A fund for startups that work to improve the lives of the elderly
Next Age was born on the initiative of CDP Venture Capital together with AC75 Startup Accelerator, the startup accelerator promoted by the Marche Foundation together with the Cariverona Foundation and the Marche Polytechnic University, the international venture capital company SOSV, which manages startup development programs in phase initial, and sees the presence of Intesa Sanpaolo as main partner as well as the National Institute for Elderly Hospitalization and Care (INRCA) , the Polytechnic University of Marche and the UK National Innovation Center for Aging who will be scientific partners of the initiative. The program is part of a collaboration between CDP Venture Capital with the Marche Foundation and the Cariverona Foundation, which led to a total allocation of 8 million euros for the development of innovative startups and SMEs in the area.
With an initial endowment of 5.46 million, subscribed by the Accelerators Fund of CDP Venture Capital and by AC75 Startup Accelerator, Next Age aims to boost the growth of startups operating in the Silver Economy, a transversal sector that embraces innovative solutions for the emerging needs of the over 50 population [2] [2], from wellbeing to health, from new housing and welfare models to recreational activities, from mobility to tourism, up to dedicated financial and insurance services. In addition to an initial investment for the start-ups selected by the program, the endowment includes the capital for the subsequent post acceleration follow-ons for the startups with the highest growth potential.
Next Age is a three-year program that plans to select around 10 seed and pre-seed startups each year, which will have access to a structured path lasting 4 months with the support of the accelerator's partners, to be guided towards the validation of their business model.
“The boom that the Silver Economy is experiencing is linked not only to the demographic trend but also to new forms of welfare and assistance for the mature population. It is not just a matter of offering services to support the quality of life of the over 50s but of a real digital revolution and new technological tools at the service of people in all aspects of everyday life, in addition to the need for a new housing design that integrates elements of sociality, sustainability and safety with the advantages of telemedicine and Internet of Things applications to guarantee autonomy and relational well-being. " comments Francesca Bria, President of CDP Venture Capital, "For this reason we decided to invest in this acceleration program, the first in Europe, dedicated to startups created to meet the growing needs of this sector which has an estimated employment potential of 88 millions of people by 2025 at the European level. "
"Fondazione Marche, creating AC75 Startup Accelerator, has decided to invest now in the Silver Economy because the increase in the duration of life represents a formidable opportunity for social, economic and employment development, not yet fully perceived" comments Mario Pesaresi, Founder and CEO of AC75 Startup Accelerator, “In fact, to live longer and better, startups can make a unique contribution by bringing innovative solutions to the market that were unthinkable a few years ago. For the Marches, a particularly long-lived region, the project represents the opportunity to valorise at national and international level, successful skills acquired in the last 20 years, in the scientific field and investments in new entrepreneurial initiatives ".
"Our Group has always supported the constant development of new entrepreneurship both within its network of companies, with particular attention to startups, and through activities in synergy with institutions, incubators and all those realities committed to create value for the socio-economic fabric "explains Anna Roscio, Executive Director Sales & Marketing for Intesa Sanpaolo companies," Support for the startup ecosystem, especially in an area with great potential such as that of the Silver Economy, is becoming increasingly important for accelerate its growth and, at the same time, make the territory grow ".
The Next Age accelerator will be based in Ancona in the spaces of Palazzo Camerata, home of AC75 Startup Accelerator and can be followed by the participating startups in hybrid mode: physical and digital. The call for the selection of the first 10 startups that will participate in Next Age is open from today until May 31 on the website www.nextage.io, applications are aimed at Italian and international startups wishing to open a registered office in Italy.
