Since its inception, WMF - We Make Future, the International Trade Fair and Festival on Tech and Digital Innovation, has been valuing Italian and international startups and companies developing innovative projects or ideas in the technological and digital sectors. This approach continues within the AI*Festival, the event entirely dedicated to AI applications, organized by WMF - in partnership with CINECA, ESA, Intel, and Bocconi - at the Allianz MiCo in Milan.

The AI Festival also brings together professionals, companies, startups, and stakeholders to discuss and delve into the revolution brought about by AI not only in daily life but also in political, social, and work environments, through training on the subject, B2B meetings, as well as presentations of tools and software and networking among companies, research centers, startups, investors, and institutions.

In these contexts, particular attention is paid to all projects based on various applications of Artificial Intelligence, capable of generating a positive impact on society.

From these premises comes the Call for Startups AI for Future, the competition entirely dedicated to AI applications in different sectors and industries that define the present and future of Artificial Intelligence. The selected innovative entrepreneurial projects will have the opportunity to participate in the final phase of the competition, which will take place from June 13th to 15th, 2024, at the WMF, at BolognaFiere, in the same area as the Technopole district, the heart of the Data Valley. It will be an important opportunity to connect with a network of investors, companies, startups, stakeholders, and industry players through B2B meetings, networking activities, and business matching in a context with strong development potential for Italy and Europe.

Startups have the opportunity to gain visibility and showcase their projects within the innovative ecosystem of WMF by participating in the international call for innovative projects dedicated to the world of AI. Selected startups will present to an audience comprising major players in the digital sector, investors, and experts in entrepreneurship and innovation who may decide to support the realization and growth of the business idea.

Selected startups will also have the opportunity to access:

• to other WMF and AI Festival initiatives including B2B meetings with international investors;

• to the WMF's Startup District, the exhibition area dedicated to startups from around the world;

• to the WMF's International Roadshow, the international project that accompanies the best Italian startups abroad within the main industry events.

• to the WMF's global network with possible involvement in related initiatives in the Italian territory and beyond.

By participating in the AI for Future 2024 startup call, you will have the opportunity to co-design the impact of artificial intelligence alongside a vast global community of innovators. Apply now and share our commitment to ethical, sustainable, inclusive, and impactful innovation.

The selected top startups will have access to WMF and will be able to present their projects during the event, in front of the jury and the audience present both in the venue and online.

Each startup will have 3 minutes to present the key elements of their idea. The jury will then have an additional 2 minutes to ask follow-up questions. At the end, both the jury and the audience will vote to determine the two winners, one chosen by the jury and one by the audience.

Read the instructions

The call is dedicated to startups and companies - composed of individuals or in teams - with innovative projects or ideas in the technology and digital sector, whose core business is Artificial Intelligence. In addition, special interest is given to those innovative projects aimed at generating a positive impact on territories and society. Candidate projects are selected based on the following criteria:

• Competence of the team, knowledge of the field, the feasibility of the project;

• Stage of product/service development;

• Degree of innovation and defensibility of the same;

• Competitive environment and positioning;

• Responsiveness to and size of market and customer needs;

• Business potential of the idea;

• Completeness of the documentation submitted

The elevator pitch is the heart of the Competition. It is a short presentation that encapsulates the key elements of a business idea, designed to attract possible investors or promote a business idea.