IKIGAI

Name

IKIGAI

Legal name

Centro Studi Pluriversum srl

Website

https://ikigaihub.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubator and Accelerator Programs

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programs
• Pre-seed investment
• Social enterprise grants
• Talent scholarships
• Venture incubation hub

Headquarters

HQ city

Siena

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and public grants: IKIGAI operates as a program of Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena (FMPS), supported by Regione Toscana (Tuscany Region). It is implemented by Centro Studi Pluriversum srl. Core operating funds come from these philanthropic and public sources, including a Protocollo d'Intesa between Regione Toscana (via Sviluppo Toscana) and FMPS.
2. SAFE investments in portfolio startups: Through the Startup accelerator IKIGAI invests up to €30K per startup via SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity): €6K in pre-acceleration (€3K seed grant + €3K SAFE, with Sviluppo Toscana adding another €3K reimbursable) and up to €24K in acceleration tranches (entry, milestone-based, and team evaluation). Future returns depend on startup equity events.
3. Non-repayable grants (a fondo perduto): IKIGAI Social Hub distributes €6,000 non-repayable grants to selected social enterprises, cooperatives, associations, and informal groups (up to 6 per edition). These are funded program expenditures, not commercial revenue.
4. Talenti non-repayable scholarships: IKIGAI Talenti distributes up to €6,000 per individual (aged 18-35 in Siena/Arezzo/Grosseto) as a non-repayable scholarship, disbursed in three tranches (30%/40%/30%) against documented expenses for professional training, certifications, and training-on-the-job activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

IKIGAI is a Siena-based innovation hub that runs pre-acceleration and acceleration programs for startups (investing up to €30K per startup via a combination of non-repayable grants and SAFE agreements), talent scholarships for individuals aged 18–35 in Siena/Arezzo/Grosseto, and €6K non-repayable grants for social-impact projects. Programs are supported by an 85+ mentor network, a University of Siena Legal Clinic, coworking space, and free Validation Lab and Scuola outreach initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IKIGAI Startup: Pre-acceleration and acceleration program for startups, offering up to €30k investment (€6k seed/SAFE in pre-acceleration; up to €24k SAFE in acceleration).
• IKIGAI Talenti
• IKIGAI Social Hub
• IKIGAI Validation Lab
• IKIGAI Summer Camp
• IKIGAI Scuola

Products and services

• IKIGAI Startup (Pre-Acceleration + Acceleration) Pre-acceleration and acceleration program for early-stage startup teams in Tuscany, offering up to €30,000 in mixed grant + SAFE investment, a 14-week KPI-driven sprint methodology, 1:1 mentorship, coworking space, and access to an embedded Legal Clinic with the University of Siena.
• IKIGAI Talenti Non-repayable scholarship program of up to €6,000 plus dedicated tutoring for individuals aged 18–35 living or studying in the provinces of Siena, Arezzo, or Grosseto to fund professional training, certifications, and training-on-the-job activities.
• IKIGAI Social Hub Non-repayable grant program of €6,000 per project, plus mentoring and in-person workshops, for cooperatives, associations, social enterprises, and informal groups generating territorial and community impact.
• Validation Lab Free bimonthly workshop combining UX research methods with AI-assisted prototyping, helping participants analyze problems, define hypotheses, and validate solutions to territorial challenges (housing, fraud, workplace accidents). No prior startup or team is required.
• Summer Camp (Summer Founder Builder Camp)

Quantifiable outcome

• 79+ startups supported across 14 batches
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Centro Studi Pluriversum srlflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOperating entity behind IKIGAI. Listed as the data controller (Titolare del trattamento) with legal seat in Piazza dell'Abbadia 4, Siena. Legal representative: Vincenzo Bianculli. CF/Partita IVA: 00942960527. Holds 'incubatore certificato' accreditation.
• Next4 GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 strategic collaboration addressing Italy's post-acceleration gap. Provides four operational tools for startups after IKIGAI programs: investor networking, subsidized financing access, funding round preparation, and international development. Mentors from Next4 (Roberto Macina, CEO) also contribute to the IKIGAI mentor network.
• SaiHub (Fondazione SaiHub)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the Validation Lab program and collaborator on Summer Camp and Scuola programs. Described as a partnership combining entrepreneurial method, advanced competencies and rigor in designing innovative solutions.
• EuricsecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for the IKIGAI Social Hub program, contributing expertise on social enterprises, cooperation and local development (Giulia Galera is a senior researcher at Euricse and an IKIGAI mentor).
• Università di Siena (UniSi)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing the Legal Clinic (Prof. Iacopo Donati's 'Diritto delle Startup e Venture Capital' chair) for company structuring, contracts, and work-for-equity support. UniSi also collaborates on the Scuola summer school (Life Sciences modules via Fondazione SaiHub). Multiple UniSi professors serve as IKIGAI mentors (Casprini, Maraghini, Frullanti, Zanni).
• Università di Siena (UniSi) - Scuola summer schoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the Scuola summer school with Fondazione SaiHub, including modules on AI and Life Sciences.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• H-FARM: Italian innovation platform and early-stage investor/accelerator based in Veneto. Most directly comparable to IKIGAI as a domestic Italian hub combining pre-acceleration, acceleration, education and corporate venture — though operating at materially larger scale and with VC capital rather than foundation grants.
• Nana Bianca: Florence-based Italian startup accelerator and seed investor. Highly comparable as a Tuscany-rooted accelerator offering structured programs, mentor networks, and early-stage capital to Italian founders, with similar mid-deal check sizes.
• LVenture Group: Rome-based listed accelerator/seed platform (Borsa Italiana). Closely comparable as a formal Italian early-stage accelerator running structured programs and providing capital, mentoring and follow-on support to early-stage Italian startups.
• PoliHub: Startup district of Politecnico di Milano. Comparable as a structured Italian accelerator combining pre-acceleration and acceleration tracks with mentor networks, demo days, and seed capital, anchored in a leading Italian academic institution.
• Talent Garden: Italy-founded innovation platform with campuses, education programs, and an investment arm. Comparable to IKIGAI in combining physical coworking, education, and an accelerator/studio model targeted at early-stage Italian founders.
• Cariplo Factory: Milan-based innovation hub backed by Fondazione Cariplo. Comparable to IKIGAI as a foundation-driven Italian innovation hub offering acceleration, open innovation, and ecosystem programs rather than purely commercial VC services.
• SocialFare: Turin-based Italian impact accelerator. Closely comparable to IKIGAI's Social Hub program as a purpose-driven accelerator combining non-dilutive grants, mentoring, and structured support for impact-oriented Italian ventures.
• Impact Hub Milano: Italian node of the global Impact Hub network. Comparable to IKIGAI as a community-driven hub offering incubation, programs, and ecosystem support — particularly aligned with IKIGAI's community-led GTM and mission framing.

Broad incumbents

• Plug and Play: Global accelerator and venture platform. Comparable to IKIGAI in providing structured accelerator programs, mentor networks, and corporate partner access, but operating at much larger scale and across verticals globally.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network with European presence. Comparable to IKIGAI as a 13-week-style structured accelerator with mentor-driven methodology, seed investment, and follow-on support, but at much larger scale and without IKIGAI's foundation-funded grant overlay.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ikigai.siena
• LinkedInit.linkedin.com/company/ikigai-hub
• Instagraminstagram.com/_ikigai_hub_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments56 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IKIGAI