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It’s an innovation ecosystem initiative that brings together Italian leaders who invest, operate in manufacturing, and support startups’ growth.
Its purpose is to encourage and develop effective, sustainable innovative projects and enable the evolution of the manufacturing sector.
of equity investment, from 5% to 15%, for each startup. At the end of the program, the best startups can access a follow-on investment.
of acceleration that will touch on all the key aspects of the startup’s success. From the idea, to the strategy, to the product, to the market, we will build a scalable business together.
The startup will work alongside the companies, directly within production environments. They will leverage on assets and specific capabilities for the POC development.
This will foster the development, testing and improvement of the solution and establish a relationship with the production area.
Access a founders’ network, Subject Matter Expert, investors, and mentors coming from the business, digital, and manufacturing world.
We are looking for startups with innovative technologies and digital solutions which can be implemented in production areas and manufacturing processes, in order to meet real factory needs.
Are you unsure if your solution could be relevant for our accelerator?
Select technologies and application domains to discover some relevant use cases.
Select an application field and a technology
If you have developed any use case that you cannot find, apply and propose it to us! We’re happy to have a chat with you.
Distributed, decentralized transaction logs for tracking shared and irrefutable data between different parties
VR 3D computer graphics, platforms for augmented reality
Virtual simulator, models for digital manufacturing
Platforms leveraging computational capacity and cloud-based data systems
Internet-of-things: platforms that integrate smart sensors or other sensors. It includes software systems for the monitoring and maintenance of equipment and assets.
AI-based data collection, analysis, processing and solution creation
Encryption, hashing algorithms, and any systems that protect against cyber attacks
Digital solutions to support robots and factory machines
Activities to streamline and optimize maintenance, through failure prediction, intelligent planning, and remote assistance systems
Techniques and processes for the design of products and services
Systems for quality control and all activities aimed at improving the quality of products and services
Production techniques and the organization of activities along all operational processes
The evolution of the user experience through interaction with products and with the company, to discover the true wishes of customers
The network of all individuals, organizations, resources, activities and technology linked upstream and downstream.
In funding for digitization, innovation, competitiveness, and culture
The worker of the future, with a new DNA and new ways of interacting with the production process
in funding for digitization, innovation, competitiveness, and culture
Country in the world for export of manufactured products
Companies in the manufacturing sector
Value-added to the manufacturing sector from Italian producers
Venture capital deals in 2020
Growth of the manufacturing sector in 2021
The accelerator is an innovation ecosystem that brings together Italian leaders who invest, operate in manufacturing, and support startups’ growth. It exists to stimulate and grow effective, sustainable system initiatives.
Investor & Promoter
Manager and co-investor
Ecosystem Enabler
Ecosystem Enabler
Ecosystem Enabler & investitore
Corporate Partner and Investor
Corporate Partner and Investor
Corporate Partner & Investitore
Corporate Partner and Investor
Corporate Partner and Investor
Corporate Partner and Investor
Managing Partner - GELLIFY
Manufacturing Lead - Forward Factory
Innovation Consultant - GELLIFY
Program Manager - Forward Factory
Innovation Consultant - GELLIFY
Marketing & Communication - Forward Factory
Investment Manager - FNDX & Forward Factory
Managing Partner - GELLIFY
Manufacturing Lead - Forward Factory
Managing Partner - GELLIFY
Program Manager - Forward Factory
Innovation Consultant - GELLIFY
Marketing & Communication - Forward Factory
Head of Business Development - Fameccanica
Partner & CEO - Auxiell
CEO - Poggipolini
Industrial Strategic Planning - Comer Industries
CEO - Vis Hydraulics
Managing Director - Industrio
Group Innovation
Director - SCM GROUP
Head of Business Development - Fameccanica
Partner & CEO - Auxiell
CEO - Poggipolini
Group Technical Director - Scm Group
Industrial Strategic Planning - Comer Industries
CEO of - Hydraulics
Managing Director - Industrio
Research and Development Manager - Fameccanica
Innovation Scouting Specialist - SCM Group
Operations Director - Comer Industries
Industry 4.0 Specialist
R&D Senior Mechanical Engineer - Sens-in
Forward Factory’s startups can count on a large network of professionals who bring their experience to founders and their teams.
