The Final of Startup Competition

Prepare yourself for the Final of the largest international competition for Startups

JUNE 25th 2026 / BOLOGNAFIERE / MAINSTAGE
NUMBERS OF WMF 2025
+700
Exhibitors
+3.000
Startups and Investors
+73.000
Attendees
+90
Countries
+90
Stages
+1.000
Speakers
+350
Institutions
+72.8B
Total Participation in Deals
1.800
Exits
1.500B
Investment Portfolio
304B
AUM
+50
Bands and DJs

Within the World Startup Fest - the reference international event for startups, scaleups and investors held every year inside the WMF - will take place the Final of the Startup Competition, which presents the top 6 innovative entrepreneurial projects selected from around the world.

On June 25, 2026, the finalists will compete on the main stage of the event in front of investors, VCs, market players, accelerators, large companies, and the multiple players in the international innovation ecosystem who will gather at WMF 2026.

Each finalist will have a 3-minute pitch to present their project and illustrate how they approach the 14 Challenges of the Future identified by the WMF.

The goal will be to win over the jury and the audience, in addition to the jury and audience awards, as well as the special Startup World Cup prize, with access to the final in San Francisco next November.

While we wait to find out the names of the finalists, you can consult the 2026 jury members and some of the prizes offered by the WMF partners.

Want to watch the Startup Competition final on the mainstage? Join the WMF with the Visitor Ticket

CO-HOSTING

The Finalists will be announced shortly

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Challenge / Industry

During the application phase, each Startup is asked to indicate which of the 14 Challenges it is trying to respond to, through the application of artificial intelligence, digital and technologies. It can also indicate the exact sector of application for each challenge and any adherence to the ESG criteria. Consult with the 14 Challenge and apply your business project.

1. IndustryTech & Robotics

Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Automation, Physical AI & Industrial Robotics

2. Space Industry

Space Infrastructure & Software, Earth Observation & Space Data, In-Orbit Services & Sustainability, AI for EO

3. Food & Agriculture

Agritech, Food Innovation, Food Safety, Sustainable Supply Chain, AI & Agricultural Robotics

4. AI - Digital Business & Media

Digital Marketing & AI-Driven Agencies, Dev Agencies, AdTech & MarTech Platforms, TV, Radio & Media Platforms, Journalism, Creator Economy, Community Platforms & Engagement Tools, Data Economy & Attention-Based Business Models

5. Rights & Cybersecurity

Legal Tech, Ethical & Responsible AI, Data Protection & Privacy, Cybersecurity & Cyber Defense, Digital Rights & Accessibility

6. Entertainment & Cultural Industry

Music, Sports, e-Sports & Gaming, Cinema, Performing Arts & Digital Culture, AI & Creativity

7. GovTech & Public Services

GovTech, Civic Tech, Digitalization-AI and Services for Public Administration, Digital Public Services, Participation and Transparency

8. Health & Life Sciences

Wealth & AI/Digital Health, MedTech & Devices, Biotech & Pharma Innovation, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Active Aging, Medical & Assistive Robotics

9. e-Commerce & Retail

E-commerce & New Commerce, Retail Tech & Store Innovation, Marketing & Promotion Tech, Logistica & Delivery, Software & Platform Solutions, Customer Experience & Loyalty, Robotics for Logistics

10. Education & Work

Digital Education & EdTech, Skills Development & Lifelong Learning, Work Organization & New Work Models, HR Tech & Talent Management, AI Agents & Generative Learning Technologies, Educational & Training Robotics

11. CleanTech & Energy

CleanTech, ClimateTech, Renewable Energy, Circular Economy, AI for Environmental Modeling

12. FinTech & Digital Asset

FinTech & InsurTech, Digital Payments & Embedded Finance, Blockchain & Crypto Assets, Digital Identity & Trust Infrastructure, RegTech & Compliance, Alternative Finance & Crowdfunding

13. Smart Cities & Mobility

Smart Cities/Village & Intelligent Infrastructure, Mobility, Autonomous & Shared Systems, Urban Resilience, Digital Twins & Urban Data Platforms

14. Tourism & Culture Heritage

Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism, Tourism Promotion, OTA (Online Travel Agencies), Hospitality & HoReCa, Cultural Heritage Enhancement, Small Towns & Rural Areas, Local Identities & Traditions, AI for Tourism.

