Chance4TwinTransition Accelerator Program

OVERVIEW

Marzotto Venture Accelerator (MVA) invites you to participate in the Chance4TwinTransition Challenge to apply for their leading Accelerator Program. Solvers, teams, and startups may submit relevant pioneering technologies, business models, and services that accelerate the Twin Transition: the simultaneous transformation of global energy systems and digital infrastructure.

This Challenge aims to identify up to 15 projects for participation in a Demo Day in 2026, with the aim to shortlist up to five high-potential projects that will be awarded entry into MVA’s 16-week Accelerator Program. Projects should be positioned at the intersection of sustainability and technology, where entrants leverage innovation in business models and approaches to address critical global challenges and unlock new market opportunities.

The focus spans across three strategic areas:

• Circular Economy & Recycling
• Green Energy
• Digital Platforms

Selected projects and ventures will gain access to MVA’s extensive acceleration support which has already bolstered nearly 250 startups, including: mentoring, technology validation, access to industry networks, tailored business support, and potential capital investment.

This Challenge is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to scale your innovation’s impact with one of Europe’s leading innovation engines. Participants will retain full ownership of the Intellectual Property (IP) in their submissions, but by submitting, you authorize MVA to share the submission with relevant evaluation teams and corporate partners for the sole purpose of assessment for potential accelerator participation and consideration for investment.

Do you have any questions or need assistance? Feel free to join us in our Challenge Space! If you're interested in learning more about the Evaluators' requirements for this Challenge, we invite you to participate in our upcoming webinar.

By taking part in and submitting to this Innocentive Challenge you are granting Marzotto Venture Accelerator a right to use (but not own) your submitted information for the sole purpose of evaluating for potential participation in their Accelerator Program.

This Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted and the best proposals (up to 15) have the opportunity to be invited to a 2026 Demo Day event for meeting enough of the requirements criteria, with the goal being to identify up to 5 projects for the 16-week Accelerator Program. Program invitations will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposal by MVA and participation in the Demo Day in 2026.

There is no assignment of IP Rights with this Challenge and Accelerator Program. Solvers will retain all rights to their proposal.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 16, 2026.

Please review the later Participation Guidance section before submitting a proposal.

- Login or register your interest to start solving! -

ABOUT THE SEEKER & ELIGIBILITY

The Marzotto Venture Accelerator (MVA) is a leading innovation platform based in Rome, which has supported startups, research spin-offs, and SMEs for over a decade – with over 3,800 projects reviewed.

MVA promotes new models for incubating and accelerating innovative ideas, invests in high-tech startups with strong international focus, supports industrial research and technology transfer, and completes co-innovation projects and programs – particularly around the areas of Circular Economy & Recycling, Digital Platforms, Green Energy and Deep Tech.

Employees of MVA and its partners, including spouses and relatives to the fourth degree, are not eligible to participate in the Accelerator Program.

This MVA 16-week accelerator program is open to the following:

• Individual innovators, provided they are over the age of 18
• Teams not yet set up in companies
• Research spin-offs
• Startups with innovative solutions, products, and/or services
• SMEs with innovative solutions, products, and/or services
• Other types of incorporated businesses already operating at market level, but with innovative projects in the below areas of interest

THE CHALLENGE

Background

The twin transition – a convergence of green energy transformation and digital innovation – is a defining priority for the EU as it moves toward net-zero goals by 2030 and beyond. This shift requires a fundamental rethink of how we produce, consume, and manage resources across all sectors.

As Europe progresses, there are significant disparities. For instance, in Italy, the country ranks among the top 10 in Europe for SMEs that have reached at least a basic level of digitalization. However, for more structured transformation, only 28% of Italian companies have undertaken a comprehensive digital transition (Digital Transformation Index, 2024) – signifying a large margin for growth.

Digital technologies in AI, IoT, cloud, etc. are essential enablers of environmental targets and innovation. The opportunity lies in combining both digital and green energy transition projects for more resilient, scalable, and dual-use innovation.

The Marzotto Venture Accelerator (MVA) has supported 88 startups and projects through its Accelerator Program in recent years, including with support towards trade sales, corporate venture capital or open innovation investment, IPO, and listing on relevant marketplaces like the Innocentive Solutions Marketplace.

MVA is at the forefront of this movement. With a track record in launching Challenges like ‘Circular4Recovery’ and the Covid-19 Challenge with the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, it is now launching this Chance4TwinTransition Challenge to support the most promising ventures that could build and scale the technologies, platforms, and systems needed for Europe’s sustainable, digital future.
 

The Challenge

MVA is seeking applications for comprehensive, innovative solutions across three integrated domains. Proposals may span one or multiple of the following domains and subtopics:

1. Circular Economy & Recycling

Projects including more sustainable and regenerative resource cycles, including:

• Circular bioeconomy

• Circular water economy

• Smart circular agriculture

• Circular energy economy

• Digital circular economy

• Industrial symbiosis

• Smart cities and regions

• Circular business models

• Circular design

• New life cycles

2. Green Energy

Solutions that support energy efficiency, lower-carbon systems, or decentralized energy, including:

• Renewable generation

• Energy storage

• Smart grids

• Energy communities

• Circular energy system

• Sustainable energy design

• Electrification

• Decarbonization

• Energy saving

• Clean production

3. Digital Platforms
Digital transformation enablers that can function across sectors, including:

• AI and machine learning (ML)

• Big data and analytics

• Internet of things (IoT)

• Cybersecurity

• Cloud computing

• Smart mobility

• Vehicle to grid (V2G) or ‘anything to grid’ (X2G) for other power sources that interact with the grid

Your application should have a minimum Technology Readiness Level of 4, or an Investment Readiness Level of the same (prototype, or low fidelity MVP). These guidelines aim to ensure your application has a validated problem-solution fit.