Engineering Director - Campari Group
Innovation Partner & Venture Builder - NiEW
Head of Connectivity - Automobili Lamborghini
Smart Innovation General Manager - MISTER
Cofounder & President – GammaDonna
Professor of Business Planning - University of Bologna
EMEA Manufacturing R&D project manager - Whirlpool Management
OmniChannel Strategy & Technology Manager - Accenture Italy
Strategic OEMs Key Account Manager - Schneider Electric
VP Advanced Services - Danieli
COO - Electrolux Professional
CEO - Assist Digital
Director Manufacturing Operations Switzerland - Philip Morris International
Head of Business Development of EMEA - Sony Semiconductor Solutions
Open Innovation Lead - Electrolux Professional
Collaborative Robot Product Manager - ABB
Associate Professor of Organisation - University of Bologna
COO - Glimmed
Innovation Centre Technology Scouting - Antares Vision
Head of MFL X - MFL
Merchandiser Director - Harmont & Blaine
Business Development Manager - Robertshaw
FashionTech Program Director - StartUpBootcamp
Senior Research Scientist - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Head of Digital Manufacturing - Philipp Morris International
Digital Strategy and Implementation - Independent Consultant
Project Manager - Reply
Business Development Manager - Hella Gutmann Group
Business Development Manager - Consorzio MUSP
Global marketing director, Technology solutions - Solvay
Operations Associate FR/NL/UK - Zego
Business Development Manager - NKT
Innovation Manager/Business Developer - Different start-ups
Head of Operational Excellence & Global - Koerber
CEO - T4V
General Manager - Consorzio Intellimech
President and CEO - MADE4.0 Competence Center
Head of M&A and Corporate Development - Datalogic
Head of Tech Transfer (Innovation) - Politecnico di Torino
Assistant Professor – Università Degli Studi di Messina
Director - MIP
CEO - TechMass
Innovation Manager - Polo Tecnologico Alto Adriatico
Post-Doc Research Fellow – Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Data Engineer - Fameccanica
Director - Chiesi
Digital - Electrolux
Business Manager CEE & Nordics - Haier Europe
Ricercatrice - University of Bologna
CTO - Gruppo ASA
CIO - Techno
Consultant - Real Estate Piazza Quadra 8
DIgital Value Creation Lead - Koerber
Robotic Software Manager - Fameccanica
Venture Capitalist - WV Ventures
Engineering & Simulation Manager - Poggipolini
Tech Product & Marketing Manager - SACMI
The selected startups embark on a challenging path lasting 6 months:
The startups will reinforce the business idea by building the foundations to create scalable solutions in the world of digital manufacturing. The program will involve 1:1 mentorship, vertical bootcamps on specific issues and individual support tailored to the needs of each startup.
In this phase, each startup will be involved in the creation of a POC (proof of concept) developed in collaboration with one of the manufacturing companies, which also serve as investors in the program, and with the Forward Factory team, to arrive at the demo day – not with the usual slides but with one use case that is ready for take-off.
1:1 Coaching, Mentorship, and Bootcamp with experts on vertical factory issues and with program specialists on key topics (product, marketing, sales)
Periodic meetings between the founders to share progress, best practices, and experiences
Work stations at the GELLIFY Phygital HUB for each startup, side-by-side with the other founders.
Meetings with corporate managers and visits to the corporate production sites
Daily work in dedicated spaces provided by the corporate to develop your own solutions and experience the factory
Design of a pilot (POC) guided within a manufacturing investor company.
165k of equity investment + subsequent follow-ons up to a maximum of €300 K
Final demo day with presentation of the solution and the results of the POC to a broader audience of investors and leading manufacturing companies in the sector.
Launch event of Forward Factory’s second batch!
We are in the “Build to Scale” phase, characterized by training on the field with dedicated sessions featuring experts from the accelerator’s ecosystem.
Each startup will be matched with a company among the investor partners in order to identify a first pilot project (POC), based on the best fit between the application / technological scope of the startup and the business’ needs.
The factories open their doors to the startups! Founders and teams will work side by side with the businesses to develop the POC, in the factory environment and with the support of the accelerator’s experts.
Final event of Forward Factory’s first startup batch!
The startups will show the results of the program and the POC with the investor partner in front of a panel of international investors and potential companies. The best startups of the batch will have the possibility of a follow-on from Forward Factory.
The application will be reviewed by the Forward Factory team and we will evaluate all the relevant aspects for being successful during the program: Idea, Team, Project Status, Business Potential, …
Great! You have taken the first step! Now wait for feedback, if you access the next selection we will ask you for availability for some calls and to deepen some documents together with you (business plan).
Yes, that’s right, the startup must already have a working prototype or an MVP to work on during the development phase of the POC with companies
In order to receive the investment and access the program, your startup must be established in Italy. In case you haven’t formed it yet this could be the perfect opportunity! If you have a registered office abroad, it could be an opportunity to open your own office in Italy.
Yes of course, feel free to suggest forward factory to the startups you know!
Yes sure! Forward Factory’s investment is € 165k for an equity of 5% -15%.
No, it will not be necessary to be full time in Bologna for the acceleration period. However, you will be required to be present for some activities to do together. During the development of the POC some transfers to the production sites of the investor partners will be necessary
The official language of the program will be English. During the 1to1 meetings or other specific activities in the event in which the participants are all Italians, the language will be switched to Italian.
