Le banks have always played a central role in the economy, but in a world that is moving quickly towards digitalization and sustainability, the pillars also need to be updated. Intesa Sanpaolo, one of the main Italian financial institutions, has been able to grasp this transformation, becoming a Partner strategic for the Italian companies, both large and small. Not limiting itself to supporting historic SMEs, the bank has also turned its attention to innovative entrepreneurship in startup, in which it holds a market share of almost 32%, recognizing them as a fundamental resource for the future growth of the country.
However, the potential of startups often comes with high risks: many do not make it past the initial phase and only a few emerge as consolidated players. To address this challenge, Intesa Sanpaolo launched in 2022 the program Up2Stars, with the aim of helping Italian startups make that leap in quality that is often missing.
Up2Stars: a launch pad for Italian startups
Designed in collaboration with theIntesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Up2Stars selects every year dozens of startups in strategic sectors for the Italian economy, preparing them to interact with investors and mature companies. Through partnerships with important entities such as Gellify (accelerator), Stock Market Elite Italian, Cisco, Microsoft, Digit'ed, the National Agritech Centers, Most and Hpc, and Nest Network 4 Energy Sustainable Transition, the program offers startups the opportunity to enter an ecosystem rich in resources and opportunities.
Each edition of the program includes four selection calls, each focused on a key sector, with a maximum of 40 startup who undertake a personalized acceleration path created in collaboration with Gellify. During the program, startups have the opportunity to meet with mentors and coaches, present themselves in Demo Day and access theIntesa Elite Lounge Sanpaolo to prepare for entry into the capital market.
La first edition (2022-2023) saw over 600 applications and 40 selected startups in sectors such as Digital, Industry 4.0, Bioeconomy, MedTech and Aerospace. The second edition (2023, just concluded in Naples), has expanded the network of collaborations, involving Research Centres, European Innovation Hubs and new partners such as Digit'Ed for training and Innovit for international opportunities, with a focus on WaterTech, Renewable Energy, Artificial Intelligence and IoT.
Anna Roscio, head of Sales & Marketing Imprese at Intesa Sanpaolo, explained the value of the program: “Intesa Sanpaolo firmly believes in the development and growth of entrepreneurial initiative and is the reference bank for Italian companies. In particular, within the Banca dei Territori led by Stefano Barrese, we have developed several programs to support startups, women-led businesses, excellent SMEs and companies that want to grow abroad. With Up2Stars we aim to promote technology transfer from startups to more mature SMEs to promote the country's competitiveness, also thanks to the partnerships activated at national and international level. This is our strategic vision to support innovation, which is the engine of economic growth and one of the paradigms of the PNRR”.
The Mission in Silicon Valley
In 2024, the program offered to 12 selected startups the opportunity to participate in an international acceleration program at Innovation, a technology hub in San Francisco, in the heart of the Valley. This path has allowed Italian startups to come into contact with global innovation players, including investors and technology companies. Intesa Sanpaolo has also added a financial contribution of approximately 20 thousand euros, bringing the total to approximately 45 thousand euros for each startup, including the support received during the acceleration program.
Roscio highlighted the importance of an international path: “For a double advantage. Startups initiate a growth dynamic through comparison and interaction with highly dynamic and competitive international contexts, encouraging the creation of new technological ecosystems and innovation chains in our country. Furthermore, they help present the excellence of Italian innovation abroad and attract capital to Italy that has a potential impact on economic development and employment. This virtuous circle strengthens the country's global competitiveness and Intesa Sanpaolo is its standard-bearer and essential partner”.
Concrete support for startups: convertible financing and beyond
Over the years, Intesa Sanpaolo has invested approximately 2,2 million euros in Up2Stars, a commitment that reflects its desire to be not only a capital provider, but also a growth enabler for the Italian production system. For over a decade, the bank has provided over 300 million euros in funding startup, supporting them with targeted financial products, such as convertible loans, which allow the bank to directly enter the capital of startups and strengthen their financial solidity.
A significant example is the investment in Radoff Spa, an innovative company in the field of IoT systems for monitoring indoor pollutants. With theacquisition of a 3,75% stake, the bank has supported not only the growth of the SME, but has also contributed to its consolidation in international markets such as Italy, Europe and North America.
The results achieved so far and future objectives
But what are the results of Up2Stars? “The two editions of the Up2Stars program have recorded over 1.000 applications by startups and involved more than 250 entities including companies, investors, experts and venture capitalists. Many of the 80 startups accelerated Up2Stars has started collaborations with SMEs, around 50 have been admitted to our Elite Lounge dedicated to them to prepare to access the capital market”, explained Roscio. In addition, the 8 Demo Days organized so far have involved more than 800 investors and companies, strengthening the role of Up2Stars as a bridge between emerging ideas and global markets.
Looking to the future, Intesa Sanpaolo is ready to make the program fly even higher. “We aim to involve an even greater number of startups by focusing on new innovative and strategic sectors, as well as strengthening the network of collaborations abroad. Our ambition is for Up2Stars to become a point of reference for the ecosystem of Italian startups that intend to structure themselves and grow also in an international perspective”, stated Roscio.
Startups participating in Up2Stars: concrete cases of innovation
The startups involved in Up2Stars are representative of a variety of high-tech and sustainability sectors, a taste of the future of Italian entrepreneurship. Some examples of startups participating in the program include Novac, which develops supercapacitors for electric vehicles, improving energy efficiency, and Oraigo, which applies neuroscience and artificial intelligence to improve road safety. Other startups, such as Ecobooks, focus on sustainability, developing technologies for organic waste management, while Nanosurf is focused on solar energy, using innovative nanotech materials to improve its efficiency.
In short, it ranges from green technology to artificial intelligence, from sustainable mobility to digital transformation. Each startup tells a story of innovation that, without structured support, could remain an unfulfilled promise.
Not just startups: a strategic vision for the Italian economic system
Up2Stars is not an isolated initiative, but part of a broader strategy aimed at promoting transition Economic Sustainability of the country. The goal is not only to support innovative startups, but to create a fertile ecosystem in which these emerging companies can collaborate with SMEs, thus accelerating the digital and sustainable transformation of the entire Italian production system.
This approach fits perfectly with the objectives of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), which promotes innovation, sustainability and inclusion. Through targeted financing, consulting programs and networking projects, Intesa Sanpaolo has the ambitious goal of transforming global challenges such as climate change and digitalization into concrete opportunities for Italian companies.
The challenge of bringing two worlds together
Integrating startups and SMEs is not easy, as the former operate at a fast pace and with a long-term vision, while the latter are more consolidated and adopt a more cautious approach. With Up2Stars, Intesa Sanpaolo is creating a collaboration space between these realities, with the former offering innovative solutions and the latter adopting their technologies.
This support model reflects a change in role of banks, which are no longer just financiers, but enablers of growth. By supporting the most promising startups, Intesa Sanpaolo invests in the future of the Italian economy, creating a network of solid and innovative customers.
In a time of rapid change, the program demonstrates how tradition and innovation can be strengthened, fostering a more competitive future and sustainable for Italy.
