Call

Zero is Italy’s top accelerator for leading startups in the Cleantech sector. It was founded by the National Network of CDP Venture Capital and has Eni as its main partner, through its Joule business school. Zest and Elis run the programme, with backing from Acea, Microsoft, Vodafone, CNR, SACE, and ESA. It aims to identify startups with high business potential and solutions that have no environmental impact. The programme is industry-driven, promoting systemic collaboration between startups, corporations, and small and medium-sized enterprises. 

All Cleantech startups offering innovative software (with working MVPs) or hardware (with a working prototype and clear industrial production plan) may apply in these sectors: alternative energy, circular economy and waste management, sustainable systems, and conservation and sustainable land development.

The call closed on 13 November 2024

The WomenX Impact Startup Competition is one of the main events supporting female entrepreneurship. It was set up to offer startups founded by women or which have at least one woman on the board a unique experience of growth and dialogue, extending and consolidating their network and coming into contact with a panel of sector experts.

The programme is open to all startups founded by a woman or which have at least one woman on the Board; all established businesses with a product or service already being marketed or which will be marketed in the coming 6 months; all startups falling into at least one of the following categories: Lifestyle (Fashiontech-Traveltech-Foodtech-Designtech-Influencer Marketing); Sustainable & Circular; Education; Health & Fitness; Fintech & Insurtech. 

The call closed on 9 October 2024.

The sustainability innovation accelerator based in Venice and focusing on the development of business ideas and technological solutions for tackling climate change and other environmental challenges.

VeniSIA is an acronym for Venice Sustainability Innovation Accelerator, its mission is to accelerate corporate labs and startups working to achieve environmental SDGs and at the same time develop their market potential using disruptive technologies and strategic innovation. The ultimate aim is not to set up an accelerator in Venice but to make Venice and accelerator.

VeniSIA attracts institutions, businesses and individuals sharing the belief that this is the ideal context for offering ideas and solutions for valid sustainable development challenges in Venice’s fragile and unique environmental ecosystem, but at the same time scalable solutions that can be of benefit to the whole planet.

The call closed on 15 September 2024

The call, launched by the Lazio Region through Lazio Innova, aims to identify innovative solutions to support the ecological and digital transition. This strategic tool sets out to increase the competitive performance of the regional economy, fostering the creation and growth of new businesses.

Startups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and spin-offs, informal teams (not established or under establishment) consisting of at least three physical persons aged at least 18 with a secondary school diploma.

The call closed on 26 July 2024.

The Italian accelerator in the National CDP Network devoted to the port innovation sector and the blue economy.

The programme aims to strengthen the relationship between startups, corporate stakeholders and the public administration, contributing to the creation of a value chain in the blue economy, an approach that places innovation in the centre of processes, governance and results. Launched by CDP Venture Capital SGR in partnership with the Port Authorities of the Ionian Sea – Port of Taranto, Faros is managed by a|cube, the accelerator and incubator that works with businesses with a high social and environmental impact.

Startups working in port innovation, the blue economy, blue growth and the ocean industry wishing to implement processes, products and services according to a sustainable approach.

The call closed on 16 June 2024.

Eni Joule for Entrepreneurship - In 2008 Eni set up the Eni Award to reward and promote research and technological innovation in the energy and environment fields. Starting from 2021, through Joule, the company has launched a further prize to foster the application, enhancement and transfer of technologies in the energy transition field, helping to develop a sustainable innovation ecosystem. The “Eni Joule for Entrepreneurship” prize was born with the aim of promoting innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship in the field of decarbonisation of processes and products, the circular economy, the fight against climate change, in order to contribute to the energy transition and foster the country’s socio-economic development.

The call is open to teams, university spin-offs, startups, that have developed or are developing innovative business projects that are sustainable not only in economic but also environmental and social terms, with high technological value. The three selected winners will be awarded a prize by the President of the Italian Republic during the Eni Award ceremony held in Rome.

The call closed on March 22, 2024.

Encubator is the entrepreneurial accelerator programme that supports startups with technology solutions that accelerate the energy transition to a carbon free model, making cities and the way people and goods move more sustainable. The aim is to reduce waste and move towards a circular economy model that respects human, animal and plant life. The programme is promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Milan Monza Brianza Lodi and Milan Polytechnic.

The call is open to Italian, European and international early-stage startups, whether established or not, and university spin-offs or those from Italian, European and international research centres.

The call closed on November 13, 2023.