Woman & Innovation Tech Tour: the London experience of innovative women entrepreneurs

Tre giorni ricchi di eventi e opportunità per le startup che hanno aderito all’iniziativa promossa da Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center

The Women & Innovation Tech Tour - London, organized by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK, has recently concluded.

From March 26 to 28, the 11 participants were able to enjoy a valuable experience to deepen their knowledge of the London ecosystem (the first in the world in terms of attracting and supporting new female entrepreneurship) and create new development, business and funding opportunities, as well as numerous networking and technology comparison opportunities.

Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center Tech Tours are organized with partners identified from time to time for their high standing, including Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad, Consulates, Embassies and local institutions operating in countries with a high rate of technological innovation; the tours represent a response to the internationalization demand of startups and SMEs seeking business and networking opportunities in the most flourishing global ecosystems within their economic sector.

The Women & Innovation Tech Tour - London was conceived with previously unexplored purposes and modalities by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center: a cross industry and cross maturity tech tour reserved for female entrepreneurs and senior female figures in the governance of Italian companies, united by the desire to look to the London ecosystem as a source of inspiration and destination for their business goals.

Five female-led companies, Th- Habitat, Veil Energy, SynDiag, FoolFarm, FSI SGR, from different sectors (from edutech to healthcare, from energy to private equity) have joined. These are companies of different size and degree of maturity and also with different objectives. In addition, 6 female representatives from the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, belonging to the Corporate Investment Banking division, also took part in the Tour.

The delegation was accompanied for Innovation Center by Stefano Bruzzi, Innovation Network Development Manager, and the participants experienced 3 days full of events and meetings.

The tour opened with a visit to SMAU London and participation in some thematic panels dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurial growth.

This was followed by two days characterized by very different moments, such as the visit to some important university institutes, the University College of London and the London School of Economics, innovation hubs, and several networking and business meetings both with potential clients (e.g., those of the London branch of Intesa Sanpaolo) and with women's entrepreneurship associations. Of particular interest were a lecture given by the Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation on women's contribution to the circular transition and a visit to the Barilla Accelerator, the London open innovation division of the Italian company.

Three days full of educational moments and opportunities for Italian women entrepreneurs, who were able to immerse themselves in the dynamics of the British ecosystem and also discover advantages and support tools that the London ecosystem offers to innovative realities.

“In conclusion - as Stefano Bruzzi states - "it was three days with very diverse experiences, which answered to different needs. The connections created were many and of great value." Stefano also emphasizes the practical value of experiences like this, which bring innovative realities eager to embark on a path of internationalization to discover live a very attractive ecosystem, such as that of London, and above all to learn about facilities and practical and logistical details that are often obscure to those who are not local and have no contacts.