The best Mediterranean investor-startup event
"Mediterranean Innovation, Global Impact"
Welcome to the Mediterranean Startup World Cup, where innovation meets opportunity.
On October 11, 2024, in Palermo, Italy, we’re bringing together the brightest minds and the most ambitious startups from across the Mediterranean to connect with world-class investors and corporates.
For the semifinal of the world’s largest pitch competition: the Startup World Cup organized by Pegasus Venture and held in San Francisco Oct 2025.
This is your chance to be part of an event that will shape the future of innovation in Mediterranean region. Whether you’re a startup looking to scale or an investor seeking the next big breakthrough, this event is designed to provide unparalleled opportunities.
Gain access to over 30 international investors managing a combined $2.3 billion. This is your moment to secure the funding that can take your startup to new heights.
The winning startup will represent the Mediterranean at the Startup World Cup 2025 in Silicon Valley, with a chance to win a $1 million investment.
Connect with key players in the startup ecosystem, from successful entrepreneurs to experienced mentors, who can provide valuable insights and support.
Showcase your innovation on an international platform, attracting media attention and potential partners from across the globe.
Benefit from the expertise of seasoned investors and industry experts who will provide constructive feedback on your pitch and business model.
The top three startups will also gain access to the ITU Seed Acceleration Program, a fully online program hosted by Istanbul Technical University and ITU ARI Teknokent’s incubation center.
In addition, these startups will be part of the Startup District at WMF 2025 in Bologna, Italy. They’ll participate in exclusive B2B meetings, pitch on the Startup Stage.
Application Deadline: 13th September 2024
Selected Startups Announced: 20th September 2024
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be at the heart of Mediterranean innovation. Apply now and be part of a movement that’s shaping the future of the startup world.
Engage with 22 carefully selected startups from around 20 Mediterranean countries, each with unique solutions ready to disrupt the market.
Meet and network with other top-tier investors, industry leaders, and corporate executives, fostering partnerships that can drive innovation.
Identify startups that align with your investment goals or strategic interests, providing opportunities for early-stage investments or partnerships.
Gain insights into the latest innovations and trends emerging from the Mediterranean startup scene, ensuring you’re at the forefront of industry developments.
Play a key role in fostering the growth of the Mediterranean startup ecosystem, driving economic development and innovation in the region.
The Mediterranean Startup World Cup is THE event for startups ready to make waves in the Mediterranean and beyond. Hosted for the first time in Southern Italy, this event is a key semifinal in the Startup World Cup, the world’s largest pitch competition organized by Pegasus Venture.
This year, we’re bringing together 22 of the most innovative startups from 20 Mediterranean countries to pitch in front of top investors, corporate giants, and a global audience. The winner? They’ll be heading to Silicon Valley for the chance to win a $1 million investment. 🌟
The Mediterranean semifinal is just one of the many happening worldwide. Here are some of the other global hotspots:
Meet the global visionaries shaping the future of innovation. Our lineup includes some of the biggest names in the startup world:
GP @ Everywhere (NY) & ex-MD @TechStars ($10B portfolio)
Jenny Fielding is a co founder and Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures, having invested in 300+ pre-seed startups and building a community of 500+ founders and operators. Previously, she spent 7.5 years as Managing Director of Techstars, where her portfolio now exceeds a $10B market cap. Jenny is also a 2x founder, lawyer, and adjunct professor at Columbia University and Cornell Tech.
MP & Cofounder @Smart Society Ventures (Climate and Energy Tech VC)
Kennedy is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Smart Society Ventures. SSV focuses climate and energy tech investments across the UK, Europe and US from Series A to C. Kennedy previously founded and led UK-based software scaleup, Topia, from an idea during business school to global operations raising $100M+ in VC funding. Kennedy is also a former US politician, investment banker and private equity investor. She is based in Switzerland.
GP @Coelius Capital ($210M AUM), most followed investor on Angellt
Zach Coelius is a five time entrepreneur and early stage technology investor. He has invested $100m in over 80 young companies including Cruise Automation (bought by GM for $1B+), Branch Metrics, mParticle, Booksy, Mud Water, Hellosign (bought by DropBox), Apprente (bought by McDonalds) and Mercury.
8 startups, 4 exits, 1 IPO, Former VC in 100+ deals
Mike Sigal, founder of Sigal Ventures, assists startup founders, corporate executives, and fund managers in optimizing performance. He serves as a Venture Partner for GPO Fund, MiddleGame Ventures, Niches, Pella Ventures, and Revolution DAO, and advises Unbounded Capital. With over 35 years of experience, including founding 500 Startups Fintech Fund and leading four successful exits, Sigal now resides in Portugal.
