The 2024 edition of the event concluded on Tuesday 26 November Startup Marathonthe startup contest promoted by Area Science Park, UniCredit e Comunica Foundation. This year it was Soundsafe Care to win the first prize: the Pisan startup won by developing a robotic device that uses ultrasound to treat liver cancer.
Born in 2020, Startup Marathon over the years has selected numerous innovative companies in the country active in sectors such as AI, diagnostics, IoT and sustainability.
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The final saw the participation of 10 of the 60 startups and SMEs initially registered in the contest, sponsored by incubators, accelerators, research centers and universities throughout Italy.
The Soundsafe Care solution, supported by the Navacchio Technological Centre, offers anon-invasive, drug-free alternative for the treatment of liver cancerreducing complications and hospital costs. Based on advanced imaging and automation technologies, the device improves the precision of the treatment and reduces intervention times.
In addition to access to UniCredit Start Lab acceleration programthe Pisan startup also won the award as best startup with a female majorityrecognition that guarantees participation to the internationalization program BoostHerUppromoted by Area Science Park.
She placed second He was unfazeda med-tech startup from Turin that has developed a biodegradable cardiac patch to counteract post-ischemic heart failure. The patch, biomimetic and bioabsorbable, recreates the structure of the myocardial tissue to promote cell recovery. The solution, initially designed for bypass surgery, is a safe and less invasive alternative that improves patients’ quality of life.
In third place we find the Lecce area Beadroots who got on the podium thanks to his natural and biodegradable hydrogel derived from algaecapable of retaining and releasing water efficiently for improve agricultural productivity and reduce water waste. Unlike synthetic options, the gel supports soil microorganisms without negative impacts.
The three startups on the podium will be able to take advantage of a privileged access to the pre-selection for the national mission at CES in Las Vegas.
“We are very satisfied with this fifth edition of Startup Marathon. The startups selected for the final operate in very different sectors, a sign of how innovation is a transversal element in every market and how initiatives like this can support its development” he stated Roberto Pillonhead of the Business Generation office of Area Science Park. “Technology, and with even greater potential the deep tech sector, today has transformative capabilities with very high impact for every industry: a scenario that can fully express itself with close collaboration between the producers of innovation and the companies that have the ability to exploit it“.
“There are many reasons for satisfaction that the 2024 edition of Startup Marathon leaves us with: in particular the fact of having created a virtuous ecosystem made up of corporate companies, investors and many accelerators and incubators, at a national level. As UniCredit we have made available the know-how gained in over ten as pioneers and leaders in supporting the world of Italian startups and we intended to reiterate, in practice, our commitment alongside those who want to invest in innovation by offering growth to companies and jobs for young people” he added Renzo Chervatinhead of territorial development at UniCredit Nord Est.
Supporting organizations were also rewarded
The final event of the Startup Marathon, held at the headquarters UniCredit of Milan was also an opportunity for reward the three best business support organizations that nominated startups for the event.
Each of them was assigned a score based on the startup ranking: in first place we find the Technology Center of Navacchiofollowed by G-Factorwhich nominated Impavid for the contest, and finally by Eatable Adventures who supported BeadRoots.
All three, as well as the 10 finalist startups, were granted privileged access toExecutive MBA in Business Innovation realizzato dal MIB Trieste School of Management.
The finalist startup
In addition to the three startups on the podium, 7 other innovative startups reached the final: Cartesia Solutionsfrom Pisa, supported by Digital Hub; InnoItalyfrom Codognè (Treviso), supported by Trentino Sviluppo; Joulefrom Campodarsego (Padua), supported by Seedble; Northern Light Compositesfrom Monfalcone (Gorizia), supported by TEC4I FVG; NuHprofrom Rimini, supported by CesenaLab; Weabiosdqa Pisa, supported by the technological center of Navacchio; And Witty Powerfrom Bolzano, supported by NOI Techpark.
In addition to Area Science Park, UniCredit and Fondazione Comunica, numerous partners supported the competition: Angel For Women, ASAC, Avvio Capital, Bando Easy, Camst Group, Carel, Chiesi, CRCLEX, DBA Group, Eatable Adventures, ELIS Innovation Hub, Eurotherm, Fastweb, FITT, Galdi, Giordano Controls, HiRef, Italian Angels for Growth, Italian Business Angels Network, LIFTT, Manni Group, Master Builders Solutions, Mastercard, Maxfone, MIB Trieste-School of Management, MITO Tech Ventures, One Factory, San Marco Group, Star Tech Ventures, Step, Unicorn Trainers Club, Venture Factory e WDA.
Source: www.tomshw.it
