Startup Competition Young

Fostering an ecosystem of young entrepreneurs

JUNE 4 · 5 · 6, 2025 / BOLOGNAFIERE

The call is closed

NUMBERS OF WMF 2024

+700

Exhibitors

+3.000

Startups and Investors

+70.000

Attendees

+90

Countries

+90

Stages

+1.000

Speakers

+50

Bands and DJs

+130

Institutional Guests

+60.7B

Total Participation in Deals

13.630

Fundings Rounds

1.300B

Investment Portfolio

214B

AUM

THE FRAMEWORK

Entrepreneurship is a pivotal factor in a country's economic and social growth. This is the reason why every year WMF organizes the Startup Competition Young, a competition aiming at promoting entrepreneurial culture among younger people and encouraging the development of innovative business ideas to tackle collective social and economical issues.

The call for applications is now closed. Should you require any further information, please contact us via email at innovation@wemakefuture.it.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The finalists of the Startup Competition Young will have the opportunity to pitch their innovative idea at the Festival, in front of a jury composed of investors and industry partners.

Over 300 students participated in previous editions, submitting over 100 applications. The finalists will have the chance to pitch their ideas and win prizes from partners such as IBAN, Amazon Web Services, and The Hive.

THE CALL

To encourage young people to develop entrepreneurial ideas, the challenge will follow a similar structure to the Startup Competition, which WMF has organized since its first edition.

Three finalist ideas will be selected, and each team will have 3 minutes to present the key elements of their idea. The jury will then have 2 minutes to ask follow-up questions. At the end, the judges and the audience will vote to determine the winner. The call is aimed at young people under 22, high school students, and university students up to the third year.

THE PITCH

Participants will be challenging each other with an elevator pitch in front of the WMF audience and a jury of field professionals and experts. The pitch must cover all key elements of the entrepreneurial project.

Find below the guidelines on how correctly structure and deliver your pitch.

> Download support material

TOPICS

Participants must submit an innovative business idea that tackles one or more critical social issues. Each team can choose from one of the following topics:

  • Sport and wellness

  • Education

  • Tourism

  • Accessibility services

  • Justice

  • Employability

  • Eldercare services

  • Green economy and sustainability

SELECTION CRITERIA

The finalists will be selected according to the following criteria:

  • Originality of the idea

  • Feasibility of the business idea

  • Socio-economic impact and overall sustainability of the project

  • Stage of product development

  • Degree of innovation and defensibility

  • Social relevance of the project

Want to participate in WMF25's Startup Competition Young?


Fill in the form to apply for the Startup Competition Young, our team will review your submission and get back to you.

(max100 words)

JUNE 4 · 5 · 6, 2025
BOLOGNAFIERE
WMF - We Make Future

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