Design Momentum is a design-driven acceleration programme for startups and SMEs in industrial design, furniture, living, and lifestyle. Open to Italian and international ventures aiming to establish a presence in Lombardy, it accelerates up to 20 companies per cohort, fostering solutions in sustainable design and the enhancement of human and built environment. The programme runs for 9 months in two phases. First 3 months are dedicated to exploring capacity building, mentoring, and matchmaking with corporate partners, as well as value proposition validation. In the following 6 months, the following activities are done: development of Proof of Concept (PoC) projects, validation in real environments, and go-to-market support. Key features of the service include PoC development with corporate partners, rapid prototyping, and comprehensive market entry support. Participants gain mentorship from industry leaders, connections to early adopters, and peer-learning opportunities. Hosted at CoFactory, the programme provides access to private offices, coworking spaces, and specialised labs. CoFactory’s technologies, including 3D printing, hybrid manufacturing, and robotics, and enable efficient prototyping. Activities are structured into workshops, matchmaking, PoC co-design, validation, and go-to-market initiatives. A digital platform streamlines space management, community interaction, and open innovation. Through this initiative, Design Momentum strengthens Lombardy’s leadership in design innovation, creating an ecosystem where startups and corporates push the boundaries of creativity and technology.
The overal cost of the Acceleration Programme is €31,500. We are able to provide a "grant" for participation in synergy with our Policy Makers in Lumbargy Region.
The acceleration programme is equity-free. If a participating startup or SME establishes an operational headquarters in Lombardy through the incubation at Designtech and its application is approved by Regione Lombardia, the region reimburses 80% of expenses, up to €25,000, upon proper financial reporting.
Acceleration, Incubation & Venture building
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