UniCredit Start Lab is UniCredit's business platform dedicated to high-tech Italian start-ups and innovative SMEs. Through a program articulated in numerous actions and services, the initiative aims to assist national entrepreneurial realities, supporting them in their growth path and in the development of strategic partnerships with players in the ecosystem.
The winning projects, selected annually from hundreds of applications, benefit from dedicated support in developing their network, finding investors and corporate counterparts, as well as having access to mentoring initiatives, international management training activities and, finally, ad hoc banking services.
The platform targets entrepreneurial projects ascribable to 5 macro-sectors:
- Clean Tech: renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, waste treatment;
- Digital: AI, Cloud computing, mobile apps, B2B services & platform, hardware, fintech, IoT;
- Impact Innovation: services and products driving impactful progress in term of social and environmental sustainability;
- Innovative Made in Italy: food & agrifood, fashion & design, nanotechnology, robotics, mechanics, tourism;
- Life Science: biotech, pharma, medical devices, digital health, assistive technologies.
The call for start-ups of the 2025 edition
Once again this year, UniCredit Start Lab will select more than 50 innovative projects that will have the opportunity to access accompanying and training paths.
The start-ups selected in the 12th edition of the initiative will be able to:
- receive a €10,000 grant;
- access facilitation programs to identify potential partners and establish collaborations with companies within UniCredit's network and institutional entities;
- participate in UniCredit's annual Startup Academy;
- access UniCredit's mentoring platform;
- be assigned a dedicated Relationship Manager for banking needs;
- network with potential investors;
- receive tailored consultancy services from selected partners;
- be considered by one or more Corporate Partners (leading market companies);
- be guided through internationalization processes.
Registration for the call will be possible until April 7, 2025, by submitting the application through this dedicated web page.
UniCredit Start Lab's Roadshow 2025
From February 4 to March 18, 2025, it will be possible to participate in one of the 7 Roadshow events, organized by UniCredit Start Lab to present the twelfth edition of the initiative.
During the Roadshow, the UniCredit Start Lab model will be explored, as well as how to access the platform and what opportunities are foreseen for the selected projects.
Experts, opinion leaders, start-ups from past editions, and partners of the initiative, will address some crucial topics for young companies, including market opportunities, how to activate an effective dialogue with companies and how to access investments and financing.
Here is the Roadshow calendar with the dates and the Italian cities touched:
- February 4: Milan
- February 13: Verona
- February 19: Bologna
- February 27: Turin
- March 4: Rome
- March 11: Naples
- March 18: Palermo
More information can be found on the initiative's website.
