Creazione di impresa National hybrid path · 7 weeks Open
Startup Creation Lab 2026
From idea to your first business project.
- 7 weeks
- national hybrid path
- Free
- no participation cost
- San Francisco
- 3 days for the winning project
Application deadline 30.09.2026
Applications close 30 September 2026 Kick off 15 October 2026 Demo Day 3 December 2026
A seven-week national hybrid path to turn an intuition into a structured, validated project ready to be presented.
The program combines online webinars with leading figures from the Italian innovation ecosystem and hands-on workshops at GATE REI's local hubs, culminating in the national Demo Day.
Participation is entirely free.
Benefits for participants
Learn from leading figures in Italian innovation
Take part in online webinars led by entrepreneurs, innovators and investors recognized nationwide, including Nino Letteriello, Leandro Agrò, Augusto Coppola and Gianluigi Dettori.
A chance to gain practical tools and engage with high-level experiences and perspectives.
Three days in San Francisco for the winning project
The project selected at the end of the Demo Day will win a three-day experience in San Francisco, in the heart of Silicon Valley and the international innovation network.
- completely free participation;
- hands-on in-person workshops;
- support in validating your idea;
- building the Business Model Canvas;
- use of an AI agent to support the path;
- pitch preparation;
- engagement with mentors, investors and experts;
- access to a national community of aspiring entrepreneurs.
Who it is for
The program is aimed at young people under 35 who want to develop a business idea or gain tools and methods for innovation
- University students
- Recent graduates
- Researchers
- Aspiring entrepreneurs
- Young professionals
To take part in the first phase, you don't need to already have a defined idea. The online path is also designed to help participants recognize problems, opportunities and possible solutions to turn into new projects.
How it works
- 01
National webinars
A first online phase open to everyone, with live sessions led by nationally recognized speakers and experts. The webinars offer inspiration, methods and tools to understand innovation, read emerging opportunities and develop new ideas.
- 02
Local workshops
Those who already have or develop an idea can continue with three intensive in-person days at one of GATE REI's hubs. With the support of the team, participants work on validation, the Business Model Canvas and building their pitch.
- 03
National Demo Day
Finalist projects present their pitch to a jury of investors, mentors and experts from the innovation ecosystem. The winning project wins the three-day experience in San Francisco.
What you'll learn
Throughout the path, you'll work on:
- Innovation scenarios and trends
- Artificial intelligence, robotics and data-driven innovation
- Idea generation and validation
- Market and needs analysis
- Building the business model
- Project sustainability
- Early-stage investment logic
- Pitch preparation and presentation
A national program, close to the territory
Startup Creation Lab connects a national digital community to a network of in-person workshops across Italy.
Local activities will be hosted at the hubs of the GATE REI network:
- North
- Milan, Turin, Piacenza, Forlì, Modena and Ferrara
- Center
- Pisa, Ancona and Ascoli Piceno
- South and Islands
- Bari, Cagliari and Partanna
- 550+
- applications collected in previous editions
- 107
- business ideas supported
Want to turn your idea into a project?
You can take part even if you haven't yet defined your business idea. Bring your curiosity, a problem to solve or an intuition: the path will help you give it shape.
Access to the local workshops, the Demo Day and the final prize is subject to completing the different phases and the related selection processes.
Venues, speakers, participation procedures and details of the prize experience may be updated before the program begins.