What Fondazione Triulza does

Fondazione Triulza is a Milan-based non-profit foundation (ETS - Ente del Terzo Settore) established in 2015 in continuity with the Cascina Triulza pavilion of Expo Milano 2015. It operates the Social Innovation Academy from Cascina Triulza within the MIND Milano Innovation District, delivering a portfolio of programs that bridge civil society, research institutions, and corporations across the social economy. Its core offerings include the annual Social Innovation Campus engaging 45,500 participants since 2020 (32,700 of them high school students), the Social Tech technology transfer pathway (76 start-ups/scale-ups enabled since 2020), the Social Innovation Procurement initiative (launched 2025), the BEEurope master in European project design, the Capstone PoliMi collaboration with Politecnico di Milano, and the A City in MIND school competition.

The foundation's underlying technology is primarily a community and partnership orchestration platform rather than a unified software product. It coordinates 350+ partnerships, 277 initiatives, and 48 projects through a combination of physical events at Cascina Triulza, nationwide school outreach (33 municipalities), online hackathons, and co-design tables. Its AI footprint is limited to partnership-driven initiatives such as the Intellica.it cognitive stimulation platform developed with COOSS Marche Onlus and the Good Loop AI Academy for the third sector (2026). The 2025 EU Social Economy Cluster designation from the European Commission is a defining credential.

The foundation's revenue model is that of an Italian ETS non-profit: it does not sell commercial products or services but is funded through EU programs, Fondazione Cariplo co-financing, national and regional grants, and contributions from founding partners including Confcooperative (whose Lombardia president, Massimo Minelli, also chairs Fondazione Triulza), Arexpo, and other institutional partners. Cumulative investments in MIND activities to date stand at 6 million euros. The foundation employs 11 staff and serves three primary segments: third sector and social economy organizations, young people/students, and MIND district stakeholders.

Name

Fondazione Triulza

Legal name

Fondazione Triulza ETS

Website

https://fondazionetriulza.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondazione Triulza is a Milan-based non-profit foundation operating the Social Innovation Academy at MIND Milano Innovation District, delivering technology transfer, capacity building, and youth STEAM programs to over 350 third sector, academic, and corporate partners across Italy and the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Innovation Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business (EDAMAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ)

Keywords

• Social innovation programs
• Third sector services
• Nonprofit foundation
• Community engagement
• Social economy cluster

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding and Project Grants: Primary revenue from European, national, and regional project funding including EU programs, Fondazione Cariplo co-financing, and government grants. The foundation has invested 6 million euros to date in MIND activities.
2. Partnership and Membership Contributions: Contributions and support from founding organizations including Confcooperative, Arexpo, and other institutional partners in the MIND ecosystem

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Fondazione Triulza is a non-profit foundation (ETS - Ente del Terzo Settore) operating the Social Innovation Academy hub within MIND Milano Innovation District in Milan. The foundation delivers a portfolio of programs including the annual Social Innovation Campus event series, the Social Tech technology transfer pathway for impact start-ups, the BEEurope Master in European project design, Social Innovation Procurement initiatives, the Capstone PoliMi collaboration, the A City in MIND school competition, and the Radar Call UE European funding information service. Its offerings collectively support social enterprises, civil society organizations, schools, and public institutions in developing innovation capacity, accessing EU funding, and forming partnerships for social impact.

Product overview

Fondazione Triulza is a non-profit foundation (ETS - Ente del Terzo Settore) that serves as a hub for social innovation within MIND Milano Innovation District. Rather than a unified software product, the foundation operates a portfolio of programs and services including the Social Innovation Academy (training and capacity building), the annual Social Innovation Campus event series, Social Tech (technology transfer for impact ventures), Social Innovation Procurement, the BEEurope Master program, and the Capstone PoliMi collaboration with Politecnico di Milano. These offerings collectively support social enterprises, young people, and civil society organizations in developing innovation skills, accessing European funding, and creating partnerships for social impact. The foundation also runs educational initiatives like the A City in MIND school competition and MIND Education pathway.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Social Innovation Academy: The main hub for social innovation activities at Cascina Triulza in MIND, offering programs, training, and support for social impact initiatives.
• Social Innovation Campus
• Social Tech
• BEEurope
• MIND Community Park

