The segment of Startup Incubators & Accelerators plays an important role in a city’s startup ecosystem and its development. The Italian economical capital Milan is not an exception and with its wide array of incubators and accelerators plays a vital role in the startup ecosystem of the country itself.
Although incubators and accelerators are very similar, usually incubators have entrants who have not yet officially started a business or are at a very early stage whilst accelerators usually accept more so developed companies that can be accelerated and grown within the accelerator. Startup incubators and accelerators fuel the startup ecosystem by investing skillsets, time, contacts, office space and investment to develop Italian and international startups, and limit the amount of risk there is for a startup and their founders through the offering of their incubating services and acceleration services that allows the startups to have greater knowledge, experience and specialized know-how.
The startup incubators and accelerators in the startup ecosystem of Milan are developed by four main categories, including large corporations such as TIM, WIND and Unicredit, Universities for example Bocconi University’s Speed Mi Up and Politecnico di Milano’s Polihub, specific incubator and acceleration organizations such as Fashion Technology Accelerator and governmental startup incubators and accelerators such as FabriQ.
This guide explains and identifies the structure of the startup incubators and accelerators segment in Milan and can assist to understand the different options when considering to potentially enter a startup incubator or accelerator in Milan.
Startup Incubators and Accelerators in Milan (Alphabetical Order):
1 – Name: Alimenta2Talent
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Alimenta2Talent is an accelerator co-financed by the Comune di Milano and developed by the specific PTP Science Park. This accelerator specializes mainly on the acceleration of startups within the circular economy, agrifood and life sciences sectors.
Website: http://www.alimenta2talent.eu
2 – Name: b-ventures
Type: Incubator & Accelerator
Brief Description: B-ventures is an incubator and accelerator that specializes in mobile payment, mobile advertising and mobile content startups. This international incubator and accelerator offers co-working spaces in Italy, Spain, UK and US.
Website: http://b-ventures.it/
3 – Name: Barcamper Tours
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Barcamper by dpixel, is a scouting and education program that gives knowledge and tools to accelerate startups. The program is mobile and visits many cities to scout and accelerate startups. To find when it is Milan next, go to the Barcamper website.
Website: http://barcamper.it
4 – Name: BiovelocITA
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: BiovelocITA is fully dedicated to the acceleration of biotech innovative projects. IT provides both seed funds and management skills in various therapeutics areas.
Website: http://www.biovelocita.com/
5 – Name: Boox
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Boox is a Milanese accelerator that accelerates digital startups, specifically e-commerce and SaaS startups.
Website: http://www.boox.it/en
6 – Name: Impact Hub
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Impact Hub Milano is a Coworking and Events Space, a Community and Certified Incubator which is apart of a global network of more than 100 locations comprising over 15,000 entrepreneurs and innovators gathered around common interest in projects and companies that have social, environmental or cultural impact.
Website: http://milan.impacthub.net
7 – Name: Incubatore Tecnologico Bottega di Leonardo
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Incubatore Tecnologico Bottega di Leonardo is an incubator that specifies in multimedia, industrial and domestic automation and high-tech IT startups.
Website: http://www.bottegaleonardo.it/index.htm
8 – Name: Breed Reply
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Breed Reply is an advanced incubator for Internet Of Things startups. Breed Reply is based in UK and has offices in the cities of London, Munich and also Milan. The incubator mainly specifies in the vertical markets of fitness and wellness, healthcare, smart home, manufacturing, transportation and energy. Breed Reply Incubator is a part of The Reply Group.
Website: http://www.reply.com/en/breed-reply/breed-reply-advanced-startup-incubator
9 – Name: Digital Magics
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Digital Magics is an incubator that operates in Milan as well as Bari, Naples, Palermo, Rome and Triveneto. Digital Magics is an incubator that specializes in digital startups.
Website: http://www.digitalmagics.com
10 – Name: Edison Pulse
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Edison Pulse is an incubator program run by the company, Edison. The incubator specializes in four main categories; energy, smart home, consumer and tourism and business enhancement.
Website: http://www.edisonpulse.it
11 – Name: ELITE
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: ELITE is an innovative program which supports SMEs for the next stage of their growth.
Website: https://it.elite-growth.com/en
12 -Name: ENEL For Startups
Type: Accelerator and Incubator
Brief Description: Offered by the company ENEL, the multinational operates as industrial strategic partner and offers a large array of services, know-how and network to startups in 12 verticals. To find the specific verticals, refer to the website.
Website: http://startup.enel.com/en/home
13 – Name: Euroimpresa
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Euroimpresa offers an incubator for startups with less than 3 years of operation.
Website: http://www.euroimpresa.it
14 – Name: FabriQ
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: FabriQ offers an incubator for social innovation and social impact startups. The incubator is developed by The Comune di Milano, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and Impact Hub.
Website: www.fabriq.eu
15 – Name: Fashion Technology Accelerator
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Fashion Technology Accelerator accelerates startups in the fashion technology sector. This international accelerator is a part of an international network that has accelerators in Milan, Silicon Valley and Seoul.
Website: http://www.ftaccelerator.it
16 – Name: Fondazione Filarete
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Fondazione Filarete is a business accelerator that accelerates startups in the sectors of biomaterials, healthcare and advanced technology.
Website: http://www.fondazionefilarete.com/en/
17 – Name: Future Food Ecosystem
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Future Food Ecosystem has a range of accelerators and programs in its organization that support and develop food specific startups.
Website: http://futurefoodecosystem.org
18 – Name: G2
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: G2 is an accelerator that accelerates digital transformation and industry 4.0 startups.
