Italian accelerator programme HabiSmart launched its inaugural cycle this week (28 November) with nine proptech and smart building start-ups on board.
The first cycle in the three-year, €5.75m programme, which is managed by leading Italian accelerator Digital Magics and US operator MassChallenge, is being hosted at the headquarters of leading Italian real estate group COIMA (pictured) at its Porta Nuova scheme in Milan.
COIMA is one of four co-investors and promoters alongside Qatar Investment Authority, Ariston Group and Novacapital and the nine start-ups will be able to use its Porta Nuova district as a testbed for their prototypes.
The nine, which are all proptech or smart building oriented, include: Allo, which has developed a software solution called HomieTM that allows companies to develop smart energy services for customers; Houseplus, which develops predictive analytics software; Domethics, which designs and manufactures IoT products and services for the smart home sector; and Newarc, which uses a sophisticated AI-based algorithm to simplify and improve the way people buy and sell homes.
HabiSmart launched in June and the final nine were selected from 94 applications in early November. Each start-up will benefit from an initial investment of €115,000 as well as business support, and those deemed most promising will receive a further €300,000 at the end of the four-month cycle. Of the 94 initial applicants, 38% were from overseas and two of these made it to the final nine.
The accelerator is part of the CDP National Accelerators Network, which helps young companies specialising in high-potential markets to grow.
“It’s interesting for COIMA, but it’s even more important for the startups, who can validate their solutions on the ground,” said Stefano Molino, senior partner at CDP Venture Capital SGR.
