The 16th edition of Start Cup Piemonte Valle d'Aosta opened as usual with its "Phase 1", dedicated to the "Competition of Ideas", in which aspiring entrepreneurs can apply for free by presenting their business idea aimed at the creation of an innovative startup.
The best ideas submitted in this first phase, which will close on June 22 at 18:00, will have access to prizes in services, made available by the three university incubators of Piedmont (I3P, 2i3T and Enne3), promoters of the competition, namely the consultancy aimed at drawing up a Business Plan of the startup.
On June 23 will open the "Phase 2 - Business Plan Competition", which gives access to the final selection and prizes. Everyone is eligible, even if they did not make the first selection or did not participate in Phase 1. To participate in Phase II of the competition, the Business Plan Competition, it is instead necessary to submit no later than July 23, 2020 (18:00) a Business Plan describing an entrepreneurial project, directly in the "Submit a project" page of this website.
The prizes of the XVI edition
By the end of October, the best startup projects participating in the Business Plan Competition (Phase II) will be decided and will receive cash prizes and special mentions, awarded with the support of a Jury composed of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business angels.
The total prize money is worth over 40,000 euros and will be provided in cash or in services.
The first prize will be of 7,500 euros, the second of 5,000, the third of 2,500. The first six projects will also be awarded the prize of 1,000 euros each for registration to PNI 2020, the National Award for Innovation, the "cup of champions" among the winning business projects of the regional Start Cups that is scheduled to be held in Bologna, Italy on 26 and 27 November 2020.
The special prizes
Confirmed the special prizes promoted by sponsors interested in contributing concretely to the development of innovation:
Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta, aimed at entrepreneurial development in the territory, assigns the Valle d'Aosta Award of €7,500 to the best Business Plan that sets up the company in the Pèpiniéres d'Entreprises of Aosta or Pont Saint Martin;
Fondazione CRC, which is attentive to interventions aimed at competitiveness and sustainable development, awards the Cuneo Award of €7,500 to the best Business Plan that sets up a company in the Province of Cuneo.
New in this edition is the Metroconsult Award, with an indicative value of €6,000 for the best Business Plan with intellectual property features, provided in the form of consulting services on the protection of trademarks, patents, design, copyright. The prize is offered by Metroconsult, a company specializing in services for the defense and enhancement of intellectual property.
The special mentions
Among the novelties, there is also the special mention "Covid-19", addressed to the best project that offers solutions in case of health crises caused by the spread of a virus epidemic through innovative products or services for the protection of human health, prevention, emergency management, data and information, economic recovery and strengthening of the health system.
The mention "Open Innovation / Industrial Spin Off" has also been newly introduced, and is dedicated to the best project concerning innovative products and/or services deriving from a research activity carried out in collaboration between a company and a University in Piedmont.
Moreover, the two special mentions for the best "Equal Opportunities" project aimed at promoting the principle of equal opportunities and female entrepreneurship, and the best "Social Innovation" project, have been confirmed.
Finally, other sponsors are also participating in the initiative and supporting the organization, such as:
UniCredit, attentive to cooperative relationships to support innovative startups;
LINKS Foundation, a research center that develops next-generation technologies, interested in fostering technological and economic growth, increasing the competitiveness of the ecosystem and enhancing intellectual property;
Fondazione Michelin Sviluppo, aimed at fostering the socio-economic development of the territory and the creation of jobs.
