IKIGAI

IKIGAI represents a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurial talent, providing crucial early-stage support through seed investments reaching €30,000, comprehensive acceleration programs, and an incubator officially certified by the Ministry of Economic Development and Made in Italy (MIMIT). The community has successfully nurtured more than 50 innovative startups that have collectively secured over €2.5 million in funding, demonstrating the effectiveness of IKIGAI's approach to startup development and investment strategy in the Italian innovation landscape.

Beyond pure financial backing, IKIGAI places significant emphasis on talent development, particularly focusing on young professionals under 36 years of age through specialized scholarship programs and personalized career guidance. The impressive network of over 110 IKIGAI Alumni stands testament to the program's effectiveness, with participants benefiting from more than €500,000 in educational and professional development support. This commitment to nurturing young talent creates a sustainable pipeline of innovative entrepreneurs ready to contribute to Italy's growing startup ecosystem.

The organization maintains a dynamic knowledge-sharing environment through regular workshops, expert-led events, competitive hackathons, and dedicated mentorship opportunities. These monthly activities extend beyond the startup community into educational institutions, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students and creating pathways for idea-to-project transformation. By bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application, IKIGAI has established itself as a key player in developing entrepreneurial capabilities across Tuscany and broader Italian regions.

Founded and developed by the prestigious Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena, IKIGAI operates through a strategic partnership model that includes financial backing from both the Foundation and Regione Toscana. The implementation is expertly managed by Pluriversum Srl and Sviluppo Toscana Spa, creating a public-private collaboration that maximizes resource efficiency and regional economic impact. This institutional framework provides IKIGAI with both the stability of established organizations and the agility needed to respond to the evolving needs of early-stage startups in Italy's competitive innovation ecosystem.