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 program closed on Sunday 8 October 2023.

5 July 2023

Application opening

8 Oct 2023

Application deadline

Oct 2023-Jan 2024

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 2023-Jan 2024

Startups Selection

Feb-June 2024

Acceleration programme

June 2024

Demo Day

from July 2024

Follow on

How to apply

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

This refers to the capacity of the individual to make the most of his or her physical, cognitive or emotional capacities at every stage of life and with his or her diversity. Comprises all the solutions that can meet the daily needs of everyday life, including aspects of assistance, safety and wellbeing.
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We are looking for startups with solutions that respond to social issues:

  • 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

This refers to job satisfaction and work-life balance and includes all the solutions made available by companies and employees, in order to encourage access of secure, flexible and inclusive ways of working.
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We are looking for startups with solutions that respond to social issues:

  • 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

This refers to the quality of family and neighbourhood relations and includes all solutions that provide support in managing different social roles, in caring for vulnerable family members, in conflict management, in the prevention of illness and non-self-sufficiency.
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We are looking for startups with solutions that respond to social issues:

  • 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

This refers to income capacity and the availability of economic resources as a means by which an individual is able to have and sustain a certain standard of living now and in the future. It includes the correct management of tangible and intangible resources for the individual, family and community.
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We are looking for startups with solutions that respond to social issues:

  • 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.

Contact us

For any information please do not hesitate to contact our team at: info@personae-accelerator.com

For any information please do not hesitate to contact our team at: info@personae-accelerator.com