The ZERO programme of the Italian Cleantech Accelerator officially starts. Twelve startups were chosen to participate in the third edition during the Selection Day, which took place on 29 May at the Gazometro area in the Ostiense district of Rome. The programme will last five months.
ZERO is the Italian Cleantech Accelerator of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) National Accelerator Network, launched by Eni’s CDP Venture Capital Sgr-Fondo Nazionale Innovazione, through the Joule business school, LVenture Group and ELIS, with the support of corporate partners Acea, Maire Tecnimont, Microsoft and Vodafone.
Participation in the acceleration programme gives startups the opportunity to receive apre-seed investment of up to EUR 80,000. The teams are supported along a path aimed at growth for access to the market and the definition of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on which to generate impact. Thanks to experts from Eni and the corporate partner Acea, Maire Tecnimont, Microsoft and Vodafone, the participants can develop co-innovation projects in an industry driven environment in the Eni Gazometro area in the Ostiense district of Rome. For the 2023 edition, startups will also receive support during acceleration and co-innovation from technical mentors from the CNR Institute of Atmospheric pollution Research (CNR-IIA), the accelerator's new scientific partner.
Lastly, participation in ZERO gives selected startups access to a vast network of investors active in the field of sustainability and impact investing. Some of those who were accelerated in the first two editions have raised additional capital, including from major international venture capital funds.
