Demo Day Zero, the projects of the 5 accelerated start-ups

The fourth edition of ZERO, the Cleantech start-up accelerator, ended on 17 June with the Demo Day: the event, held in Roma Ostiense in the area of Eni's Gazometro, gave the opportunity to the five selected start-ups (Bufaga, Overlab, Exe Engineering, Heiwit, Climate Charted) to present their innovative solutions.

The ZERO accelerator confirms itself as a unique innovation platform in Italy, capable of activating concrete collaborations between start-ups, investors and large companies. Together with CDP Venture Capital and Eni, through Joule, research leaders such as CNR and ESA, as well as important industrial partners such as Acea, Microsoft, SACE, Saipem and Vodafone participate in the Zest and Elis initiative as co-investors and managers of the acceleration programme. A network that provides pre-seed capital, business development methodologies, also relating to sustainability, technical-scientific know-how and industrial assets to support the growth of Cleantech start-ups and guide innovation along the Italian production chains.

During the fourth edition, ZERO reinforced its "industry-driven" approach, selecting start-ups capable of responding to the industrial challenges posed by partners. Out of more than 260 applications received, 12 start-ups were admitted to the programme. Among these, five completed the acceleration process with significant results: four obtained a pre-seed investment; three produced a proof of concept (PoC) with the accelerator partners and one completed an industrial trial with an SME from the SACE network, with a view to enabling Cleantech innovation in the supply chain.

Antonietta De Sanctis, Head of the Accelerator Program of Joule, stated, "For the past few years, with the Zero programme have been focusing not only on the search for technological solutions related to new energies in the field of smart cities and sustainable mobility, but also on integration into our supply chain. This allows us to enhance entrepreneurial talents and generate economic, social and environmental impacts."

The solutions presented apply to sectors ranging from the circular economy to operational sustainability at industrial level up to new energy sources and technological solutions in a smart city perspective. The programme also included structured phases to define use cases and feasibility studies, fostering a process of gradual integration of technologies into business operations.

• Bufaga, a start-up that develops IoT devices to remove pollutants from the air and collects ESG data, offering companies measurable sustainability solutions and new business opportunities through advertising models on vehicles and infrastructures;
• Climate Charted, a start-up that helps banks and insurance companies reduce climate risk by connecting customers with flood and earthquake mitigation solutions, lowering insurance premiums and improving loan conditions;
• EXE Engineering, a start-up that automates biogas collection from landfills, increasing efficiency by up to 70% and reducing methane emissions, thus optimising renewable energy production and operational safety;
• Heiwit, a start-up that produces sodium batteries as a sustainable alternative to lithium, reducing costs and dependence on critical materials, with applications in renewable energy, electric mobility and industrial sectors;
• Overlab, a start-up that developed Greenverse, an IoT platform that measures the environmental footprint of industrial processes in real time, helping companies reduce costs, CO₂ emissions and greenwashing risks.

Zero Acceleration Programme: fourth edition begins