World Startup Fest

The leading International event for startups, scaleups and investors

JUNE 16·17·18 2022 / RIMINI EXPO CENTER
Startup Competition
Startup District
Startup Stage
Export Stage
B2B Meetings
startups & investors
+800.000€ in prizes

From June 16th to 18th 2022, the WMF - the largest Digital Innovation Festival on the Planet, confirmed and relaunched, even more in this 10th edition, its role as an accelerator of innovation, culture and education for the entire international context. 

More than 300 companies and realities from all over the world found space and opportunities within the Innovation Fair at the WMF, in an Expo Area never before so large and full of events, designed to ease business matching, networking and development of new projects between Italy and abroad.

Indeed, an entire pavilion of the Rimini Expo Center hosted the events of the World Startup Fest, built around several more stages: such as the Startup Stage, the Showcase Stage, the Export Stage focusing on opportunities for startups,

thanks to the collaboration with 18 Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad, and exhibition spaces in the Startup District dedicated to Italian and foreign innovative projects, coming from more than 30 different countries. 

Also many networking and business opportunities through the B2B meetings with delegations of investors, involved thanks to the partnership with ICE - Italian Trade Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies.

Find out below the main events of this incredible World Startup Fest 2022 and join us in the next WMF 2023 edition, by getting your Full Ticket on offer at 89€ + vat only available until 22/09.

Main Events of the World Startup Fest

Startup Competition Final

Startup Competition Final

The competition final took place as a pitch competition on the WMF2022 Mainstage, which saw the 6 startup finalists, shortlisted among more than 950 applications received, competing for first place: prizes,offered by the partners of the jury, totaling more than € 800,000.

After challenging on the field of innovative ideas linked to the themes of the WMF12 challenges of the Future, startup Golee won the Jury Award and also the qualification to the Final of the Disraptors Summit in Prague. Aerarium Chain, on the other hand, won the Audience Award and an exhibition booth at an upcoming event in Prague.

B2B meetings, business matching & the Speed Meeting

B2B meetings, business matching & the Speed Meeting

Truly important was the collaboration with ICE, the national government agency promoting international trading, which in addition to being awarded on the Mainstage for the Be IT campaign promoting the Made in Italy, also attended the WMF with a delegation of leading investors from the UK, Israel, Turkey, France, and Spain. Investors met with the startups attending the Festival, resulting in more than 200 one-to-one appointments pre-arranged by our internal team. 

Startups had indeed the chance to get in touch with VC, investors, and delegations from foreign countries, arrange business meetings, in the form of b2b meetings or speed meetings, and connect with other companies and innovative projects from all around the world.

Startup Stage

Startup Stage

During the 3-days event, the Startup Stage program hosted the final stage of the Startup Competition, the Startup4Culture finalist awards ceremony in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Culture - MiC, startups from the Region2Business regional network from the WMF HUBitat project, startups from the International Roadshow Network, and also other training speeches on topics such as finance, technology and business models. 

Within the Startup Stage and the Showcase Stage, Italian and foreign startups had the opportunity to present their projects to the audience and to the investors, who chose and awarded the best one with the several prizes offered by the WMF sponsors and partners, during the dedicated ceremony on June 18th.

Export Stage

Export Stage

Of great relevance, also the partnership with more than 18 Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad, “called” to engage Italy's foreign partners and  reunited in presence at the WMF2022, to animate the Export Stage in a 2-days event, that offered interesting scenarios of internationalization and business opportunities in the various countries of the World, to startups and innovative companies present.

The General Secretaries of the Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad, together with delegations of institutional and business representatives attending for the occasion, held important speeches on trade agreements in the different markets, investments’ attractiontax Benefits, Hubs’ presence, Legal facilities, dedicated digital tools and many other unique hints to ease the internationalization of innovative projects.

Startup District

Startup District

This Year, 300 exhibiting companies and more than 1,000 startups contributed to the planning and construction of the Future during the WMF2022.

This 2022 edition was richer than ever, with the participation of delegations of foreign investors and companies from G20 countries who came to Rimini thanks to the collaboration between WMF and ICE. Important was also the presence of Delegations from Croatia, Greece, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, Lebanon, France and many other countries, part of our WMF's international network.

WMF Main Sponsor

Visit Romagna
Regione Emilia-Romagna
Motor Valley
inEmiliaRomagna

Partner of the World Startup Fest