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Date

July 09, 2026

Impact Innovation Commission

On 9 July, the Impact Innovation Commission took place, the fifth and final evaluation commission of the UniCredit Start Lab programme.

The following Board Experts assessed the 10 finalist startups:

  • Lara Botta - Vice President, Botta EcoPackaging
  • Sarah Colpo - Group Brand & Sustainability Manager, FITT Group
  • Danila De Stefano - CEO & Founder, Unobravo
  • Massimo Dell'Acqua - Managing Director, Legami
  • Angelo Meregalli - Direttore Generale Divisione Welfare Solutions, Pellegrini
  • Marco Nannini - CEO, Impact Hub
  • Marco Piccolo - CEO, Reynaldi
  • Francesca Sesia - Country COO in Southern Europe, BlackRock

The final ranking was as follows:

1st place: Up2You, a benefit corporation that transforms sustainability from a regulatory cost into a growth driver for businesses by combining advanced specialist consulting with a proprietary AI-powered platform. By converting ESG data into economic growth assets, it delivers high-quality outcomes in reduced timeframes. Focused exclusively on sustainability, the company has developed deep vertical expertise alongside SMEs, large corporations, and financial institutions. Up2You designs tailored solutions and customized pathways aligned with each client's objectives, covering ESG reporting and strategy, carbon management, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), supply chain engagement, support for obtaining sustainability certifications, and employee training.

2nd place: Panatè, an industrial platform that develops and commercializes premium baked goods produced within Italian correctional facilities. Through a network of partner social cooperatives, it combines artisanal quality, industrial innovation, and workforce inclusion within an economically sustainable and scalable business model. In addition to manufacturing products under its own brand and for major operators in the food industry, Panatè builds local supply chains that transform prison work into a development opportunity for people, businesses, and communities.

3rd place: PlazaTech  which has developed an AI-based platform for the hospitality sector, designed to support hotels, property managers, and tourist destinations in their operational management. The solution enables the automation of certain guest assistance activities, contributes to revenue growth, and improves process efficiency.Specifically, the system integrates, within a single environment, multichannel communications, operational task management, digital customer experience tools, and data analytics functionalities. This approach helps reduce managerial fragmentation and promotes more structured coordination of operations.

The Commission also awarded a Special Mention to: Kymia, a biotech startup that transforms pistachio by-products into high-value natural ingredients for the cosmetics and longevity economy. Through its proprietary sustainable extraction technology, Kymia develops innovative active ingredients with scientifically validated efficacy, including Pistactive-h™️, combining circular economy principles, scientific research, and industrial innovation. Kymia's mission is to transform an underutilized natural resource into high-performance solutions for well-being and healthy aging, creating value for the agri-food supply chain and the global functional ingredients market., which develops xxx.

The other startups that took part in the Commission and will join the UniCredit Start Lab platform are (in alphabetical order):

AutoConnexa is an insurtech SME that operates as a distribution partner of motor third-party liability (RCA) insurance policies, with a strong focus on road safety and environmental sustainability. The company operates as an MGA (Managing General Agent) and collaborates with insurance companies to bring to market pricing solutions based on driving behavior. Through the combined use of proprietary IoT and AI technologies, AutoConnexa promotes more responsible driving styles, rewarding virtuous behaviors.

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Bravo! is the Corporate Social Engagement and Corporate Volunteering platform that helps companies engage their people through high-impact social and environmental initiatives. Within a single ecosystem, companies can easily launch and manage corporate volunteering, social team-building activities, experiential learning programs, donations, charitable gifts, and employee engagement campaigns, while measuring their impact in a simple and scalable way.

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Ruralis has developed an all-in-one digital property management platform dedicated to short-term rentals in rural areas, which automates the entire property management process for owners. The solution integrates over 100 sales channels (e.g., Airbnb, Booking), AI-based dynamic pricing, and the management of bookings, payments, multilingual communications, and regulatory compliance requirements. The startup also provides operational support and consultancy services, ensuring increased profitability for property owners and a positive impact on the sustainable development of local areas.

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WeGlad has developed a Real estate Accessibility Management Platform (RAMP) for the collection, standardization, analysis, and distribution of data related to the accessibility of physical spaces. From everything retail to corporate HQs. The solution is adopted by multi-location companies, which integrate it into their digital touchpoints to provide structured information on over 250 accessibility parameters, including physical, sensory, neuro, and dietary aspects. End users can therefore access more comprehensive information when planning their movements and experiences. This approach contributes both to regulatory compliance, 'drive to store KPIs', risk management, ESG reporting and to the evolution of services from an inclusive perspective.

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YBAB - You Before Any Business - has developed a data-driven digital corporate wellbeing platform that enables companies to propose personalized one-to-one wellbeing programs to their employees, thereby integrating wellbeing into HR strategies in a simple, scalable, and measurable way. The solution stands out for its community of certified professionals, a B2B2C plug-and-play model and tools for measuring impact on engagement, retention, and performance.

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Yourease develops the technology platform that enables next-generation longevity living models, integrating AI, voice, and IoT into a digital ecosystem that supports operators, staff, residents, and families in the day-to-day management of communities, enhancing both the resident experience and operational efficiency. The mission is to enable more sustainable, personalized, and scalable Senior Living and Aging in Place models that promote independence, well-being, safety, and social connection.

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