From 20 July 2016 it is possible to set up an Srl that can be qualified as an "innovative startup" directly online through the business registry platform created by Unioncamere and InfoCamere, without the need to go to the notary or the Chamber of Commerce.
THE REQUIREMENTS
But be careful, there are three minimum requirements to be included in the category: a corporate purpose focused on the development, production and marketing of services or products with high technological content and the main office of one's business and interests in Italy.
In addition, members will have to self-certify that they meet at least one of the following additional requirements:
– research and development expenses will be equal to or greater than 15% of the higher value between the cost and the total production value of the innovative startup;
– people in possession of a research doctorate or who are carrying out a research doctorate at an Italian or foreign university, or in have a university degree and have carried out certified research activities at public or private research institutes in Italy or abroad for at least three years;
– the startup will be the owner, custodian or licensee of at least one industrial property right relating to an industrial, biotechnological invention, a semiconductor product topography or a new plant variety directly related to the corporate purpose and business activity.
THE DIGITAL PROCESS TO BUILD AN INNOVATIVE ONLINE STARTUP
The business registry platform allows you to draw up the company's statute, which must be digitally signed by all shareholders. The digitally signed electronic document must be presented for registration in the company register of the territorially competent office within 20 days of signing. The company register office carries out the checks required by law and, in the event of a positive outcome of the checks, the office proceeds with the provisional registration - within 10 days from the protocol date - in the ordinary section of the company register.
This registration is the prerequisite for being able to start the registration procedure of the company in the special section provided for innovative startups and incubators certified pursuant to art. 3, paragraph 2, of the decree of 17 February 2016. The office will proceed to eliminate the wording "provisionally registered in the ordinary section, being registered in the special section", when the innovative startup company is registered in the special section.
THE SERVICE OF THE IUBENDA STARTUP
In this context it also fits Iubenda, an Italian startup operating in the legal sector, has made another service available to further simplify the procedure for setting up innovative startups.
In particular, Iubenda assists the entrepreneur throughout the process, including the creation of the digital signature for each shareholder (if one is not yet in possession), the signing of the deed of incorporation and statute, the creation of the certified e-mail, the payment of taxes and finally, the sending of all the forms to the bodies involved (for example the Company Register and the Revenue Agency).
THE MAP OF INNOVATIVE STARTUPS IN ITALY
According to the latest quarterly report produced by InfoCamere for the Ministry of Economic Development, there were 30 innovative startups in Italy as of June 5.943, an increase of 504 units compared to the end of March. In absolute value, Lombardy is the region that hosts the greatest number: 1.285, equal to 21,6% of the total. Emilia-Romagna follows with 703 (11,8%), Lazio 601 (10,1%), Veneto 450 (7,6%) and Piedmont 387 (6,5%). Among the provinces, Milan (874), Rome (520), Turin (291), Naples (190) and Bologna (178) stand out.
Looking at the value of production in 2014, overall, the innovative startups recorded a turnover of 325,58 million euros (value calculated on the 2.860 companies for which financial statements for the year are available). For every euro of production, innovative startups generate an average of 15 cents of added value, a figure that is lower than that recorded by joint-stock companies as a whole (21 cents). Limited to profit-making companies, startups instead generate more added value on the value of production than joint-stock companies (33 cents against 21).
In terms of employment, at mid-year the innovative startups involved 23.045 members, 1.927 more than last March (+9,12%). Added to these are the 8.193 employees who, as at 31 March 2016, were employed in the 2.356 startups with employees: an increase of 25,58% compared to the end of December 2015 (1.669 more units). The total number of collaborators of innovative startups therefore exceeds the threshold of 30 thousand units for the first time.
As for the business sectors, 71,3% of the innovative startups provide services to businesses, in particular software production and IT consultancy (30%) and R&D activities (14,8%). 18,9% instead work in industry in the strict sense. 24% of those operating in research and development are innovative startups; the share of innovative start-ups among software production services companies is also significant (7,1%).