GP @Jabroni Capital (NY based)
Jack Kuveke is a serial entrepreneur and founder of the satire newsletter Jabroni Capital. He has raised millions for startups, including a $53M ICO, and helped early-stage founders secure $120M. Jack now splits his time writing about the tech/VC ecosystem and consulting founders on fundraising.
Chairman @Primo Ventures (+$400M AUM)
Gianluca Dettori is the founder and president of Primo Ventures SGR, managing €438 million across funds in digital, healthcare, climate, and space sectors. A pioneer in Italy's tech scene, he co-founded Vitaminic, bringing it to the stock exchange, and has supported over 20 tech companies as an angel investor. Dettori also founded dpixel srl, writes on tech and VC for major publications, and is a councilman of the Italian Tech Alliance.
Director @Orbit Startups ($240M), most prolific early stage investor
Aditya leads Orbit Startups in India and the MENA region and has over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship and innovation. He has previously worked as an Innovation Consultant for Abu Dhabi's Anjal Z program and led Ecosystem & Growth initiatives at Chiratae Ventures. Aditya has advised top firms like Shell, Google, and Amazon AWS on startup initiatives across various sectors, including Energy, FinTech, and Health tech.
GP @Middlegame Ventures (+$100M), NY based
Pascal Bouvier is a venture capital investor specialized in fintech and adjacents. He is the founder and managing partner of MiddleGame Ventures. Pascal is based out of Luxembourg and invests across Europe in early stage startups that build embedded intelligence across the European economy, across infrastructure plays and b2b business models that enable smart assets, smart transactions and smart agents. Pascal has over 15 years of experience investing in venture capital. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds an MBA from the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia.
GP @Ford Street Ventures, Silicon Valley based, investor in 7 Unicorns
Investor & Advisor at Ford Street Ventures
Journalist & Founder @Startupbusiness
Emil Abirascid, journalist, founder and editor-in-chief of Startupbusiness, the first magazine on the Italian startup and innovation ecosystem. Co-founder of Designtech, the innovation hub that brings the world of design and technology closer together. Advisor to Austrian Business Agency, Emil Banca, Fondazione Symbola, Fondazione Quadrans. He regularly participates in meetings, conventions, and conferences dedicated to the innovation ecosystem. He was co-organiser of the Italian Innovation Day and Series held from 2016 to 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Canberra in Australia and Singapore and co-organiser of the Italy India Innovation Day of AIICP 2021 and 2022.
GP @Sunny Side Venture, first Japanese fund in Africa
Sadaharu Saiki, Founder & GP at Sunny Side Venture Partners, is focused on investing in startups with high ambitions across Africa and the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on North Africa. Based in Cairo, he has invested in nearly 20 companies and brings experience from Dentsu Inc. and McKinsey & Company. Sadaharu holds a Bachelor from Kyoto University and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.
VP @Pella Ventures & XZP, Ceo @Nomadic Minds
Francesco Cracolici is the CEO of Nomadic Minds, an organization that bridges Silicon Valley with global ecosystems through mentorship, investment, and innovation. With extensive experience in connecting startups to global investors and corporate partners, Francesco is a key player in fostering international startup growth, especially in the Mediterranean region. "Palermitano" and nominated Best Investor UNDER 30 in 2023, in his career he invested, as a private or syndicate lead, in 30+ startups, managed +30 accelerator cohorts, and established 4 angel clubs in 4 different countries. Linkedin
Founder of Ascend Angels & NonPublic.io
Milan is the CEO of NonPublic.io, a platform enhancing access, transparency, and liquidity in private markets. A serial entrepreneur, he founded Postr, which was acquired by Play2Pay, and served as CEO of iVS.tv, later acquired by Showheroes Group. Milan has raised over $60M for startups and founded Southeast Asia's largest angel club, Ascend Angels, and early-stage fund, Orvel VC.
Founder & GP @TenNine VC
Founder at TenNine VC. Investing early in planet positive tech in EU, UK, US and Australia. Running TenNine Syndicate and venture advisory TenNine PRO. Venture Partner at several global funds, based out of Amsterdam. PhD in Engineering, MBA from Stanford.
