Contacts
Contacts

Hi everyone!

I just returned from an exciting adventure at SMAU Paris and I'm so excited to share all the details with you! It has been an intense but incredibly rewarding journey, full of networking, pitching and business opportunities.

The week started with a welcome cocktail at the Italian Embassy in Paris, which was a fantastic opportunity to meet other participants and immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of the event. Among the people present there was also the Councilor for Economic Development, Training and Work, as well as Vice President of the Valle d'Aosta Region, Bertchy Luigi Giovanni. Obviously we already knew him, but it was very important to have the opportunity to talk to him in a friendlier and less formal environment about our project and I think he understood how much the Guideexpress project is close to our hearts and how much we can highlight the Valley of Aosta. Many other representatives of public bodies and high-level companies such as L'Oréal and Trenord were also present and we presented our project to everyone and exchanged ideas and gathered ideas from their great experience.

The next day we moved to Station F, an innovative hub in the heart of Paris, to continue our discussions and business meetings. It was the perfect time to do my pitch, and I have to say it went even better than the one in London! I felt much more comfortable and confident, and this was reflected in the results we achieved. We have concluded several very interesting commercial negotiations that will certainly lead to great opportunities for our company.

As in London where we met Dario from Start up Pick Roll in Paris we bonded a lot with the start ups Babbaiola (the largest LGBTQIA community), BeMyHERO (brings cosplayers, heroes and entertainers into contact with families who would like a visit to the superhero or their children's favorite princess) and Kulto (innovates agritech by fusing sustainable agriculture with advanced vertical farming technologies in the world of cannabis).

Unfortunately, the unpredictable weather in Paris also gave me a nice cold, which made it necessary to skip the third day of the event. But despite this small setback, we are extremely satisfied with what we achieved during our participation in SMAU Paris.

I would like to sincerely thank the SMAU organization for their extraordinary work in organizing such an inspiring and profitable event. We can't wait to return and participate in SMAU Milan in October, where we will certainly continue to cultivate business relationships and look for new opportunities to grow our project.

See you soon with new adventures and new successes!

Launching a startup is a brave endeavor filled with uncertainties. Initially, we were convinced that our idea was revolutionary and that everything would go smoothly. But soon, we realized that reality was very different. The lack of funds and the awareness that we couldn't do it all alone pushed us to build a team.

From two people with an idea, we grew to seven: two graphic designers, three programmers, a marketing expert, someone dedicated to fundraising and administration, a project manager, and a PR specialist. Building this team was a challenge, but also one of our greatest achievements.

We also learned the importance of being incubated at a startup accelerator. This exposed us to events, mentoring, workshops, and bureaucratic tasks that initially may have seemed irrelevant, but over time, we realized were crucial for our development and growth.

Now, a year later, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our product, although still in beta version, is almost ready: beautiful, functional, and incredibly rewarding. This leads us to reflect on our journey so far and the challenges and satisfactions we've encountered along the way.

Being entrepreneurs has never been easy. It requires dedication, passion, and significant financial commitment. But looking back, we can't help but feel proud of the progress we've made and the team we've built.

In conclusion, we realize that the journey has just begun. But we're ready to face future challenges with the same determination and passion that brought us here. Because in life, if we don't try, we'll never know how far we can go and what future we can build for ourselves and the people we love. And for us, these three children are our greatest source of inspiration and motivation.

RDITALY will participate in SMAU London 2024

The aim of SMAU Italy RestartsUp in London - which will take place on March 26 - goes beyond geographical borders: it seeks to create a strong connection between the Italian innovation ecosystem, the London Hub, and the British market. This initiative provides fertile ground for startups, companies, investors, and various innovation stakeholders from both Italy and the United Kingdom. This collaborative effort is not simply about showcasing the growth of Italian startups and addressing the needs of companies; it aims to provide London investors and entrepreneurs with a direct view of flourishing innovation scenes in various sectors. In particular, startups in the Industry, Mobility, Retail, Smart Communities, AgriFood, and Healthcare sectors will be in the spotlight.

A carefully selected group of 40 Italian startups will represent the pinnacle of Italian innovation, introducing innovative solutions and disruptive technologies. In addition to startups, the innovation teams of about 15 of Italy's largest companies will also be present, interested in connecting with the key players in London's innovation ecosystem.

The synergy between startups and corporate giants creates a dynamic environment for the exchange of ideas and expertise. As London investors and companies engage with Italian startups, they gain insights into flexibility, creativity, and transformative potential within these specific sectors. Furthermore, this collaboration serves as a conduit to enable startups to access valuable resources, mentoring, and industry-specific knowledge, enabling them to thrive in a competitive landscape.

For these reasons, SMAU | Italy RestartsUp in London aims to be a crucial catalyst for corporate innovation. It is an initiative designed to strengthen ties between the Italian and British innovation scenes, promoting an environment where different sectors converge, collaborate, and drive forward the innovation process.

RDITALY will be present and will offer its new features in the tourism sector to a broader market, this time at a European level. We will then tell you how this new adventure unfolds!! Wish us Good luck!!!

 

Pitch at the Demoday at the Pépinières d’Entreprises.

June 9, 2023, will be remembered by all those who took part in the Demo Day at the Pépinières d’Entreprises in Aosta as a milestone event in the annual training journey of startups. On that emotionally charged day, entrepreneurs from various backgrounds, including the promising Guidexpress, enthusiastically presented their innovative ideas.

Alongside the bright proposals of the young companies, authoritative figures from local institutions took the stage, including the President of the Young Entrepreneurs of Confindustria Valle d'Aosta. The Expo that framed the event provided an extraordinary showcase not only for the services and products of startups incubated in Valdostan incubators, but also for representatives of local entities interested in promoting innovation and economic development.