Startup Competition: the awards

Entrepreneurship Lab
Entrepreneurship Lab
012Factory offers a high-level online training program (in collaboration with ALI and Universitas Mercatorum) dedicated to mentorship, project experimentation, and startup development, with a practical approach and a focus on local impact.
Fundraising consultancy
Fundraising consultancy
AB Consulting (AB Innovation Consulting) offers targeted consultancy for private and public fundraising to a winning startup. Experts in innovation and growth will support startups and corporate projects, facilitating business development across every industrial and strategic sector.
Mentoring session 1to1
Mentoring session 1to1

Mentorship

Azimut offers a tailored 1to1 session on fundraising strategies. Receive personalized advice to optimize your capital raising and accelerate business growth, leveraging the expertise of leaders in the financial sector

Strategic consulting
Strategic consulting

Mentorship

Angelo Morini, an expert Angel Investor, is offering 2 hours of personalized strategic and financial consultancy to a winning startup. These sessions will provide practical insights into fundraising, valuation, and planning from an investor's perspective.

Seed program
Seed program
Beeco offers a series of coaching sessions in which startup ideas and new founders are guided in discovering and developing their potential, with the aim of being ready to present their idea and face future investors.
Startup Booth at Bolzano Slush'D
Startup Booth at Bolzano Slush'D
Bolzano Slush’d is offering a winning startup the opportunity to participate in the event on September 9-11, 2026. The prize includes a dedicated Startup Booth for visibility and presentations.
Credem in support of Startups
Credem in support of Startups

Credem will offer a special prize for the best startup from the 'FinTech & Digital Asset' challenge, to be awarded during the pitch session.

6 months of support
6 months of support
EIT Manufacturing offers the winning startup 6 months of strategic support in market access and fundraising. Additionally, it provides valuable targeted visibility within its extensive European network, facilitating key connections for the company’s international development.
Acceleration Program
Acceleration Program
Entrepreniston, a Swiss Venture Capital firm, offers a complimentary Acceleration Program to a winning startup. This path aims to catalyze growth by providing strategic resources, mentorship, and potential access to funding for innovative business development.
3 months in the Tech-Up Accelerator
3 months in the Tech-Up Accelerator
Fondazione REI provides 3 months of workspace at the TECH-UP Accelerator in Reggio Emilia.
Acceleration/incubation path within the Get it! program
Acceleration/incubation path within the Get it! program
Fondazione Social Venture Giordano Dell’Amore (FSVGDA) grants a selected startup access to 'Get it! – Percorso di Valore'. The program supports social, environmental, or cultural impact initiatives through targeted capacity building, strategic mentorship, and potential access to capital.
Frontiers Health 2026
Frontiers Health 2026

Frontiers Health is offering two complimentary passes giving winners the opportunity to engage with the healthcare innovation ecosystem, including industry leaders, innovators, scientists, physicians, patients, investors and CEOs of leading companies

Investment credit for companies
Investment credit for companies

Goparity is offering exclusive investment credits for individuals and companies. Claim your dedicated voucher to invest in high-impact projects on our platform. It’s an unmissable opportunity to invest ethically in the future.

5 Masterclasses (100h)
5 Masterclasses (100h)
Grownnectia—a team of coaches, mentors, and advisors—grants 6 selected startups access to 100 hours of training masterclasses. This path aims to transfer advanced skills and strategic insights to accelerate participants' business development.
6 months of free incubation
6 months of free incubation
I3P offers six months of free incubation within its programs, including one-to-one strategic consultancy, access to coworking spaces, fundraising support, and a network of international mentors and partners.
Startup toolkit for capital raising and global expansion
Startup toolkit for capital raising and global expansion

Immediate Accelerator provides a strategic toolkit to drive growth: business plan support, funding monitoring, expert consultancy, and exclusive networking to facilitate capital raising and international expansion.

