Bocconi University, in partnership with the Citi Foundation, aims to identify, study, support with managerial training and reward the most promising startups on the Italian scene, those capable of achieving important results already in the initial phase of their life cycle. With the Bocconi Start-up Day Award (www.startupday.unibocconi.it/award) – whose announcement is open until 7 September 2015 and which will be assigned on 24 November – the University, through an international jury made up of 16 experts, awards cash prizes for a total of 35.000 euros, the possibility of participating in courses of managerial training and the drafting of an international case-study by SDA Bocconi School of Management.
The Award, which is open to all companies established in Italy after 1 January 2010, is divided into three categories:
- An award for the best startup ever (participation of a member in one of the masters of the SDA Bocconi School of Management dedicated to entrepreneurship; financial award of 15.000 euros; drafting of the case-study).
- An award for the best startup in the field of social innovation (participation of a member in the SDA Bocconi Master's Degree in Management of Social, Non-Profit and Cooperative Enterprises; financial award of 10.000 euros).
- An award to the best millennial startup, chosen from among the under 30 teams (participation of a member in the SDA Bocconi Master's Degree in Entrepreneurship and business strategy; financial award of 10.000 euros).
“New innovative companies are the cornerstone of the development of advanced economies. When they are well managed, they decree the economic success of those who created them, they can be replicated in other geographical areas or other market segments and highlight direct and indirect employment effects”, says the pro-rector for internationalization and head of the initiative, Stephen Caselli, thus illustrating the evaluation criteria that will be used by the international jury: innovativeness of the business idea and results achieved in three areas: feasibility and competitiveness (business model, economic-financial equilibrium and profitability), scalability (replicability in different geographical areas and market) and employment effects.
Bocconi Start-up Day is a Bocconi University initiative aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship. Made in partnership with Citi Foundation with the collaboration of Speed Mi Up, the support of SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi Alumni Association and Economia & Management and the media partnership of Courier Innovation. The composition of the international jury is as follows:
Renzo Arcoria, Country Officer Italy, Citi
Carlo Bronzini Vendor, Founding Partner, CapM Advisors
Gabriele Cappellini, Chief Executive Officer, Fondo Italiano d'Investimento
Riccardo Donadon, Founder, H-Farm Ventures
Anna Gervasoni, General Manager, AIFI
Giovanni Gorno Tempini, Chief Executive Officer, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
Doerte Hoeppner, Chief Executive, EVCA
Alberto Meomartini, Vice President, Chamber of Commerce of Milan, President, Speed Mi Up
Gaetano Miccichè, General Manager, Intesa SanPaolo
Gianni Franco Pope, Deputy General Manager, UniCredit
Bruno Pavesi, Chief Executive Officer, Bocconi University
Alicia Robb, Senior Fellow, Kauffman Foundation
Fabio Sattin, President and Founding Partner, Private Equity Partners
Fabiano Schivardi, Rodolfo Debenedetti Chair in Entrepreneurship, Bocconi University
Massimo Sideri, economic journalist, Corriere della Sera
Andrea Sironi, Rector, Bocconi University
September 7 is also the deadline for applications to the other Bocconi Start-up Day initiative: the marketplace open to students and alumni of Bocconi University, SDA Bocconi School of Management, MISB Bocconi who intend to develop their business idea and are in the planning or launch phase of their own startup and to companies incubated by Speed Mi Up. Those selected will be able to meet venture capitalists, business angels, private equity exponents and present their business project to them (www.startupday.unibocconi.it/mplace).
