Argo’s first Demo Day in Venice
The first edition of the traveltech acceleration program, of which Intesa Sanpaolo and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center are main partners, ended on Giudecca Island with the presentation of the seven participating startups and their respective innovations.
On Tuesday, October 3, 2023 in Venice took place the Demo Day of Argo, the final event of the first edition of the three-year traveltech acceleration program dedicated to startups active in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Born on the initiative of CDP Venture Capital together with the Ministry of Tourism, managed by LVenture Group and VeniSIA (sustainable innovation ecosystem of Ca' Foscari University of Venice) and supported by main partners Intesa Sanpaolo and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Argo aims to launch thirty innovative companies to accelerate the digital transition and the sustainable transformation of a key sector for the Italian economy.
Seven innovative realities that have successfully concluded the first edition of Argo participating in the Demo Day held in the new headquarters of VeniSIA Giudecca Island, inaugurated to host the conclusion of a “long journey” that began last April.
Five months in which the selected startups met with partners in over 25 appointments (comparison and training), including seminars and lectures on different topics including Scrum & Communication, HR for startups, Understanding Investor, Product Management, Accounting, Being a CTO, Metrics, Communication Kit, Sales & Biz Dev, How to Pitch, Financial Planning and Fundraising.
Opportunities that have led the participating startups to be more competitive and trained to better face the next steps of growth.The seven innovative realities during the Demo Day presented their respective innovations with Pitch, before a networking event and the closing of the first edition of Argo.
In addition, the innovative companies have received a pre-seed investment from CDP Venture Capital and LVenture Group, with five of them benefiting from a further non-repayable contribution from the Ministry of Tourism.
The seven startups presented at Demo Day and their respective innovations
Smartway has developed a platform that allows companies to manage off-site for employees in iconic boroughs by combining increased productivity and local development;Ulissesun "telepass" to track entry and exit from ports; Skycabuna platform for private air transport (a kind of Uber) with significantly lower costs than scheduled flights; Telail first vertical software that integrates all museum management; Mapo Tapo a platform for certified sports adventure guides that allows you to digitize operations; WeForGuestan an all-encompassing software to manage hospitality related services; Friland a platform that offers accommodation solutions and experiences in close contact with nature.
"The innovative solutions presented by the companies selected for the Demo Day of the traveltech program Argo confirm the great liveliness of the startups of the tourist field and the potential that these cover for a sector so important and strategic for the country - remarked Anna Roscio, Executive Director Sales & Marketing Imprese Intesa Sanpaolo -. For our Group, is essential to support the growth of startups by facilitating their access to investors, client companies and banking products and services: objectives that we pursue with the support of the skills developed by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, through direct initiatives of enhancement and by collaborating with the Accelerators operating in the areas with the greatest potential. It is no coincidence that today about 50% of innovative SMEs and 30% of Italian startups have seized the opportunities, even non-financial, that we can offer".
