The 2024 edition of Startcup Lombardia was presented in Milan, the competition for start-ups supported by the Region which since 2016 has seen the creation of 41 companies with a total regional investment of 1.1 million euros and 23 million of ‘equity’ investments accumulated by the new businesses.
An opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs
The initiative, promoted by the regional department for Economic Development and Musa (Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action) in collaboration with the Universities and University Incubators of Lombardy, allows aspiring entrepreneurs, often young, to propose projects which in many cases turn into reality , offering added value to the Lombardy economy in terms of innovation, employment and related activities.
For the new edition, given the success achieved in recent years, the Lombardy Region has involved a greater number of universities in Startcup, activated a financial guarantee of 250,000 euros for the winners of the competition and structured events, scheduled for October, to facilitate the meeting between startups and Venture Capital funds, as well as an active collaboration on the topic with the Regions which together with Lombardy make up the alliance of the ‘Four Engines of Europe’: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Baden-Wurttemberg and Catalonia.
Startcup Lombardia over the years
Startcup also provides prizes and special mentions that enhance innovative ideas in terms of environmental and social sustainability, female entrepreneurship and workplace safety. Over the years, Startcup has proven to be a winning recipe for starting new challenges together with universities and helping the birth of a new generation of young entrepreneurs, who find the right environment to express potential in the ideal ecosystem. The Lombard ecosystem – i.e. the institutions headed by the Region, universities, bodies and trade associations – moves in unison, making itself available to the ingenuity of entrepreneurs and the expertise of workers. “We want Lombardy to continue to be the ‘Home of Ideas’ – the business councilor often repeats Guido Guidesi – land of opportunities for all those who want to take on their own challenge, and perhaps win it with the help of a Region that aims to strengthen the culture of self-entrepreneurship”.
The Lombardy Region’s support for startups
Alongside Startcup, the Region is carrying out other initiatives to support start-ups, such as the one at the MIND – Milan Innovation District, where the ‘Berkeley SkyDeck Europe – Milan’ business accelerator is active to accompany the growth of new projects and guarantee also the connection with qualified financial operators: in the first two and a half years of activity, 36 startups were selected from the 3,335 applications received from all over the world, which generated 5.2 million euros in direct investments and 4.3 million euros between external investors and grants. The instrument called ‘Nuova Impresa’, wanted by the Councilor for Economic Development to concretely support new businesses thanks to a regional allocation of over 15 million euros which has generated private investments amounting to around 36 million euros, is also enjoying great success: with the contribution of this measure, 2,180 new businesses were created, including businesses and self-employed workers.
Lombardy looks to the future, anticipating the times and betting on innovation, progress and employment.