Through this Challenge, MVA is looking to identify up to 15 potentially-relevant projects, startups, and businesses who could participate in a 2026 Demo Day. During the event, a jury of relevant technical and commercial experts will shortlist and choose up to a maximum of 5 winning projects, who will be invited to join the Accelerator Program which lasts a maximum of 16 weeks. Projects selected for participation in the Demo Day who are not directly successful in accessing the Accelerator Program may also be offered alternative support if of interest from relevant corporate partners of MVA, and MVA could provide support for further activities with these projects.

During the Accelerator Program, up to 5 winners can gain access to the support services of MVA, including: technology validation, market assessment, mentoring, entrepreneur training, equity/debt/guarantee potential financial support, and support for partnerships.

MVA is looking for solutions with demonstrable impact on sustainability and/or digitalization goals, with significant commercial potential and scalability, brought by teams with strong capabilities/relevant experience, and for applications with clear articulation of the solution, IP, market fit, and technological feasibility.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

At the Demo Day 2026 and during the initial pre-selection phase after the Challenge, the following main criteria may be used to evaluate projects:

• Consistency with the objectives of the Challenge
• Quality and skills of the entrepreneurial team
• Degree of innovation
• and technical-economic feasibility

Any successful application to the MVA Accelerator Program must meet the following must have requirements:

1. Solution addresses one or more of the twin transition domains, including:

• Circular Economy & Recycling
• Digital Platforms
• Green Energy

2. Solution or business application displays at minimum TRL4 and Investment Readiness Level of 4 – including a validated problem-solution fit.

3. A clear technology roadmap and business model

4. Team must have at least one full-time founder or dedicated project lead, and meets all eligibility requirements

5. Application includes a relevant pitch deck, supporting materials, and technology information

Additionally, Marzotto Venture Accelerator would be particularly interested in solutions that display the following nice-to-have criteria:

1. Existing pilots, prototype testing, customers, or signed partnerships
2. Patent protection filed, or patent-pending status
3. Ability to deploy within the EU market within 12-18 months, with or without MVA support
4. Business model of the team and application aligned to  green economy and digital transition goals

Solutions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 4-7 are invited.

This Scouting Challenge has the following features:

1. By taking part in and submitting you are granting Marzotto Venture Accelerator a right to use (but not own) your submitted information for the sole purpose of evaluating for potential participation in their Accelerator Program.
2. This Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted and the best proposals (up to 15) have the opportunity to be invited to a 2026 Demo Day event for meeting enough of the requirements criteria, with the goal being to identify up to 5 projects for the 16-week Accelerator Program.
3. Program invitations will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposal by MVA against the Solution Requirements and participation in the Demo Day in 2026.
4. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this Challenge and Accelerator Program. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal.

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please login and register your interest, to complete the submission form.

By submitting a proposal, you guarantee and warrant that:

• The project is an original work that you have the relevant IPR and economic exploitation rights to, and does not infringe on other rights of third parties
• All information, data, and materials provided to MVA are accurate, truthful, and complete;
• You authorize MVA to use the name, image, and contents of your submission for publishing on MVA’s website, exhibition at relevant conferences regarding the results of the Challenge; and
• You authorize the disclosure of your submission’s content to relevant third parties for activities relating to the evaluation and selection process of the Accelerator Program.

The submitted proposals must be written in English or Italian and should include:

1. Participation type – you will first be asked to inform us how you are participating in this challenge, as a Solver (Individual), Solver (Team), or Solver (Organization).
2. Solution Level - the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your solution.
3. Project Title and Brief Summary
4. Detailed description of the Company and Application
5. Founding team biographies and roles
6. Technology Details, including: benefits, applications, and indication of any patents/IP protection
7. Business model and go-to-market strategy
8. Financial overview, including: projections, costs, investments
9. Roadmap with key milestones clearly outlined
10. Attachments, including required pitch deck (.pdf format) and optional business plan and/or technical annexes (.pdf format)

PARTICIPATION GUIDANCE

1. Submission Close Date: Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 16, 2026.
2. Late submissions: Late submissions will not be considered.
3. Multiple submissions, 3 Maximum: In case of multiple submissions by the same Solver, only 3 submissions – the final 3 submitted – will be considered. Any other submissions will be deleted prior to evaluation.
4. Submission form and attachments: Your submission will be evaluated by the evaluation team first reviewing the information and content you have submitted at the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention from the evaluation team.
5. Evaluation notification steps: After the Challenge submission close date, Marzotto Venture Accelerator and relevant partners will review and select the winning ideas/solutions according to the timeline in the Challenge header. Everyone who submits a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.
6. Use of AI: Please note that any submissions produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.

Learn more: Find out more about participation in Innocentive Challenges.