Sep 19th,2016

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

The new policy enacted since 2012 has boosted the startup ecosystem and made

it more visible

• Official recognition (and definition) of startups and incubators

• Less red tape, from incorporation to success (or failure)

• Greater flexibility in labor contracts

• Incentives for investment

• Fast-track startup visas

• Government money going into a «fund of funds» and into matching funds

• … and more is to come

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

The ecosystem is taking shape

(broad regional base + hubs)

Province Startups % of total Cumulated % MILANO 920 14.69% 14.69% ROMA 536 8.56% 23.26% TORINO 298 4.76% 28.01% NAPOLI 200 3.19% 31.21% BOLOGNA 195 3.11% 34.32% MODENA 158 2.52% 36.85% FIRENZE 142 2.27% 39.12% TRENTO 140 2.24% 41.35% BARI 122 1.95% 43.30% PADOVA 120 1.92% 45.22% Source: Registro imprese, Sep 12th, 2016

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

A country where technical

competencies are strong… and

cheap

High scientific productivity of

Italian universities

researchers used to “making

ends meet”

Source: UK comparative performance report - 2013

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

A country where technical

competencies are strong… and

cheap

High scientific productivity of

Italian universities

researchers used to “making

ends meet”

Source: UK comparative performance report - 2013

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

A country where technical

competencies are strong… and

cheap

High scientific productivity of

Italian universities

researchers used to “making

ends meet”

Source: UK comparative performance report - 2013

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

A country where technical

competencies are strong… and

cheap

High scientific productivity of

Italian universities

researchers used to “making

ends meet”

Underutilized graduate talent

85 89 84 78 86

76 74

139 141

158 155 142 148

168

CANADA FRANCE GERMANY ISRAEL ITALY UNITED KINGDOM

USA

Earnings premiums (source: OECD education at a glance 2016)

Secondary Tertiary

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

A country with a significant

competitive advantage in

engineering and

manufacturing (factories are

already here!)

18

CROV energy saving and pneumatic plant monitoring device by Safen • From patent to prototype with a seed investment • From prototype to production with no further investment

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

A country with a strong

competitive advantage in

engineering and

manufacturing (factories are

already here!)

A very interesting value

proposition in a time when bits

and atoms are coming

together

18

ITALY AS A PLACE FOR STARTUPS

A country with a strong

competitive advantage in

engineering and

manufacturing (factories are

already here!)

A very interesting value

proposition in a time when bits

and atoms are coming

together

… not to mention food,

fashion, furniture, tourism, etc. 18

THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES

PNICube is the Italian association of

University Business Incubators and

Business Plan Competitions.

PNICube was founded in 2004 in

order to promote the development of

new, innovative and hi-tech

companies linked to public research

Academic spinoffs

Other startups from the academic

community

External startups linked

to university

Corporate spinoffs linked to research

Foreign startups

THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES

Startups taking

part to the PNI

6 %

Innovative Startups

(Law 221/2012)

University

Spin-offs

14 % 4 %

20-25% of Italian startups have been nurtured by universities, as

research spinoffs and/or as startups incubated by members of PNICube

Nearly 50% of certified incubators have a formal or informal affiliation

with a university

To date, the Association is formed by

41 members and 18 active Start

Cups (regional business plan

competitions)

PNICube associates covers the

entire country, thus allowing

synergies with local know how

Each year, Start Cups and the

Premio Nazionale dell’Innovazione

involve more than 3000 applicants

across the country

THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES

Members Active Start Cups

Universities incubators can be

- Incubation services within the

university

- Non-profit companies, generally

owned by public bodies

- Profit-making companies with a

formal affiliation to the university

THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES

Members Active Start Cups

The larger universities

incubators provide a full

range of services to

startups and other

actors (corporations,

investors, managers,

etc.)

THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES

• One two one contacts

• Events (start up weekends, hackatons, etc.) Scouting

• Strategic (business modeling, business planning)

• Specialist (through corporate and academic partners) Consultancy

• Attraction of new founders and personnel recruitment

• Mentorship programs Talent

• Seed and Early Stage equity (BAs, VCs, corporate investors)

• Banking agreements Fundraising

• Demo days and tailor-made corporate events

• Internationalization (trade fairs and soft landing programs) Business

development

• Investment advisory

• Board representation Investor support

Thank you for your attention … and arrivederci in Italia