Terra Next Scale-Up Program Concludes with Final Event

The initiative promoted by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and managed by Cariplo Factory came to a close in Naples. Innovative bioeconomy startups, corporates, investors, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders took part in the event

The Terra Next Scale-Up Program concluded at the San Giovanni a Teduccio Campus of the University of Naples Federico II. The initiative was promoted by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, co-creator and promoter of the program, and operationally managed by Cariplo Factory. The program also benefited from the support of Nestlé Group in Italy as corporate partner.

The initiative is dedicated to fostering the structured growth of Italian bioeconomy startups, a strategic driver for rethinking production models and resource use through the lens of sustainability and competitiveness. The bioeconomy is a key sector within Italy’s productive landscape, accounting for approximately 10% of total economic activities and 7.6% of overall employment.

The final event brought together startups, companies, investors, and stakeholders to review the achievements of a program designed to support the most mature ventures within the Terra Next ecosystem, facilitating market access, commercial development, and the strengthening of industrial relationships.

During the well-attended event held in the campus auditorium, Giuseppe Nargi, Regional Director for Campania, Calabria and Sicily at Intesa Sanpaolo, highlighted the Group’s commitment—also through Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center—to building the innovation ecosystem in Southern Italy by creating connections between startups, businesses, capital, and expertise. Stefania Trenti, Head of Industry and Local Economies Research at Intesa Sanpaolo, presented the 12th Report on the Bioeconomy in Europe.

The institutional speeches were followed by two panel discussions featuring startups from the Scale-Up Program—Isuschem, Plantbit, and Smush Materials—introduced by Luca Pagetti, Head of Startup Growth and Innovation Ecosystems at Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, who discussed the results achieved and future prospects for innovation initiatives in the region. Startups from previous Terra Next editions, CoffeeFrom and AI Monitoring, also shared their open innovation experiences with Nestlé.

In the second part of the event, Stefano Molino of CDP Venture Capital SGR presented several success stories from previous editions of the program, including Relicta, Exo Lab, and Real Bowl.

The event concluded with Amedeo Giurazza, CEO of Vertis SGR, who outlined the future challenges and opportunities for supporting Southern Italy’s entrepreneurial ecosystem while presenting the agreement signed with Intesa Sanpaolo and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center.

From Startup Acceleration to Scale-Up

The Scale-Up Program represents the natural evolution of the path launched through Terra Next, the bioeconomy accelerator of CDP Venture Capital’s National Accelerator Network.

Over its first three years, Terra Next accelerated 22 startups, investing more than €3.6 million directly and helping portfolio companies raise over €14 million in follow-on funding. These results have validated the model and demonstrated its effectiveness in supporting innovative businesses operating in one of Italy’s strategic economic sectors, which accounts for around 10% of national economic activities and 7.6% of total employment.

Two Tracks Supporting Growth and Industrial Collaboration

The Scale-Up Program was developed through two complementary tracks.

Industrial Collaboration: More Than 70 International Applications

The first track focused on industrial collaboration with Nestlé Italy, adopting a market-driven approach based on the corporate partner’s innovation needs.

The international call launched as part of the program attracted more than 70 applications from several countries. Following a selection and evaluation phase, a Selection Day was held in Naples on 11 March 2026, during which 11 startups presented their technological solutions.

Nestlé Italy is currently exploring several of the proposals that emerged through the process, confirming the program’s ability to generate concrete collaboration opportunities between startups and industry.

Scale-Up Support for Terra Next Portfolio Startups

The second track focused on supporting startups that had already been accelerated by Terra Next and demonstrated strong technological, industrial, and commercial growth potential.

The selected startups were:

• Plantbit, developer of Bioristor, a biocompatible electrochemical sensor that monitors plant health in real time and enables up to 45% water savings;
• Smush Materials, which transforms organic agricultural by-products into mycelium-based biomaterials for natural, circular, and biodegradable packaging;
• Isuschem, a spin-off of the University of Naples Federico II that produces innovative biodegradable solvents derived from non-food vegetable oils, with an environmental impact 40% lower than conventional solutions.
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Program Results: Revenue Growth and New Financial Resources

During the six-month program, the three startups followed a structured growth pathway covering strategic assessment, scale-up planning, and commercial development. They were supported through dedicated tools, including industrial feasibility studies, go-to-market strategies, and investment readiness assessments.

The results achieved demonstrate the program’s impact:

• 31 commercial agreements activated;
• More than €400,000 in additional combined revenue generated by participating startups;
• 151 companies involved in business development activities;
• 45 venture capital funds engaged during fundraising processes;
• More than €700,000 raised through private investment and public funding.

The program aimed to strengthen the startups’ ability to attract investment, develop industrial partnerships, and accelerate entry into new markets.

Internationalization and Local Ecosystem Development

A distinctive feature of the Scale-Up Program was its strong focus on internationalization.

Participating startups attended international innovation and investment events and missions, including Slush, BioInvestIT, BIOKET in Freiburg, PODIM in Maribor, and South Summit in Madrid.

Participation in these events enabled startups to engage with international investors and partners while exploring new commercial opportunities across European and global markets.

At the same time, the program promoted local ecosystem development through the South Roadshow, an initiative carried out with the involvement of Intesa Sanpaolo. The roadshow identified and selected companies in Southern Italy whose activities could complement the solutions developed by participating startups.

Events were held in Cosenza, Palermo, and Naples, creating opportunities for networking and commercial collaboration between innovative ventures and local industrial players.

A Model for the Growth of the Italian Bioeconomy

The results of the Scale-Up Program confirm the strength of the model developed by Terra Next and the initiative’s ability to support bioeconomy startups beyond the acceleration phase, fostering industrial growth, market access, and dialogue with investors and industrial partners.

The program reflects the commitment of Intesa Sanpaolo and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center to supporting innovation, business growth, and the enhancement of human capital, contributing to the development of more competitive and resilient regional ecosystems.

For the Group, creating value means supporting local development by fostering innovation, qualified employment, and sustainable economic growth.

The goal is to continue strengthening Italy’s role within the European bioeconomy landscape by supporting innovative companies capable of generating positive environmental, industrial, and social impact.