

Personae is the welfare accelerator of the CDP National Network, which came about as an initiative of CDP Venture Capital SGR and was set up together with SocialFare | Italian Centre for Social Innovation and a|cube.
Personae aims to be an innovative and effective response to social vulnerability: an accelerator of ideas and solutions that, in line with the global and national sustainable development strategy, is designed to not leave anyone behind and leverage innovation to make transformative and scalable models potentially able to change the welfare system nationwide.
Accelerating Welfare in Italy
The acceleration programme was created to support the growth of a new generation of start-ups engaged in developing innovative services, models or products in the welfare field.
Personae is meant to be an effective response to social vulnerability: an accelerator of scalable and transformative solutions and models capable of changing the welfare system nationally and internationally.
The programme offers selected teams an investment of 100K€ as part of an acceleration and specialised advisory programme.
100k€
Initial investment for each selected startup + possible follow-on 200-300k€
4 months
Intensive acceleration and
expert advisory services
The Call for Startups
The Call to participate in the second edition of the acceleration programme is open from 5 July to 8 October.
5 July 2023
Application opening
8 Oct 2023
Application deadline
Oct-Dec 2023
Startups Selection
Feb-June 2024
Acceleration programme
June 2024
Demo Day
from July 2024
Follow on
July 2023
Application opening
8 Oct 2023
Application deadline
Oct-Dec 2023
Startups Selection
Feb-June 2024
Acceleration programme
June 2024
Demo Day
from July 2024
Follow on
How to apply
- Download the Call for applications and guidelines
- Register on the platform
- Apply until 8 October 2023
What we are looking for
We are looking for established or budding start-ups with a product or service already market-tested that responds in an innovative way to the most current and relevant welfare challenges in Italy.
The solution must have characteristics of accessibility, customisation, flexibility, inclusion, innovation and be in one of the following areas:
Individual well-being
+
- Mind and body wellness
- Accessibility to culture and leisure
- Safety of the person
- Fight against inequalities
- Healthy lifestyles and nutrition
- Digital well-being and use of data
Workplace well-being
+
- Work-life balance
- Job guidance and search
- Employment and labour inclusion
- Safety and quality of work
- Remote working and digital nomadism
Family and community well-being
+
- Parenting and child support
- Family conflict management
- Housing services
- Prevention of non-self-sufficiency
- Home automation for care and welfare monitoring
- Access and digitalisation of services for citizenship
Economic well-being
+
- Supplementary pension schemes
- Financial education
- Savings management
- New consumption behaviour
- Sharing economy and proximity services
- Financial instruments for welfare
What we offer
The acceleration programme includes theoretical-practical training modules on a weekly basis interspersed with one-on-one appointments for each start-up, with sprint reviews on objectives every 15 days.
The methodology combines different approaches: Lean startup, Agile management (SCRUM), systemic design and design thinking – a human-centred approach.
100k€
initial investment (cash) in exchange for a variable equity percentage
4 months
intensive acceleration
200-300K€
follow-on for the best accelerated teams
matching and networking
with corporate and open innovation companies as well as national and international investors
mentorship and advisory
in collaboration with our multidisciplinary network of experts
tutorship
weekly for each start-up by the acceleration team
+ 4 months of intensive acceleration;
+ 100k€ initial investment (cash) in exchange for a variable equity percentage;
+ 200-300k€ follow-on per i migliori team accelerati;
+ matching and networking with corporate and open innovation companies as well as national and international investors;
+ mentorship and advisory in collaboration with our multidisciplinary network of experts;
+ tutorship weekly for each start-up by the acceleration team.
Where and how
The acceleration programme will alternate between online and offline sessions, the latter in the offices of SocialFare in Turin and a|cube in Milan.
The official language of the programme is Italian, but it will be delivered in English upon specific request.