Over the past two years, the Up2Stars program has registered over 1000 applications from startups, selecting 80 of them to participate in 8 Demo Days. This ambitious project, created by the Intesa Sanpaolo Banking Group, concludes today in Naples with its second edition. Up2Stars represents a crucial initiative for the development of Italian startups, aiming to facilitate technology transfer to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The program has proven to be one of the most significant in the innovation landscape, thanks to the network of collaborations activated with excellent partners such as Microsoft, Cisco and Gellify.
The ecosystem created by Up2Stars has allowed 49 startups to access the Elite-Euronext Group Lounge, thus preparing them for the capital market. These collaborations have also fostered synergies with companies in the automotive and fashion sectors. In particular, the second edition of the program saw the expansion of its activities thanks to the Italian Innovation Center in San Francisco. Here, for the first time, 12 startups were accelerated in Silicon Valley, a significant milestone for an Italian bank.
Today in Naples we are celebrating not only the success of the program but also the stories of five startups that participated in Up2Stars: Joule srl, Keplera, Novac, Oraigo and Plino. These companies shared their experiences in the program and the results obtained, highlighting the networking and visibility opportunities offered by the Californian experience. In addition, Intesa Sanpaolo Group collaborates with the University of Naples Federico II to further strengthen the innovation ecosystem. This bond is particularly significant this year, as the university celebrates 800 years since its foundation. Among the various initiatives promoted were 34 workshops, which facilitated meetings between over 40 startups and more than 900 local companies. These activities aim not only to promote research and innovation but also sustainability in the sector. With the growing interconnection between academic institutions and entrepreneurial realities, the future of Italian startups seems promising. The ability to adapt to the challenges of the global market could really make the difference in the panorama of technological innovation.
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