InfiniteArea: the new Italian companies’ incubator

Founded by the entrepreneur Fabrizio Bof in Montebelluna (Treviso), this incubator works in an alternative way. Its logic starts from the market demand. Therefore, it does not support innovative ideas but it finances new startups able to satisfy the needs of Italian companies.

This new concept was elaborated from the assumption that whatever kind of startup, even the most innovative one, will die if it does not have a broad acceptable market to commercialize in. In fact, as Mr. Bof has pointed out, "an alternative idea is useless if people are not able to sell it".

For these reasons, InfiniteArea moves from its clients' needs, i.e. Italian companies' ones. The incubator provides the assisted startups with all the tools necessary to improve a service or to develop a new product. In addition, Mr. Bof's creation has also launched a new mechanism called "call to market for startup", consisting in calls for young talents who will be able to work on specific projects.

Air Dolomiti was among the first companies experiencing the advantages of this new model. In order to improve the quality of its service to passengers, the airline decided to include the skills of external professionals, launching the call for the project Air Dolomiti Innovation Lounge. The latter was addressed to researchers, graduates, professionals and students. The answer was remarkable, i.e. more than 100 students and PhD candidates applied from the Universities of Udine, Padua, Venice and Verona. Only three (maximum four) will be selected to work at the InfiniteArea's polifunctional space together with Air Dolomiti managers.

Lastly, InfiniteArea is now mostly devoted to companies located in the North-East Italy but it is formally open to applications coming from other parts of the Bel Paese and also from abroad. It offers a new concept that will need some time to become fully operative, but it is definitely a promising company.

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