Start-Up Area

• To offer emerging entrepreneurial ventures access to a prestigious national and international stage — a space where they can exchange ideas and build connections: the ideal environment where tradition meets innovation.
• To create meaningful opportunities for networking between established companies attending the event and Start-Ups, whose innovative mindset can drive product and/or service innovation.
• To strengthen the recognition of Italy’s innovation ecosystem as a key player in product development for the sector, both nationally and internationally.

The initiative is addressed to start-ups and innovative SMEs registered in the special section of the Companies Register (pursuant to Law No. 221 of December 18, 2012) that satisfy the following requirements:

• development of technologies and solutions in line with the themes of Beer&Food Attraction and BBTech expo, in the field of craft beer and industrial beer; beverages/mixology; food, pizza, and ethnic products; foodservice technologies and equipment; equipment, systems, and raw materials for the production of beer and beverages;
• having completed at least one seed round or actively operating in the B2B market with a client portfolio;
• have a website.

Selected start-ups and innovative SMEs may participate upon payment of an administrative fee of €650 + VAT.  

Please note: Admission and scheduling of start-ups will be handled at the discretion of the project management, organized by IEG in collaboration with its partners, based on the stated requirements and space availability.

Start-ups that meet the aforementioned requirements may submit their expression of interest no later than the deadline indicated below. This should be done by filling out the application form and providing consent for the processing of the data contained in the expression of interest.

Expressions of interest must be submitted no later than 21 November 2025, in accordance with the procedure outlined above.

Following the completion of formal checks on the applications by Italian Exhibition Group and the obtaining of the qualitative assessments from the evaluation committee, the start-ups that will have access to the area will be selected in agreement with ANGI.

Following the selection process, all applicants will receive notification by 23 December 2025, at the email address provided when submitting their expression of interest, as to whether or not they have been selected for the initiative in question.

Within two working days of receiving the aforementioned email, the selected applicants must notify Italian Exhibition Group of their definitive acceptance or withdrawal.

In the event of definitive acceptance, they must submit the acceptance form and information sheet about the start-up.

In the event of withdrawal by one or more of the selected applicants, Italian Exhibition Group, in agreement with ANGI, may proceed to select additional suitable applicants according to the ranking list.

The applications received that meet the requirements set out in the previous point will be assessed by a committee, assigning a score for each of the following elements:

• innovative content of the product or service (1-10)
• collaborations and partnerships (1-5)
• product or service already industrialised and ready for the market (1-10)
• coherence with the sectors of Beer&Food Attraction (1-10)

Without prejudice to the fulfilment of the above requirements, only the first 20 Start-Ups that obtain the highest score based on the assessment carried out according to the criteria indicated in this expression of interest will be selected.

Selected Start-Ups will be able to enter the project and compete for the Start-up prize upon payment of the registration fee of €650 + VAT.

The Start-up area will be set up with an exhibition project designed to enhance interaction with the public and generate business opportunities.

The services offered are:

• participation in the event, both physical and digital;
• entry in the event catalogue;
• visibility in a dedicated web page on the website;
• desk in the Start-Up area complete with stool and graphics;
• access to the Business Meeting platform to book one-to-one meetings;
• 1 complimentary outdoor parking card;
• 4 complimentary accreditation for stand staff;
• 20 complimentary daily invitation tickets;
• info point for reception and to provide information on the Start-Ups present in the area;
• media coverage and national and international promotion services.

Not included are out-of-pocket expenses (travel, accommodation, transport, etc.), which shall be borne by the participants.