Founder @Venture Studio Family
Max Pog is a 4x entrepreneur and author of the Big Startup Studios Research 2023. Host of the 7 Venture Studio, VC & Family Office online conferences & founder of the Venture Studio Family community. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/maxpog, Youtube: youtube.com/@pogmax, Twitter: x.com/maxpogu
GP @Den Venture Capital, investor in 2 Mediterranean Unicorns
Waleed Khalil is the founder of DEN VC, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on deep tech startups in Africa and the Middle East. With over two decades of experience in consumer electronics manufacturing across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Egypt, Waleed previously served as a partner at Endure Capital, where he contributed to the emergence of four unicorns. He holds a degree in electronics engineering and an MBA in finance, and is a professor at the American University in Cairo.
CEO & Co-Founder at ShareDocView
Vincenzo "Vince" Belpiede is a tech entrepreneur focused on building affordable SaaS products for sales and marketing professionals through his SaaS Venture Studio. His projects include ShareDocView.com, Calendbook.com, Salesforza.com, and OneTouchPaste.com. Vince has over seven years of experience as a product manager at Nokia and Microsoft, where he helped launch products that reached over 50 million consumers. He holds a dual MSc in International Management from the Helsinki School of Economics and Bocconi University. B2B SaaS Venture Builder - VincenzoBelpiede.com
Telegraph Hill ( Silicon valley based $80m fund) CEO @Impulse4Women
Taryn Andersen is the CEO and co-founder of Impulse4Women.org, a nonprofit aimed at increasing investment in female-led tech entrepreneurs through a matchmaking platform. She is also the Investor Relations Director at THCAP Venture Capital, investing in Digital Health, EdTech, FinTech, and cybersecurity. Taryn serves as a Jury Member at the EIC Acceleration Funding Instrument and as a Facilitator at the EIC Women Leadership Programme.
SE Europe General Partner @Keiretsu Forum ($1.1B, Singapore Based)
Ardian is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of experience across various industries, including jewelry and telecommunications. He is the founder of successful ventures like Green and Protein, which is expanding into multiple European markets, and is the Chapter President of Keiretsu Forum Southeast Europe, connecting investors across nine countries. Ardian holds an Executive MBA from IEDC – Bled School of Management, and has received notable awards such as the UNICREDIT Alumni Achievement Award. In January 2023, he was appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia for Kosovo.
GP @Pella
Anastasios Avranas is a finance professional with extensive experience in entrepreneurship and innovation across multiple industries, including banking, insurance, healthcare, logistics, technology, and smart cities. He has provided valuable mentorship and advisory support to startups and major international organizations, with notable achievements such as being recognized in Astron’s top 10 cases and advising on programs like EBRD Star Venture and PMI's Pella Challenge. Passionate about leveraging technology for social good, Anastasios is involved in projects like Project Dignity and Civyla and actively supports aspiring entrepreneurs as a mentor and angel investor.
Exceptional Capital, $50M, Silicon Valley based fund
Melissa Morano Aurigemma is Chief of Staff at Exceptional Capital where she leads operations, investor relations and portfolio support. In her prior work as a communications consultant and strategist she managed the implementation and scaling of operational frameworks to enhance organizational effectiveness. She leverages her extensive academic work in philosophy and digital ethics, along with her previous work as a legal analyst to provide a holistic approach to start up growth and founder support.
Growth Investor @Speedinvest, $1.2bn+, Europe and Growth Markets
Varun Rekhi is an Investor on the Speedinvest Growth Fund, focusing on Series A+ opportunities across Europe, MENAP and Sub-saharan Africa. Previously, he was an investor at Mubadala Capital in London, focusing on growth opportunities in Europe. Varun began his career with the JP Morgan Investment Banking team in Singapore followed by Co-founding PwCs Capital Markets Advisory arm in New York, where he worked on some of the largest sponsor-backed IPOs, including European giants such as UiPath. He is based in London and holds a Bachelors from New York University and an MBA from London Business School.
CEO & GP at Uncovered Fund Inc.
Takuma is CEO & general partner of UNCOVERED FUND. He founded the company in 2019 and started investing in Africa with the first fund in 2020. In the past 3 years, we have supported 29 startup companies in Africa. We will collaborate with African startups and major Japanese companies to contribute to the growth of the digital economy.
Investment Manager at Techstars
Ahmed is a tech entrepreneur turned VC with 15+ years of experience. He was a key player at Wuzzuf.com, scaling the business from seed to series B and building one of MENA’s top B2B sales teams. Currently, he’s an Investment Manager at Techstars, managing investments across MENA. Previously with 500 Global, Ahmed has worked with hundreds of founders, focusing on helping startups scale and succeed in competitive markets.
CEO @Entrepreneur Endeavors
A seasoned Angel investor and senior financial advisor with over 25 years of international experience, I specialize in orchestrating high-value transactions across diverse industries and global markets. My expertise spans from acquiring companies for leading Telecom operators to facilitating sales to corporates and private equity firms, delivering remarkable results for clients across the Benelux, Middle East, US, and Asia.
