Startup for Hospitality

The WMF - We Make Future, in collaboration with Hospitality - Il Salone dell’Accoglienza, launches the Startup for Hospitality Call to support innovative projects and solutions in the Ho.Re.Ca sector, with a particular focus on accessibility and inclusivity in services.

If you have a project, startup, or company operating in this sector, apply for the call! The final will take place in Riva del Garda during Hospitality - Il Salone dell’Accoglienza, Italy's leading international trade fair for the hospitality and catering industry, from February 3 to 6, 2025. This will be an opportunity to meet over 20,000 professionals and more than 850 companies in the Ho.Re.Ca sector.

The winning startup will gain access to WMF 2025 (June 4-6), where it can showcase its project to an international audience, which in 2024 included over 70,000 attendees from more than 90 countries, 700+ exhibitors and sponsors, 3,000 startups and open innovation stakeholders, and 1,000+ speakers from around the world.

The call is officially closed: if you need more information, please contact us at innovation@wemakefuture.it

The goal of the call is to promote innovative projects for the hospitality, restauration, and accommodation sectors, encouraging the development of new technologies and services that enhance operational efficiency and the customer experience by implementing accessible, inclusive, and sustainable solutions. Through this initiative, WMF - We Make Future and Hospitality - Il Salone dell'Accoglienza aim to foster new employment and business opportunities that can drive the growth of the entire Ho.Re.Ca sector.

The best projects will be selected by a committee composed of representatives from WMF and Hospitality and will have the opportunity to win various prizes.

During Hospitality - Il Salone dell'Accoglienza, the finalists will:

• Participate in the opening day on Monday, February 3, 2025.

• Present their projects during the final, which will take place on the same day.

• Attend the Networking Dinner that evening.

The winning startups will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in WMF 2025.

• Participate in pitch sessions on the Startup Stage.

Refer to the regulations and the pitch guide.

The call is open to Italian and international startups and companies - composed of individuals or teams - that propose innovative projects or ideas for the Ho.Re.Ca sector. We are particularly seeking solutions that leverage advanced technologies to promote accessibility and inclusivity in hospitality and catering, improving access to services, usability of spaces, and the experience for people with disabilities or special needs.

The call is officially closed: if you need more information, please contact us at innovation@wemakefuture.it

Projects will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Team expertise, sector knowledge, project feasibility.

• Stage of product/service development.

• Degree of innovation and its defensibility.

• Competitive landscape and positioning.

• Market and customer needs alignment, and market size.

• Potential for development in research or business.

• Completeness of submitted documentation.

Through this initiative, WMF - We Make Future and Hospitality - Il Salone dell'Accoglienza emphasize the importance of integrating innovative solutions for accessibility and inclusivity, driving a more equitable and open hospitality industry for all.