The Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta returns, aiming to foster the creation of innovative startups. Now in its 20th edition, this event is organized by the incubators I3P (Innovative Enterprise Incubator of the Polytechnic University of Turin) and 2i3T (Enterprise Incubator of the University of Turin).

As part of the PNI (National Innovation Award) promoted by PNICube, the Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta consists of two traditional phases: the Ideas Competition (Phase I) and the Business Plan Competition (Phase II). Over its previous 19 editions, the initiative has engaged more than 7,800 aspiring entrepreneurs forming teams that have presented over 3,700 business ideas and 2,000 business plans. The total prize pool of over 1.4 million euros has helped establish more than 180 companies, which today employ over 1,450 people.

Phases and timeline

The competition is divided into two key stages. Phase I, the “Ideas Competition”, awards the best entrepreneurial ideas with support and consulting services provided by business incubators to help develop the Business Plan, along with orientation and mentoring services from other partners. Submissions for Phase I are open until June 28 via the official competition website. The best ideas will be selected and teams contacted directly by the incubators for consulting services.

Phase II, the Business Plan Competition, starts on June 29 and ends on July 29, leading to the final selection and awards. Anyone can participate, including those not selected in Phase I or who did not submit an idea. Participants must submit a Business Plan on the competition website.

Participation in one or both phases is free. Entrants can present a business idea or project at any development stage, aimed at creating an innovative startup. The competition is open to all aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18 and over, university members, and newly established business owners, as specified in the competition rules. Applicants must choose a reference incubator among the Promoting Entities’ incubators (I3P, 2i3T, or Pépinières d’Entreprises in Aosta or Pont-Saint-Martin for the Valle d’Aosta Prize).

Eligible business ideas and projects must fall within five categories:

1. Life Sciences: Innovative products/services for improving health.
2. ICT: Innovative products/services in information technology and new media, cybersecurity, cloud computing, e-commerce, social media, mobile, gaming, and advanced hardware/software technologies.
3. Cleantech & Energy: Innovative products/services for environmental sustainability and energy management.
4. Industrial: Innovative products/services for industrial production not covered by the other categories.
5. Tourism and Cultural & Creative Industry: Innovative products/services for tourism and cultural/creative sectors.

Awards for the 20th Edition

Phase I – Ideas Competition

The best entrepreneurial ideas receive:

1. Free support and consulting activities to help teams develop their Business Plan, provided by contest organizers’ incubators through experts.
2. 5G consulting services for feasibility studies to evaluate the added value of 5G connectivity, provided under the CTE NEXT project of the City of Turin.

To compete for the 5G consulting services, select the relevant option during Phase I registration. Additionally, Invitalia, the Official Partner of the National Innovation Award, offers free orientation and mentoring services during Phase I registration for assistance in applying for various agency incentives.

Phase II – Business Plan Competition

By early November, the best startup projects participating in the Business Plan Competition will be awarded monetary prizes and services, plus special mentions, determined by a jury of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and business angels. This year, the total prize pool exceeds 75,000 euros, distributed as cash for startup development and services from various partners.

The top three winners receive cash prizes: 7,500 euros for first place, 5,000 euros for second, and 2,500 euros for third. The top six projects also receive 1,000 euros each for entry into the PNI 2024, the “champion’s league” for regional Start Cup winners, held on December 5-6 in Rome, organized by the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and Start Cup Lazio network under the Rome Technopole initiative.

Special prizes include:

• Fondazione CRC Prize: 10,000 euros for the best entrepreneurial project based in Cuneo Province.
• Valle d’Aosta Prize: 7,500 euros for the best project based in Aosta or Pont-Saint-Martin’s Pépinières d’Entreprises.
• Aerospace Sustainability Prize: 7,500 euros for the best project in aerospace sustainability.
• Social Innovation Prizes: Two prizes totaling 15,000 euros for the best projects in medical, pharmaceutical, biotech, agriculture, and food needs.
• City of the Future and Sustainability Prize: 7,500 euros in services for up to two best projects in sustainability technologies.
• Intellectual Property Prizes: Two prizes totaling 7,000 euros in services for the best projects with intellectual property characteristics.
• UniCredit Start Lab Prize: A mentorship session for evaluating project suitability for the Start Lab program.
• 5G & Emerging Tech Prizes: Services for the best projects in 5G, provided under the CTE NEXT project of the City of Turin.

Also planned are five special mentions:

• “Female Entrepreneurship” for the best female-led business project with a majority female team (over 50%);
• “Social Innovation” for the best ‘Social Innovation’ project that proposes innovative solutions in one of the fields specified in Article 2, Paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree 155/2006 on social enterprises;
• “Open Innovation / Industrial Spin-Offs” dedicated to the best project concerning innovative products and/or services derived from a research activity conducted in collaboration between a company and a Piedmontese university;
• “Climate Change” for the best business project impacting climate change that can integrate innovation, technology, protection, and enhancement of natural resources, aiming to generate economic growth and environmental protection;
• “Sustainable Technologies” for the best project that stands out particularly for its originality in the field of sustainable technologies, awarded by Jacobacci & Partners.

Stay updated on competition news by subscribing to the newsletter via the form at the bottom of each page on the contest website or following Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.