Founder @Gaingels
General Partner at Gaingels, most prolific fund on the planet, 2300 startups investment in 6 years
LaunchBay ($300m London base fund) and first cheque in Revolut
Founding Partner at Avestu Capital
Verena holds degrees in International Relations and PPE and has a background in Sustainable Finance. As Director Middle East for Innovation, Tech & Social Impact at Observer Research Foundation Middle East, she drives research along the intersection of Tech, Innovation and Social Impact with a view to the Global South. A Founding Partner at Avestu Capital and Mandatory Ventures, she advises HNWIs, FOs, VCs, and corporates. She developed the enhanced Delphi-based Scenario Analysis and Ethics Scorecard methodologies. Verena lectures in VC & Finance at ISM Munich, co-hosts a next gen impact investment circle, and connects high-level networks bridging the private and policy sectors.
Key Partner Venture Capital - Kairos Partners SGR
Matteo is Venture Capital Key Partner at Kairos Partners, which he joined in 2022 to launch the Venture Capital arm of the group. He is a cross-sector and cross-functional executive with over 15 years of experience and a proven track record in both science and finance, working in the institutional and private sectors within the Venture Capital industry and Technology Transfer. Before joining Kairos, Matteo led the Tech Transfer Directorate at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), a leading international research center. Prior to that, he spent around 10 years at one of Italy's first venture capital funds focused on deep tech startups, contributing to the development of the Italian startup ecosystem and achieving successful exits through M&A, IPOs, and international scaling -up of portfolio companies. Matteo holds a Ph.D. in Nanostructures and Nanotechnology from the University of Milan-Bicocca and an MBA, cum laude, from SDA Bocconi.
Acceleration Program Manager @B4i
Jacob is a creative and innovative graduate in International Management, passionate about innovation and everything that has a positive impact on our planet. Currently, he works as a Programs Associate at B4i, the entrepreneurial hub of Bocconi University, where he scouts, invests, and accelerates the best startups in the ecosystem. Having lived in five countries across three continents, he is also a former professional show jumping horse rider.
Investment Director @N1 Investment Fund
Investment director of N1 fund focusing mostly on b2b fintech related startups located 50/50 in Warsaw and Lisbon. On top of that role I am an Interim CEO of one of web3 digital payments venture studio projects. Before I transitioned to the startup investment world, I was on all sides of the equation: Co-founder and running SaaS start-ups, a VP of business transformation for a suite of companies owned by a $250b investment fund in Abu Dhabi, blue-chip tech and finance high-impact roles.
Cofounder of Jabroni Capital (NY based)
Will is a seasoned operator with over a decade of experience building startups in the education, BPO, and media industries. He has successfully bootstrapped multiple companies (Young Founders Institute | Well Spoken) to 7-figure revenues. Will is the co-founder of Jabroni Capital, an unhinged startup satire brand, "dessert for a founder’s inbox." Outside of building, Will enjoys competitive storytelling, fitness, and Latin dance.
Head ESG & Start Lab Italy, UniCredit
Francesca leads the activities related to innovation and sustainability solutions for UniCredit's customers and communities in Italy. On sustainability, she is focused on the reinforcement of knowledge, tools and financial solutions to accompany towards the generation of impact. In the innovation area, she has developed Start Lab and the Founders' Club to strengthen innovative start-ups and innovation processes of Italian companies. She worked for over ten years in the IB division, holds a Masters and PhD in Economics from the University of York, together with a PhD in Environmental Economics. linkedin
Director Tech Transfer Hub di PwC Italy
Director del Team Innovation di PwC Italy. Gestisce il team del Tech Transfer Hub e gestisce progetti e relazioni con diverse start-up, università, centri di ricerca, fondi di VC e imprese. Ha conseguito un PhD in Fisica presso il Politecnico di Milano e ha lavorato per 5 anni nella ricerca nell’ambito dei materiali nanostrutturati e sistemi per la produzione e l’accumulo di energia sostenibile. Ha maturato 8+ anni di esperienza nel campo della strategia e del management dell'innovazione in diversi settori (es. agritech, aeronautico, manifatturiero, energetico, biotech), contribuendo a lanciare la practice dell'innovazione. Innovation Manager iscritto all’albo degli Esperti Innovazione Tecnologica del MISE, ha partecipato a progetti per il lancio di programmi di innovazione e sul coinvolgimento dell'ecosistema in specifici progetti e iniziative di trasferimento tecnologico.
