Partner program, there is a further opportunity, designed to promote the international development of the companies involved. Thanks to the collaboration with ICE (the government agency, under the direction of the MAECI, for the promotion abroad and internationalization of Italian companies) on the “Global Start Up Program” initiative – which consists of a free acceleration course in various markets in Europe, the United States and Asia – some of the companies selected by UniCredit Start Lab (provided they meet the required requirements), they may be admitted directly to the validation phase by foreign accelerators.
How to participate in Start Lab
In this 2024 edition, about 50 start-ups will be selected, 10 for each of the 5 verticals that are: CleanTech, Life Science, Digital and Innovative Made in Italy and Impact innovation, dedicated to ESG and circular economy issues. The call will remain open until April 17. 2024 edition of UniCredit Start Lab – UniCredit
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©