Smart and Start

Smart & Start Italy provides zero-interest loans to innovative startups without guarantees, covering 80-90% of eligible expenses between €100,000 and €1.5 million for capital goods, services, personnel, and operating costs. The program increases funding to 90% for startups composed entirely of women and/or individuals under 36, or those including a member with an Italian PhD or equivalent qualification. This is a key national incentive measure supporting early-stage innovation in Italy.

Probably the most important measure, because it allows innovative start-ups to obtain a zero-interest loan, without any guarantee, to cover 80% of eligible expenses between € 100,000 and € 1.5 million, for the purchase of capital goods, services, personnel expenses and business operating costs.

This percentage can rise to 90% if the start-up:

is made up entirely of women and/or young people under 36;
or if among the members there is an expert with the title of Italian PhD (or equivalent), who works abroad and wants to return to Italy.
Furthermore, start-ups based in the Regions Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily and in the seismic crater of Central Italy, can enjoy a non-repayable grant equal to 30% of the loan and thus return only 70% of the funding received.

To find out more, read the full article on our website.
To submit your application for admission to the call immediately, click here.
Call deadline: until resources are exhausted.