The final event of the roadshow presenting the 13th edition of Unicredit Start Lab, the Unicredit platform dedicated to support for start-ups and innovative SMEs The Milan stop was the seventh and final Italian stop on the 2026 tour, which in recent weeks has crisscrossed the country, stopping in Catania, Turin, Viterbo, Bari, Bologna, and Pordenone.
“Milan is one of the main hubs of Italian innovation and we are particularly honoured to end this roadshow in Lombardy – underlines Marco Bortoletti, regional manager for Lombardy at Unicredit. – Here, entrepreneurial talent and technology find a fertile ecosystem, capable of generating value and new growth opportunities. Supporting innovative startups and SMEs means investing in the country's future, and we do so through initiatives like Unicredit Start Lab, fostering dialogue between emerging businesses and our corporate network.
After the institutional greetings Bortoletti, they took turns Frances Perrone, head of ESG & Start Lab Italy at Unicredit e Gianluca Maruzzella – CEO & co-founder, Indigo.AI. The meeting concluded with a panel moderated by Giusy Stanziola, entitled "AI Applied to Startups," featuring Francesca Chieti – Chief M&A and Corporate Development Officer, Jakala; Andrea Gilberti – President & CEO, Matchplat; Giorgio Pastarini – Senior Investment Associate, P101; and Marco Taisch – President, Made.
The event hosted a session dedicated to Artificial Intelligence as a strategic lever for the growth of tech companies, with testimonials from leading Lombard companies such as Contents.com, a scaleup specializing in AI-based marketing execution solutions, and Caracol, a leading deep-tech company in robotic platforms for advanced manufacturing.
What is Unicredit Start Lab?
Unicredit Start Lab is UniCredit's business platform dedicated to innovative Italian startups and SMEs across all sectors. Through a program structured around numerous activities, the initiative supports businesses on their growth journey. promoting strategic partnerships with ecosystem players.
Confirmed also for this year 5 reference sectors: Clean Tech, Innovative Made in Italy, Digital, Life Science and Impact Innovation.
The 10 startups selected for each of the 5 categories will be able to access the Start Lab platform, which includes:
- business and investment matching activities with industrial and financial counterparties of the Unicredit network;
- international access through Tech Day, ICE's Global Startup Program, and a network of foreign investors;
- impact initiatives for female founders, verticals on impact innovation and participation in ESG Tech Days;
- advanced management training through Startup Academy and dedicated workshops;
- personalized mentorship with ecosystem experts and a dedicated Unicredit manager;
- 10.000 euro prize for the first place in each category.
Applications for the 2026 edition are open until March 25th. To participate or receive more information, please write to: [email protected].
