Terra Next: here are the 8 startups of the 2022 edition

1. DND Biotech - DND Biotech has developed a system capable of studying and accelerating the biodegradation processes of organic contaminants. By combining robotics, wireless devices and biotechnologies, DND Biotech is able to provide an innovative bioremediation service at very competitive costs and low environmental impact. The technology has already been successfully tested on hydrocarbons, PAHs and PCBs and is now focusing on the degradation of emerging pesticides and contaminants (PFAS and NSAIDs).

2. Exo Lab Italia - Exo Lab uses vegetable nanovesicles (PDNVs) from fruit, vegetables and medicinal plants from organic agriculture, in the following areas of application: food integration, cosmetics and drug-delivery. PDNVs are nano-shuttles that transport the entire phytocomplex of the plant from which they derive and can also be loaded with bioactive compounds and drugs. Taking advantage of their high bioavailability, Exo Lab has developed an industrial and flexible production process.

3. FitNEes - FitNEes is a proprietary nanotechnology platform that creates nanometric oil particles dispersed in water (called nanosomes), within which it encapsulates fat-soluble active ingredients, in order to protect them and make them assumable. The finished product is a nano-emulsion that can be easily taken orally, has dimensional stability up to 1 year and is resistant and highly adhesive to the gastrointestinal tract.

4. Galatea Biotech - Galatea Biotech's current objective is the production of bioplastics in PLA (polylactic acid) that are completely biodegradable and compostable, as well as other bioplastics that are 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable. The core of the technology is the development of a microorganism capable of directly converting the sugars present in the starting biomass into PLA.

5. Iodo - Iodo has a technology capable of producing high-tech “drug carriers” using super critical CO2. The goal is to provide the encapsulation of active ingredients in carriers with innovative characteristics compared to products currently on the market or under development on a laboratory scale. In addition to the range of basic products (customized carriers), customers who want to test a new molecule will be able to carry out feasibility and encapsulation tests in the molecule carriers.

6. Relicta - Relicta has developed a water-soluble bioplastic obtained from industrial processing waste from fish farms. The main feature is water solubility because it allows consumers to dispose of the material independently within the home. The bioplastic dissolves in a few minutes in hot water and solubilizes in 20 days in sea water, but is resistant to environments with high humidity.

7. Sestre - Sestre develops nutraceutical supplements based on extracts of the Mediterranean diet able to counteract hormonal problems that compromise female fertility. Starting from the study of chronic diseases and hormonal dysfunctions that to date do not present effective therapeutic solutions (such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary, amenorrhea), through specific formulations of its products, Sestre allows to improve the quality of life by accompanying women in the research phase of a pregnancy.

8. Tomapaint - Tomapaint produces a natural resin derived from the agro-industrial waste of tomatoes (mainly peels), by extracting a substance called cutin. It can be used as a main ingredient for the formulation of paints for metallic or food paper packaging. Bioresin is currently also tested for the formulation of paints for wood, for fabrics, in the cosmetics, green building, bioplastics and gardening sectors.

The result of the CDP Venture Capital initiative, Terra Next - which is part of the CDP National Accelerators Network, a network present throughout the country - sees the participation of the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center as co-creator and promoter, the support of Cariplo Factory that operationally manages the program and has recently received the patronage of the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MiTE).

Terra Next also involves the corporate partners Pastificio Garofalo (core partner), Getra Group and Nestlé Group (partner), Novamont (tech partner), Aristea, Nolanplastica, Selepack, and Tecno (member), who will provide their contribution in terms of know-how. -how, assets and networks for the development of startups.

During the 3-month acceleration path, startups will have the opportunity to grow through mentorship, training, networking and moments of frontal study dedicated to the consolidation of the value proposition and the business model, to the technical validation and prototyping of solutions, to support for go-to-market and fundraising. Finally, the best teams will have access to further investments of around 1 million euros, already allocated by the promoters of the initiative.