They work on future challenges such as renewable energies, decarbonization, sustainable mobility, agri-tech, without losing sight of services directed towards families, access to care for the elderly, and even training for refugees. They are the most innovative minds in the Mediterranean who have landed in Palermo for the semi-final of the World Cup of startups.
At the competition organized by Pegasus Tech Venture, 27 startups participated, 14 Italian and 13 from Mediterranean countries, selected from hundreds that presented their ambitious projects to an audience of over 30 investors with a portfolio of about 8.8 billion dollars. The victory went to the Turin startup Eoliann with a project in the climate-tech sector; it will represent the Mediterranean at the final in California, in Silicon Valley, where a prize of 1 million dollars is at stake.
The company triumphed with a platform that uses artificial intelligence and satellite data to quantify climate risks and disasters such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, fires, and earthquakes. As Roberto Carnicelli, one of the founders of Eoliann, explains: “We have created software through which the customer can predict and assess risks.”
Among the most innovative projects presented in Palermo is also that of Alessandro Monticelli, founder of Green Independence and creator of cutting-edge technology in the energy sector. “It is a multifunctional photovoltaic panel that, just like a leaf, can store solar energy and transform wastewater or seawater into green hydrogen. For this first phase, a capital of 1.5 million euros has been used. We aim to raise another five million for the next phase,” says Monticelli.
Zeid Sinokrot, a Jordanian, founder and CEO of Palmear, presented a project in the agriculture sector: a sensor placed on palms and other plants signals any insects that can infect and make them sick. “Palmear is based on a highly sensitive and innovative acoustic technology that, combined with artificial intelligence, allows users to listen to the inside of trees and to identify invasive pests in real time when they are young larvae, allowing for early and targeted interventions,” explains Sinokrot.
The future for Cristina Lucera, CEO of parentsmile.com, instead focuses on the psycho-physical well-being of individuals within the family. “We have brought together in a single digital hub a series of services for families in all stages of each member’s life.” Also in the services sector, Rocco Ciracì from Bari has devised FlorenceCare, an intuitive platform that provides immediate access to home health services for the elderly and vulnerable groups.
“The idea,” he explains, “came from my own need. I started taking care of my mother and grandmother from a distance while I was away for work and they lived alone in Puglia. When I returned to Italy, I realized that a service like this was necessary.” Among the excellences are also two startups from Palermo: the first is called Muv and addresses the topic of sustainable mobility, the other is Develop Hope, a school that trains software programmers remotely. Domenico Squillaci, one of the founders of Muv, explains: “To change habits, we have thought of a sort of game: the more you walk or use public transport, the more prizes you win.”
And Alessandro Balsamo, from Develop Hope, explains: “we train young people from 18 to 25 years old and then we help them find a job. We are also remotely training 25 foreign youngsters currently refugees in Uganda”.
I progetti del futuro tra innovazione e intelligenza artificiale, tante start up in gara a Palermo
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