Website: http://g2-startups.it/
19 – Name: growITup
Type: Accelerator
Brief Decription: growITup is an accelerator platform for Italian digital startups to grow. The platform allows large corporations to get in contact with successful digital startups and to contribute to their growth.
Website: http://www.growitup.it/?lang=en
20 – Name: Innovits
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: A non-profit organization that aims to accelerate and support entrepreneurial development.
Website: https://www.innovits.it/
21 – Name: Intesa Sanpaolo Start Up Initiative
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: An incubator for high-tech startups that specializes in social ventures, biotechnologies, ICT, mobile and mobility, cleantech and nanotechnologies startups.
Website: http://www.startupinitiative.com/en/index.html
22 – Name: iSTARTER
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: iSTARTER is an accelerator that accelerates Italian startups. The accelerator is based in Shoreditch, London.
Website: http://www.istarter.it
23 – Name: Italian Brand Factory
Type: Accelerator and Incubator
Brief Description: Italian Brand Factory is an accelerator and incubator that specializes in the sectors of fashion, food, design, art & culture, travel & tourism and cosmetics.
Website: http://www.italianbrandfactory.it/
24 – Name: IULM Innovation Lab
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: IULM Innovation Lab is a business accelerator by the IULM Univeristy. The IULM Innovation Lab offers access to its co-working space.
Website: http://www.iulminnovationlab.com/
25 – Name: Keycapital
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Keycapital is a venture incubator that incubates digital startups.
Website: http://www.keycapital.it
26 – Name: Make a Cube
Type: Incubator & Accelerator
Brief Description: Make a Cube is an incubator and accelerator that specializes in high social value startups, environmental startups and cultural startups.
Website: www.makeacube.com
27 – Name: Nuvolab
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Nuvolab is an accelerator that specializes in industrial automation, food, furniture/design, clothing/fashion, digital, fintech and biomedical startups.
Website: http://nuvolab.com
28 – Name: Officine Formative
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Officine Formative is an online accelerator that has an in-depth online training. Officine Formative is an initiative of Intesa Sanpaolo.
Website: http://officineformative.it
29 – Name: Parco Technologico Padano
Type: Incubator & Accelerator
Brief Description: Parco Technologico Padano offers an incubator and accelerator for technologically innovative startups.
Website: http://www.ptp.it
30 – Name: Polihub
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Polihub is a Startup District and Incubator. It is the Politecnico di Milano University incubator and is run by Fondazione Politecnico di Milano. Polihub university incubator supports highly innovative startups by scouting, tutorship, mentorship, advisory and open innovation.
Website: http://www.polihub.it/en/
31 – Name: Rancillo Cube
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Rancilio Cube supports entrepreneurial culture, debate among entrepreneurs and social and entrepreneurial growth. Rancilio Cube offers its own business accelerator.
Website: http://www.ranciliocube.com
32 – Name: RQ Research Qualification
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: RQ Research Qualifications offers an incubator that specializes in high-tech startups and industrial research startups.
Website: http://www.rqsrl.it/
33 – Name: Sanipedia
Type: Incubator
Brief Description: Sanipedia is an incubator that supports young researchers and entrepreneurs at a very early stage of a project. Sanipedia specializes in health startups.
Website: https://www.sanipedia.com/about-us/
34 – Name: SpeedMiUp
Type: Incubator & Accelerator
Brief Description: SpeedMiUp is an incubator and accelerator offered by Bocconi University, Camera di Commercio di Milano and the Comune di Milano. SpeedMiUp offers startups business development, business networks, entrepreneurial synergies, co-working spaces and services.
Website: http://www.speedmiup.it/eng/
35- Name: TH2
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Th2 is an accelerator specialized on Digital Manufacturing and Food Tech startups and SMEs.
Website: http://www.th2.it/#/home
36 – Name: The Startup Training
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: The Startup Training is an acceleration program that helps early-stage startups identify their market, launch and develop.
Website: https://www.thestartuptraining.com/home
37 – Name: TIM#WCAP
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: TIM#WCAP is TIM’s corporate accelerator that selects, accelerates and funds digital startups. TIM#WCAP offers its accelerator in Milan, Bologna, Rome and Catania, along with co-working spaces for the startups.
Website: http://www.wcap.tim.it
38 – Name: Unicredit Startup Lab
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Unicredit Startup Lab is an accelerator that is run by Unicredit. The accelerator specialized in life science, ICT/Web/Digital, Cleantech and Innovation Made in Italy startups. Unicredit Startup Lab also offers a specialized Fintech accelerator.
Website: https://www.unicreditstartlab.eu/en.html
39 – Name: Wind Tre Business Factor
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: Wind Tre Business Factor is an online accelerator developed by the company WIND. This online accelerator program supports Italian startups by offering online resources and instruments.
Website: http://windbusinessfactor.it
40 – Name: Xone Italia
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: The Xone Italia Accelerator is offered by Vodafone. Xone Italia Accelerator supports, develops and brings Italian startups to the marketplace.
Website: https://xone.vodafone.it/en/home/
41 – Name: ZCube
Type: Accelerator
Brief Description: The mission of Zcube by Zambon is to identify and support the validation of Drug Delivery Systems, selecting those that have revealed the potential to generate innovative products.
Website: http://www.z-cube.it/
The startup ecosystem of Milan is a large and vibrant city startup ecosystem that offers many opportunities for many Italians and for many internationals. The important segment of startup incubators and accelerators plays a key role in the development and support of the startup ecosystem of Milan.
Contributor: Adam Bregu
Source: A model to enable the analysis, mapping, understanding and development of a city’s startup ecosystem. Practical application of the model on the startup ecosystem of Milan. Adam Bregu, Bocconi University, 2017.