Date
July 10, 2024
The Board of Experts dedicated to Impact Innovation has met on July 10th to evaluate the 11 finalists.
The board, made up of senior executives and key opinion leaders, saw the participation of:
- Lara Botta, Vice President, Botta EcoPackaging
- Federico Garcea, Founder, Treedom
- Marco Nannini, CEO, Impact Hub Milano
- Francesca Sesia, Country COO in Southern Europe, BlackRock
- Stefano Sirolli, CEO, Realstep
Starting Finance has won the first prize, being classified as the best of the 11 startups presented. Starting Finance is the leading company in information and economic-financial education for young people in Italy. With over 1.3 million users and 36 university clubs in the main Italian universities, it has built the largest community in the sector. The startup will receive a 10.000 € grant.
Runner-up is Biova. Biova is a benefit corporation, that focuses on fighting food waste through the creation, development, marketing, and distribution of food products and beverages that follow the philosophy of the circular economy. The first product on the market is a range of beers made from unsold bread, broken pasta and rice. A snack made from spent barley is being launched, and new products are under study.
Third position goes to Green Future Project, a climate tech, B-Corp, and RINA-certified digital partner. Its platform helps companies decarbonize by monitoring and reducing utility consumption and CO2e emissions, while also supporting, tracking and communicating environmental projects.
Finally, a Special Mention goes to Rosso. Rosso is an innovative startup aiming to address the blood shortage in Italy by engaging young donors and optimizing blood management in hospitals through advanced technologies and awareness campaigns with communities.
All other companies entering UniCredit Start Lab business platforms are:
Empethy
Empethy is revolutionizing pet adoption through a digital platform that connects shelters and adopters efficiently and effectively. Additionally, Empethy promotes corporate social responsibility with impactful solutions.
Evogy
Evogy is a tech company specialized in optimizing the energy management of buildings through digitalisation. Simon, a proprietary platform, allows the dynamic and predictive management of air conditioning systems via AI and IoT.
Fybra
Financial Times Global Changemaker in 2022, Fybra combines IoT patented sensors with optimization machine leaning algorithms. The result is better ventilation and less energy consumption for a low investment-high impact business model.
Idra
Idra Water takes a disruptive approach to the water filtration industry with "Claysilite," the first patented 100% plastic-free, recyclable, synthetic-free filter, aiming to become the benchmark for sustainable hydration.
Ridaje
Ridaje is a startup with a social vocation, which aims to reintegrate the homeless and vulnerable people into society, through training courses as urban gardeners and their involvement in projects to renovate abandoned green areas.
Toduba
Toduba is an Italian fintech company that acts as a partner of welfare companies, managing meal vouchers, shopping, gifts and loyalty cards, thanks to an end-to-end and completely digital payment system, with the aim of encouraging tourism and local economies.
Vaia
VAIA carries out circular economy projects with environmental, social and economic impact, producing and marketing digital and analogue products starting from material recovered in natural areas affected by disasters, with the involvement of various entities operating in the area.