The prizes
Discover all the prizes for the best business ideas and projects competing in Start Cup Piemonte Valle d'Aosta 2026!
For the Ideas Competition
The best business Ideas will receive prizes in services: free-of-charge support and consulting activities aimed at the Business Plan’s development and / or competition, provided by the organizing incubators through experts.
By selecting the corresponding preference during the Business Idea registration (Stage I), the entrepreneurial team will have the possibility to make use of the following free-of-charge services:
a) access to technical and immersive workshops dedicated to climate neutrality and Turin's urban mobility policies, aimed at illustrating the relevant reference policies, challenges, and assets of the local ecosystem. Participants shall have the opportunity to explore the context alongside the key local stakeholders — specifically the City of Turin and 5T — with the technical and scientific support of Politecnico di Torino, including the possibility of visiting dedicated laboratories. These services are provided within the framework of the City of Turin’s open innovation projects, namely Living Lab ToMove and CTE NEXT 2.0;
b) guidance and support services provided by experts from Invitalia, Official Partner of the Italian National Innovation Award (“Premio Nazionale dell’Innovazione”), aimed at assisting applicants in submitting applications for business creation incentives.
For the Business Plan Competition
Cash prizes are awarded to the best business projects, in accordance with Article 11 of the official rules of the initiative. The award ceremony will be carried out by the Promoter Committee by November 2026. Thanks to the endowment made available by the Promoting Institutions and Supporters of the XXII edition of the competition, over €60,000 of prize money will be provided in cash and in services:
Absolute prizes
€7,500
€5,000
€2,500
of €10,000 for the best entrepreneurial project setting up a business in the Italian Province of Cuneo, sponsored by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo (Fondazione CRC) and awarded as outlined in the Article 11.2 of the competition Rules.
of €7,500 for the best business project that establishes the company in the Pépinières d'Entreprises of Aosta or Pont-Saint-Martin, sponsored by Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta and awarded as outlined in the Article 11.3 of the competition Rules.
worth €7,500 aggregate, awarded to the best entrepreneurial projects, chosen according to merit-based principles (up to 2 winning teams) proposing innovative products or services based on sustainability technologies, sponsored by LINKS Foundation and awarded as redeemable credit for technical services delivered by LINKS personnel, as outlined in the Article 11.4 of the competition Rules.
in services, awarded to the three best entrepreneurial projects on climate neutrality and smart, sustainable urban mobility, provided within the framework of City of Turin's projects Living Lab ToMove and CTE NEXT 2.0, awarded as outlined in the Article 11.5 of the competition Rules.
worth €10,000 in services for the best innovative entrepreneurial project considering the theme of Cleantech & Energy that proposes innovative products or services aimed at reducing environmental impact, improving energy efficiency, and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. The award is provided by Ame Ventures Srl (based in Milan, Italy) and awarded in consultancy and support services - encompassing pitching, governance, articles of association, shareholders' agreements, business plan, and introductions to investors - as outlined in the Article 11.6 of the competition Rules. Furthermore, the winner will have the opportunity to receive dedicated support to address the next stages of fundraising and may be evaluated by Ame Ventures for possible investment.
Participation to PNI 2026
The first 6 projects of the final ranking will gain access to the Italian National Innovation Award (PNI). The registration fee of €1,000 per project is paid to the PNI by the organizers of Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta. Travel and accommodation expenses are charged to the participating teams.
The 2026 edition of the PNI will take place in Bari, Italy on December 3 and 4, organized by PNICube.
PNI, the Italian National Award for Innovation which awards cash prizes, is the "Champions Cup" of the winning business projects of the regional Start Cups and is promoted by PNICube, the Italian Association of Incubators and Business Plan Competitions.
The regional Start Cups cover almost the entire Italian territory and involve more than 50 universities and incubators.
Special Mentions (cross-category)
for the best female-led business Project with a majority female team (over 50%).
for the best social innovation project proposing innovative solutions in one of the fields envisaged by Article 2, comma 1, of the Italian Legislative Decree 155/2006 on social enterprise.
for the best project regarding innovative products and/or services deriving from a joint research activity between a company and a Piedmont University.
for the best business project regarding climate change, capable of integrating innovation, technology, protection, and enhancement of natural resources in order to create economic growth and environmental protection.
