At least four start-ups a day, including Sundays, go under the scrutiny of Digital Magics, the incubator of digital realities listed on the Aim, one of the most sensitive lenses for measuring the desire and actual consistency of talents de Made in Italy: under the skies of the digital revolution.
In 2017, in particular, the examination of 1.378 projects (there will be 1.500 in the current year) revealed 19 new participations, including 9 held through the accelerator seed Withfounders, which were added to the 39 already existing that closed 2017 with an aggregate turnover of 33,3 million euros, with a 43% growth over the previous year.
But how does the choice of the "elected" take place? “We use four criteria – he explains the managing director Marco Gay– The initial idea counts first. Then we attach great importance to the quality of the team. The ideal team has at least 2-3 members. From there it goes to business ideas, i.e. the way to translate the initial idea into an approach to the market. The last stage, i.e. the creation of the actual business plan, is managed in collaboration with us”. All in a short time, because, in the digital age, time is more than ever money.
The Digital Magics formula works. But by itself it is certainly not sufficient to fill the gap between the Bel Paese and a competition that can count on much more substantial financial channels: in 2017, the entire Italian system absorbed investments of 207 million euros, much less than the firepower of the competition. “Thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Economic Development – comments Gay – the tax exemption for investments in innovation has risen from 19 to 30 percent. But it's just a start, if we think about what others are doing. In Spain the exemption rises to 55%, France and Germany do even more, in the United Kingdom it reaches 80%”. In short, Italy is bringing up the rear, thus accepting a heavy mortgage on the future. Yet the success of the PIRs indicates the main road: it would be sufficient to allow institutional investors (primarily pension funds) to invest a percentage of the funding, let's say 5%, in innovative start-ups with preferential tax treatment. "With initiatives of this type - adds the CEO of Digital Magics - Italy would bring itself to the level of other countries in a position to exploit the potential of the system which certainly exists".
As demonstrated by the company's numbers as they emerge from the data of the last financial year:
- In 2017, the group strengthened its financial position by acquiring stakes in 19 new companies;
- the companies gravitating around Digital Magics collected 7,4 million euros (2,8 directly from the parent company);
- la net financial position it amounts to 2,4 million with cash and cash equivalents of 6,2 million;
- il net financial assets amounts to 18,9 million, thanks to a capital increase and the exercise of warrants, a strengthening that will help support investment plans in another 10-15 equity investments.
- THEEbitda it stands at 638 thousand euros, (it was 333 thousand in 2016); the difference is mainly due to the costs incurred for open innovation programs including Magic Wand, the program dedicated to Fintech and insurtech.
- THEEBIT reaches the figure of 2,04 million, while in 2016 it amounted to 249 thousand; the difference is due to the higher amortization connected to the higher investments in intangible fixed assets, and in part also to the write-down of receivables from investee companies
- During 2017, the reference shareholder, Tamburi Investment Partners, created Star Tip, which plans to invest up to 100 million in companies and projects in the area of digital start-ups, a courageous but unfortunately rare operation in our panorama.
