The Venture Booster Program is the new initiative of the Italian NODES - Nord Ovest Digitale e Sostenibile (Digital and Sustainable Northwest) ecosystem, created in collaboration with LifeGate Way, dedicated to supporting start-ups and entrepreneurial teams engaged in the dual digital and ecological transition.
The program selects and supports three high-potential projects, offering an intensive, tailor-made program that includes assessment, mentoring, strategic positioning, and connections with investors and stakeholders. The Venture Booster Program was created with the aim of generating concrete impact in the region, promoting the most promising entrepreneurial energies and contributing to the development of a sustainable and interconnected ecosystem of innovation.
The objectives of the program
The Venture Booster Program has been designed to provide concrete and tailored support to start-ups and entrepreneurial teams engaged in the dual digital and sustainable transition. The entire path is structured to meet the real needs of the selected initiatives, facilitating their strategic positioning, market access, and connections with key innovation players.
- strengthen the strategic and operational capacity of startups and emerging teams;
- accelerate growth through validation tools, mentorship, and dedicated support;
- facilitate access to new business, investment, and partnership opportunities;
- promote sustainable, low-impact entrepreneurial models;
- contribute to building an interregional innovation network through the NODES Ecosystem.
The program is targeted to:
- Ideas & Entrepreneurial Teams: informal groups or teams of aspiring entrepreneurs with a validated or developing idea, ready to turn it into a start-up through a guided path of mentoring, strategic support, and initiative structuring.
- Start-ups established less than 6 months ago: companies already formally launched, with a business model in validation or consolidation phase, seeking tools and connections to accelerate growth, access new markets, or attract investments.
Focus areas and program spokes
The Venture Booster Program is part of the NODES Innovation Ecosystem and targets startups, teams, and projects operating in one of the 7 strategic areas identified by the respective Spokes. These areas represent key sectors for sustainable development, innovation, and competitiveness of the territory.
- Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility - Aerospace technologies, new models of smart, sustainable, and connected mobility, advanced transport systems, autonomous driving, logistics, and drones.
- Green Technologies and Sustainable Industry - Solutions for energy efficiency, circular economy, decarbonization, sustainable resource management, energy transition, and industrial transformation.
- Tourism and Culture Industry - Innovation in tourism, hospitality, and the enhancement of cultural and natural heritage, with digital, sustainable, and high social impact approaches.
- Digital and Sustainable Mountain - Technologies and innovative models for the protection, enhancement, and regeneration of mountain areas, focusing on environmental sustainability, accessibility, and digitalization.
- Industry for Health and Silver Economy - Innovation in biomedical fields, personal care and well-being, active ageing, digital health, medtech, pharma, elderly services, and prevention.
- Primary Agroindustry - Innovations related to primary production: sustainable agriculture, smart farming, agrobiodiversity, technologies for environmental monitoring and soil quality.
- Secondary Agroindustry - Solutions for food supply chain transformation, distribution, and traceability, foodtech, sustainable packaging, smart logistics, and waste reduction.
Benefits for the participants
Among the opportunities offered by the Venture Booster Program:
Tailored training: a dedicated learning path designed to provide selected projects with tools for strategic and sustainable growth. Training modules will focus on:
- Sustainability, future scenarios, and trends in the relevant sectors, with specific focus linked to the program’s Spokes.
- Innovative business models, go-to-market strategies, and access-to-capital opportunities.
Mentorship and personalized consulting: custom support for business plan development, marketing strategy, and financial management.
Strategic networking:
- connections with companies, investors, and key professionals;
- participation in exclusive events and unique networking opportunities;
- access to a global network of contacts and potential partners.
How to apply to the program
To participate in the initiative, one must apply on the official NODES Ecosystem website by the deadline of Monday, October 6, 2025.
The selected companies will be notified by October 10, and the acceleration program will start on Monday, October 13, with a final event scheduled for December 18, 2025.
For further information, it is possible to fill out the dedicated form on the LifeGate Way website.
