By Martin Olczyk, Managing Director of Techstars Transformative World Torino

We are thrilled to announce the 6th class of Techstars Transformative World Torino! Over the past five years, we have built one of Europe’s leading accelerators, supporting over 100 founders whose companies have collectively raised more than $120 million. Our average Net Promoter Score (NPS) stands at 95, reflecting our immense value to founders. Our commitment to fostering innovation has never been stronger.

This year, we continue our tradition of bringing together exceptional startups from across the globe. We welcome companies from Montenegro, Slovakia, the UK, Hungary, Portugal, and once again, six startups from Italy - a true testament to the country’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. When we launched in 2020, annual investments in Italian startups totalled €500 million, compared to €1.5 billion today - a threefold increase that underscores the ecosystem's impressive growth.

When we started preparations for the 2020 program and moved into OGR Torino, it was an empty former train repair station. Today, it has transformed into a thriving community of startups, corporates, investors, and more than 14 incubators & accelerators, playing a crucial role in shaping the Italian and European innovation landscape.

Our program remains a hub for cutting-edge technology across multiple industries, from AI and Quantum Computing to EdTech, Deep Tech, and HRTech. This year, we are expanding our focus further, welcoming startups in Augmented Reality, Sustainability, AgTech, Retail-Tech, E-Commerce, and Developer Tools.

We have grown our industry verticals and the number of founders and expanded our team to support them better. From an initial two-person team, we have now grown to five full-time team members dedicated to serving founders. With Sheila (Program Manager), Virginia (Investment Analyst), and Nicola and Emanuele (Growth Associates), our founders receive unmatched support throughout the year.

Our accelerator continues to evolve, ensuring founders receive world-class mentorship, access to top-tier investors, and the resources needed to scale their businesses globally.

Some key highlights from our journey include:

• Invested in 50+ companies across 5 programs, now adding 12 more

• $120M+ raised in follow-on funding 

• Over 500 mentors and investors engaged in our network

• Startups from 20+ countries have participated in our accelerator

• 500+ jobs created post-program

• 86% of our companies secured additional funding

• 89% of our startups are still active or have been acquired

• Four acquisitions and two alumni companies have acquired others.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT, and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in shaping Torino into a dynamic innovation hub. Their contributions have helped the city earn the “European Capital of Innovation 2024/2025” title, awarded by the European Commission, celebrated for its comprehensive approach to experimentation and transformation. Their commitment underscores the impact of our accelerator on Italy’s startup landscape.

As we embark on this new chapter, we look forward to empowering another generation of visionary founders. Join us in welcoming the Class of 2025 and celebrating the future of innovation in Italy and beyond!

AlterEcho (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Embedded robotics in highly controlled manufacturing spaces.

Arbor Insights (Bolzano, Italy)

End-to-end agriculture robotic technology.

Axem (Budapest, Hungary)

Next frontier in embedded software development.

BettaKnit (Prato, Italy)

A community-based approach for DIY sustainable knitting.

frnt (London, UK)

Optimising retail operations with AI-powered digital workers.

Granter.ai (Lisbon, Portugal)

World’s first AI agent for grants.

Lemons in the room (Florence, Italy)

The future of palliative care.

Litlyx (Rome, Italy)

Open-source web analytics platform.

MateriaIntel (Rome, Italy)

AI-driven market intelligence platform for border carbon adjustments.

Recrewty (Podgorica, Montenegro)

Enhancing hiring operations with tailored psychometric testing.

spacebrains (Bratislava, Slovakia)

Bringing STEM talent to industrial innovators.

Vocations (Novara, Italy)

AI-powered matchmaking platform for headhunters.

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