Techstars Transformative World Torino presents the 12 startups of the class of 2024

The first class of the new acceleration program, conceived by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Compagnia di San Paolo and Fondazione CRT, led by Techstars and dedicated from this year to Transformative World, kicked off Feb. 19 at the OGR in Turin.

The new edition aims to attract, accelerate and invest in high-potential startups, both Italian and foreign, operating on "trend setting and advanced technologies" ranging from A.I. (generative, synthetic, industrialized), exponential intelligence (i.e. A.I. 2.0), Quantum Computing, Cybersecurity, Ambient Experience (Life Beyond the Glass) and Hyperautomation, in compliance with ESG, NET-ZERO and circular economy criteria and logic.

The program, which represents the evolution of the previous ones launched in Turin in collaboration with Techstars since 2020 and dedicated to Smart City and Smart Mobility, has so far allowed accelerated startups to raise more than 85 million euros in funding and confirms on the one hand the vibrancy of the Italian innovative entrepreneurial system (in spite of market downturns and the geopolitical situation), on the other, the value for the territory of the collaboration between partners, which has allowed the Turin ecosystem to grow as an innovation hub by attracting talent, fostering collaborations with local companies and creating new jobs. So far, 4 foreign startups have chosen Turin as the city to settle and grow, opening a branch under Italian law to give continuity to the synergies established with the territory.

The partnership between Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Compagnia di San Paolo and Fondazione CRT was recently confirmed through the signing of a new two-year protocol to continue to support the growth of the Turin ecosystem, not only through renewed support for the acceleration program run by Techstars, but also through soft landing packages for the establishment of startups in the territory, facilitation of partner search and more.

After all, Turin's innovation ecosystem is now internationally recognized; in fact, it has been certified as attractive by the latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report compiled by Startup Genome. At the same time, partnership work with local institutions is growing steadily, as demonstrated by the Torino Smart Destination event held in November by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center together with CTE Next and Compagnia di San Paolo.

The more than 300 applications to the call4startup saw this year the largest participation of Italian startups ever, about 100, double the number of previous applications: out of the 12 selected as many as 6 are Italian and propose a variety of technologies, from AI for managing information and internal business processes to a platform for coworking in underutilized urban spaces, from a peer-to-peer community for restaurant reviews to new solutions for road maintenance.

The startups will follow the acceleration program at OGR for 13 weeks, concluding with Demo Day on May 16.