25-hour course on Fundraising and Equity Design
25-hour course on Fundraising and Equity Design
Imment offers a comprehensive training program featuring exclusive expert interviews and technical sessions on cap table modeling, analyzing evolutionary scenarios for strategic equity management.
"Impact-Driven" Sustainable Incubation & Scale-up Path
"Impact-Driven" Sustainable Incubation & Scale-up Path
INHUSE offers a three-month acceleration program, including coworking spaces, strategic consultancy for Benefit Corporation positioning, and technical MVP development to scale within the Southern European market.
Wildcards at Innovation World Cup
Wildcards at Innovation World Cup

Innovation World Cup® is offering 3 exclusive wildcards for a speaking slot at MEDICA (Nov 16) and 3 for BIM World MUNICH (Nov 24). This is an unmissable opportunity to gain international visibility for your project. Apply for free at www.innovationworldcup.com and turn your idea into reality!

Strategic Legal Advisory
Strategic Legal Advisory
Ivan Tizzanini Law Firm offers 5 hours of consultancy to define a legal strategy supporting the business model, enhancing scalability, sustainability, and attractiveness to investors and partners.
Mentor Sessions
Mentor Sessions

Mentorship

Jonathan Speed, Venture Partner at Waterman Ventures, is offering 4 in-depth mentoring and coaching sessions to four winning startups.

Business Development and Training Package
Business Development and Training Package
LifeGate Way offers a startup: LifeGate Edu platform access, a feature article on LifeGate.it, and a LinkedIn carousel. Includes 3h of LifeGate Way consultancy (sales, finance, impact), 1h founder coaching with Elga Corricelli, and 3h training within an acceleration program.
Investment Readiness Package
Investment Readiness Package

Monx will provide the winning startup with a dedicated support package aimed at preparing the company for fundraising. The prize includes: pitch deck optimization to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the company’s value proposition when presenting to international investors. Development or review of the financial model, structuring key financial metrics and growth assumptions in a clear and investor-ready format. Preparation of a proposed valuation, designed as a strategic reference point to support the fundraising process and facilitate discussions with potential investors. The goal of this package is to equip the startup with practical tools to approach investors in a more structured, credible, and compelling way.

Coworking Space and Mentorship Package
Coworking Space and Mentorship Package

Nana Bianca offers 2 months of free coworking at Nana Bianca in Florence! This offer includes dedicated desks, exclusive networking in a vibrant ecosystem, and 5 hours of mentorship with selected experts. A unique opportunity to grow your project in the heart of innovation

Crowdfunding Acceleration Program
Crowdfunding Acceleration Program
Over Ventures offers an 8 Weeks Program to launch a successful crowdfunding campaign supported by the leading european crowdfunding studio
OVHCloud Cloud Credits
OVHCloud Cloud Credits
OVHcloud offers a selected startup cloud credits to be used on its products. An opportunity to access scalable infrastructure and advanced cloud services, optimizing costs and supporting the project's technological growth.
"Startup Booster" path
"Startup Booster" path
Polo Tecnologico di Navacchio offers business plan support, funding monitoring, 5 hours of expert consultancy, and networking with industry leaders.
High-Tech Company Certification
High-Tech Company Certification
San Marino Innovation offers the first year free within the San Marino Innovation Regime: 12 years of tax benefits (0-8%), incorporation for €1, free licensing, flexible employment contracts, and exclusive access to networking and strategic training
StarBoost "Company Creation" course
StarBoost "Company Creation" course
Starboost offers participation in the 'Company Creator' course, a methodological accelerator designed to transform your idea into a robust enterprise. It combines the formation of an elite co-founding team with a bulletproof equity model to ensure scalability and maximum investor appeal.
4-Month Mentorship Program
4-Month Mentorship Program

Theorema offers a 4-month mentorship program focusing on strategy, marketing, communications, and access to European and national grants and funding. As a Benefit Corporation with extensive experience in supporting startups and innovative companies, Theorema is a partner of the Social Football Summit’s "Extra Time" program (dedicated to the sports industry) and the "Boost Your Ideas" program. The company has managed three incubators, provides long-standing mentorship for entrepreneurs and teams, and oversees open innovation programs.

Strategic Assessment
Strategic Assessment

Unfold Tomorrow offers a comprehensive strategic assessment, including personalized business coaching and direct introductions to key stakeholders, to accelerate growth and strengthen the winner’s decision-making network.