The Demo Day represented a unique opportunity to celebrate entrepreneurial talent and emerging innovation in the region, highlighting the hard work done by startups throughout the year and their tangible contribution to the economic and social growth of Valle d'Aosta. Among the participants, Coralie Pellissier made her public debut presenting the Guidexpress project, whose pitch was warmly received by the audience.

However, the day was not without turbulence, as it was marked by out-of-place and unjustified "political" events that cast a shadow over the celebration of innovation. These events undoubtedly undermined the morale of Coralie Pellissier and her team, who found themselves facing an unexpected and unsettling situation. However, as true entrepreneurial resilience shows, the obstacle only ignited an even stronger flame in the hearts of Guidexpress members.

In life, challenges are inevitable, but it is the reaction to them that determines success or failure. The Guidexpress team suffered a harsh blow that day, but instead of succumbing to despair, they chose to rise with determination and turn that experience into a springboard for even greater success. Their resilience and fighting spirit demonstrated that, even in the face of the most hostile adversity, it is possible to emerge stronger than before.

The entrepreneurial journey is often fraught with obstacles and pitfalls, but it is through adaptability and resilience that the most challenging hurdles can be overcome. The Guidexpress team has shown these qualities in abundance, turning a negative experience into an opportunity for growth and further strengthening their commitment to advancing their innovative vision.

Despite the unexpected events, the Demo Day was still an extraordinary success for the Valdostan startup community, showcasing its potential and determination in pursuing innovation and development to the world. The event confirmed the fundamental role of startups in shaping the region's economic and social future and underscored the importance of supporting and promoting entrepreneurship and innovation at both local and national levels.

With the Regional Executive's deliberation No. 1635 dated December 6, 2021, the "Smart & Start VdA" Notice was approved in favor of new innovative companies, not listed, as well as freelancers, classified as small and micro-enterprises, for the implementation of technological and innovative development plans, within the scope of the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) of Valle d'Aosta, which identify the growth objectives of the company and demonstrate the possibility of achieving them and their financial sustainability and are aimed at developing new products or services.

The grants provided by the Notice aim to promote the growth of new innovative companies established in Valle d'Aosta, which enhance the results of research at the production level.

RDITALY with its project "Guidexpress" won the first prize in 2022, securing financial support amounting to €107,802.40.

The project involves the experimental development of a pilot product usable for commercial purposes, specifically a smartphone app for iOS and Android to discover places to visit and experiences to live, enhancing and safeguarding the cultural and environmental heritage of Valle d'Aosta.

Thanks to advanced profiling and an algorithm based on artificial intelligence, it will be possible to generate personalized experiential tourist routes for each application user according to family composition, interests, starting location, and motor skills. Through the Big Data collected by the app, public entities will have access to a precise and targeted analysis, in real-time, of tourism trends in Valle d'Aosta. A gamification and remuneration system is planned for the app users and content creators based on points, badges, blockchain tokens, and NFTs.

Pont-Saint-Martin and Aosta, the two business incubators of Pépinières d’Entreprises since 1997 and 2004 respectively, work to innovate in the digital, green, and energy sectors. Thanks to their proximity to the main industrial districts and technological parks of Piedmont and Lombardy, bordering France and Switzerland, the Pépinières are located in a geographically strategic area capable of offering startups opportunities for local, national, and cross-border collaborations for business development. Born on the initiative of the region, in two renovated industrial warehouses in the midst of green valleys, until 2017 they were business centers. Since April 1, 2017, the incubation services of the Pépinières have been managed by the RTI led by the Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini, while since June 1, 2021, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini has become the sole managing entity of the spaces and services.

Startups participating in the acceleration and incubation programs can benefit from monthly mentoring programs and training and coaching paths that culminate in a DemoDay. Each startup is mentored by a mentor and is involved in various events and initiatives. Among the startups participating in the incubation and acceleration programs is RDItaly, for the production and development of software for creating tourist routes.

RDITALY is indeed based in the Aosta incubator since 2022 and is extremely grateful for all the help that this hub offers the startup.

What are the benefits of being incubated at a startup accelerator?

  1. Access to resources: Startup accelerators often offer valuable resources such as workspace, equipment, software, and services at discounted or even free rates, allowing startups to save on initial costs.
  2. Mentorship and consultancy: Accelerators usually provide mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and sectoral consultants who can offer valuable advice on strategy, product development, marketing, finance, and more.
  3. Access to funding: Accelerators can connect startups to investors, venture capitalists, and other sources of funding. Being part of an accelerator can increase the startup's credibility in the eyes of investors.
  4. Networking: Being part of a startup community can provide networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs, industry experts, and potential business partners, opening doors to collaborations and growth opportunities.
  5. Training programs and workshops: Accelerators often offer intensive training programs and workshops on topics crucial to startup growth, such as product development, customer acquisition, marketing strategy, and financial management.
  6. Access to customers and markets: Some accelerators have partnerships with large companies or organizations that can act as customers or distribution channels for incubated startups.
  7. Stimulating environment: Being part of an accelerator can provide a stimulating and motivating environment in which to work, with other startups sharing the same passion and determination to grow and succeed.
  8. Validation and feedback: Accelerators provide an environment where ideas can be quickly validated through expert feedback and input from other community members, allowing startups to adapt and improve more quickly.
  9. Legal and administrative support: Some accelerators offer legal and administrative support to address bureaucratic and legal issues that may arise during a startup's growth.
  10. Prestige: Being accepted into a respected startup accelerator can increase the prestige and visibility of the startup, making it more attractive to potential customers, partners, and investors.