Presidente Sispi
Sispi Spa, founded in 1988 at the initiative of the Municipality of Palermo—today the sole shareholder of the company—aims to design, implement, and manage the Municipal Information and Telecommunication System (SITEC). It serves as the engine of digital innovation for the city, creating innovative and complex solutions aimed at contributing to the construction of a smart city model capable of promoting digital citizenship rights and territorial development.
Group Head of Innovation Generali
Danilo is the Group Head of Innovation at Generali, where he is in charge of driving and scaling innovation throughout the Group. He is the Managing Director of Generali’s global Innovation Fund and is responsible for the strategic side of Generali Danilo holds a MSc summa cum laude from LUISS University in Rome, an MBA from the Bocconi School of Management, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge.
Managing Partner @MALTAccelerate
Alessandro is Managing Partner at MALTAccelerate, leading accelerator focussing on climate-tech and digital technologies. He has supported start-ups and developed innovation ecosystems for over 20 years’, across various industry sectors and markets between Europe, Balkans, Turkey, ex CIS, East Med and North Africa. He specialises in growth strategy and business development, internationalisation, business planning, marketing strategy, research commercialisation, and enjoys performing as an adviser, trainer and coach.
President @CRO Startup
Hajdi is co-founder & CEO of a deep tech startup airt, which enables companies to easily automate business workflows using multi-agent AI teams. She was named among the top 100 most influential businesswomen in Croatia, nominated for the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award, and listed among the top 100 most important STEM entrepreneurs in Croatia. Hajdi is also one of the co-founders of PWMN Croatia, the association that promotes equality and gender-balanced leadership, served as the VP of the Croatian AI Association and now serves as the President of the Croatian Startup Ecosystem Association (Cro Startup). She is also the representative of the Croatian startup ecosystem with the EU and sits on the Board of European Startup Networks.
Senior Solutions Architect @AWS
Majid is a Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, helping startups innovate and build solutions on the AWS platform. With over 16 years of experience, he is passionate about the startup ecosystem. His diverse roles include Cloud Architect Manager, Solutions Architect, Software Architect, and Researcher.
Here’s a sneak peek at the 22 incredible startups that have been selected from across the Mediterranean region. These companies represent the cutting edge of innovation, addressing challenges in fields like technology, sustainability, healthcare, and more. Each of these startups has the potential to drive significant change, and we’re thrilled to see what they’ll bring to the table in Palermo.
STAY TUNED
We’re a group of passionate professionals dedicated to making this event a success
VP @Pella Ventures & XZP, Ceo @Nomadic Minds
Francesco Cracolici is the CEO of Nomadic Minds, an organization that bridges Silicon Valley with global ecosystems through mentorship, investment, and innovation. With extensive experience in connecting startups to global investors and corporate partners, Francesco is a key player in fostering international startup growth, especially in the Mediterranean region. "Palermitano" and nominated Best Investor UNDER 30 in 2023, in his career he invested, as a private or syndicate lead, in 30+ startups, managed +30 accelerator cohorts, and established 4 angel clubs in 4 different countries. Linkedin
Event Organizer
Born and raised in Palermo, Monica has a solid background in the world of innovation and startups. She worked at Consorzio ARCA, the incubator of the University of Palermo, supporting startups in their growth and fundraising efforts. She is dedicated to entrepreneurial training for young people and female empowerment. She has participated in international acceleration programs, demonstrating strong networking and mentorship skills. She believes in the power of startups to transform the future for the better. Linkedin
Strategic Advisor
Danilo Mazzara is a Senior Executive at Accenture, specializing in strategy, transformation, and innovation. With over 20 years of experience, he has helped numerous organizations implement cutting-edge solutions and drive business growth. Danilo’s expertise spans across various industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance, making him a sought-after advisor in the corporate world. Linkedin
Operations Manager
Aurora Incardona is a business consultant and startup advisor with a focus on innovation and digital transformation. She has worked closely with startups and established businesses to help them navigate complex market challenges and accelerate growth. Aurora is actively involved in the startup ecosystem, with experience in project management, event organization, and strategic partnerships. Linkedin
This event is invite-only to ensure the best possible environment for our participants. If you want to be part of this game-changing event, drop us an email to request an invitation. We’re creating the perfect atmosphere for innovation to thrive, so let’s make magic happen together!
Palermo Cruise Terminal, Molo Vittorio Veneto al Porto, Palermo
We’re excited to welcome you to Palermo, the vibrant heart of the Mediterranean, for the Mediterranean Startup World Cup. This historic city offers more than just an incredible event. It's a destination full of culture, history, and unforgettable experiences.