€2,000 discount on a first collaboration
€2,000 discount on a first collaboration
W Executive, a firm specialized in Headhunting and change management, is offering a €2,000 discount on a first collaboration. This is an opportunity to receive expert consultancy on talent acquisition and strategies for navigating the evolving world of work.
Mentorship and Coworking
Mentorship and Coworking

Zest offers dedicated mentorship sessions with Zest’s experienced experts, designed to support founders in refining their strategy and accelerating growth. Winning teams will also gain access to coworking space for their founders within Zest’s prestigious innovation hubs in Rome or Milan. The program aims to provide both practical guidance and a stimulating workspace to help founders take their ventures to the next level. It’s a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow within one of Italy’s leading startup communities.

The Startup Competition Jury

Discover VC and Open Innovation Stakeholder of the WMF
Mathew Knowles
Entrepreneurship, Future of Music & Art
Mathew Knowles
Founder & CEO, Strategic Consultant, Keynote Speaker, and Corporate Trainer
Music World Entertainment (MWE)
Alicia Hanf
VC & Open Innovation
Alicia Hanf
Head of Institutional Ecosystem Partnerships
LG NOVA - LG Electronics
Alicia Hanf
Giorgio Metta
Govtech, Robotics & Physical AI
Giorgio Metta
Scientific Director
IIT Italian Institute of Technology
Giorgio Metta
Massimiliano Montefusco
Future of Music & Art
Massimiliano Montefusco
CEO
RDS
Massimiliano Montefusco
Andrea Basso
VC & Open Innovation
Andrea Basso
Managing Director
MITO Tech Ventures
Andrea Basso
Tiarne Hawkins
Artificial Intelligence
Tiarne Hawkins
AI Leader & Host
You & AI - Stealth Mode
Tiarne Hawkins
Paolo Tacconi
VC & Open Innovation
Paolo Tacconi
Producer, entrepreneur, founder
AIgeist.ai, Finambolic.com & Valuelead.com
Paolo Tacconi
Giorgio Ciron
VC & Open Innovation
Giorgio Ciron
Director
InnovUp
Giorgio Ciron
Marco Giacosa
Future of Health
Marco Giacosa
Co-Founder
Salute360
Marco Giacosa
Roberto Ascione
Future of Health
Roberto Ascione
CEO
Future Health
Roberto Ascione
Gianmarco Carnovale
VC & Open Innovation
Gianmarco Carnovale
CEO & President
Scuter & Roma Startup
Gianmarco Carnovale
Fulvio Maccarone
VC & Open Innovation
Fulvio Maccarone
CEO and VC
EQNEXT
Fulvio Maccarone
Alberto Giovanni Busetto
VC & Open Innovation
Alberto Giovanni Busetto
Managing Partner
On Venture Studio
Alberto Giovanni Busetto
Alessandro Dini
VC & Open Innovation
Alessandro Dini
Founding Partner
Elevate Momentum Partners
Alessandro Dini
Ramanan Ramanathan
VC & Open Innovation
Ramanan Ramanathan
Board Member and Advisor
Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
Ramanan Ramanathan
Anagh Singh
VC & Open Innovation
Anagh Singh
Founding Member
MountTech Growth Fund
Anagh Singh
Manu Iyer
VC & Open Innovation
Manu Iyer
General Partner
Blue Hill Capital
Manu Iyer
Anjali Ajaikumar
VC & Open Innovation
Anjali Ajaikumar
Executive Director
HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd.
Anjali Ajaikumar
Sanjeev Gupta
VC & Open Innovation
Sanjeev Gupta
CEO
Karnataka Digitial Economy Mission
Sanjeev Gupta
Ashutosh Kumar
VC & Open Innovation
Ashutosh Kumar
General Partner & CEO
Expertdojo
Ashutosh Kumar
Angelo Del Priore
VC & Open Innovation
Angelo Del Priore
Partner
HP
Angelo Del Priore
Remi Dion
VC & Open Innovation
Remi Dion
Associate & VP Applied ML, Decision Science
Explorai
Remi Dion
Stefano Ferace
VC & Open Innovation
Stefano Ferace
Associate
Truffle Capital
Stefano Ferace
Stefan Petersson
VC & Open Innovation
Stefan Petersson
Co-founder Partner/Co-founder Partnership Manager
Xplorico/Digitalwell Ventures
Stefan Petersson

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