Products and services

• Social Innovation Academy Training and capacity-building hub within MIND Milano Innovation District that develops social innovation projects, promotes partnerships between associations, companies, and institutions, and supports technology transfer for social impact ventures.
• Social Innovation Campus Annual multi-day event series engaging young people in social innovation through talks, workshops, hackathons, and co-design activities focused on technology, social impact, and sustainability.
• Social Tech Technology transfer pathway developed in collaboration with Fondosviluppo, Coopfond, and General Fonds to support start-ups and scale-ups with social impact.
• Social Innovation Procurement Initiative to enhance social enterprises by linking them with public and private stakeholders through social procurement practices, promoting open innovation.
• BEEurope Master Master program in European project design offered by Fondazione Triulza, providing training in accessing EU funding and project development for social economy organizations.
• Capstone PoliMi per il Sociale Collaboration with Politecnico di Milano combining biomedical technology with social impact, involving students in developing solutions for health and social challenges at COOSS Marche facilities.
• Tech 4 All Showcase exhibition featuring technologies for accessible and inclusive tourism, presented at MIND Innovation Week.
• A City in MIND Competition School competition inviting primary and secondary school students in Lombardy to propose ideas and projects on cities of the future aligned with the 2030 Agenda SDGs.
• MIND Education Comprehensive educational pathway engaging new generations in imagining and co-designing a sustainable, accessible, and inclusive city of the future using STE(A)M approaches.
• Radar Call UE European funding radar service that monitors and disseminates information about EU funding opportunities for social innovation projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45,500 participants engaged in Social Innovation Campus since 2020, including 32,700 students from high schools across Italy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ArexpocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Co-developer and anchor stakeholder of MIND Milano Innovation District. Fondazione Triulza works with Arexpo as part of the strategic committee managing the district, which also includes Lendlease, IRCCS Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio, Human Technopole, University of Milan, and Politecnico di Milano.
• LendleasecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Master developer of MIND Milano Innovation District. Partners with Fondazione Triulza on community engagement, MIND Education initiatives, and district programming including Innovation Week and site tours.
• Politecnico di Milano (Tiresia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for social economy research and analysis. Collaborates on strategic planning for social economy, including events on New Social Economy in Europe and MIND social procurement experiments.
• Comune di MilanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner for social economy initiatives. Co-organizes events including New Social Economy in Europe meeting, and hosts Special Commission for Civil Economy visits.
• Federated Innovation @MINDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation network within MIND focused on open innovation. Partners with Fondazione Triulza on social procurement experiments and technology transfer pathways.
• Human TechnopolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian national research institute for life sciences. Collaborates on STE(A)M education, gender medicine events, and integration of scientific research with social innovation activities.
• IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi - Sant'AmbrogiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch hospital within MIND. Partners on health technology initiatives, STE(A)M education events, and innovation district activities.
• FondosviluppocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial support partner for social sector. Co-developed Social Tech technology transfer path enabling 76 start-ups and scale-ups with social impact focus.
• CoopfondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative development fund. Co-developed Social Tech technology transfer pathway for innovative social enterprises.
• General FondscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment fund partner. Co-developed Social Tech technology transfer pathway for innovative social enterprises.
• CGM Consortium (Consorzio Nazionale CGM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational consortium of social enterprises. Collaborates on social procurement initiatives and open innovation projects with Fondazione Triulza's Social Economy Cluster.
• ConfcooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative federation. Massimo Minelli serves as both President of Fondazione Triulza and President of Confcooperative Lombardia, ensuring close institutional alignment.
• MicrosoftmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner for hackathons and education initiatives. Provides special prizes and AI-focused challenges for Social Innovation Campus hackathons (39 teams in 2025).
• Talent4RisemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting women in STE(A)M. Co-organizes STE(A)M Women and Gender Medicine events during MIND Innovation Week.
• Fondazione BraccomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate foundation focused on women in STEM. Co-organizes STE(A)M Women and Gender Medicine events and promotes gender equality in biomedical sector.
• Università degli Studi di MilanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for STE(A)M education and gender medicine initiatives. Collaborates on MIND Innovation Week events and research programs.
• COOSS Marche OnlusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial cooperative developing Intellica.it cognitive stimulation platform. Works with Politecnico students through Capstone program to enhance AI-enhanced cognitive stimulation solutions in elderly care.
• CSV LombardiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLombardy Volunteer Service Centers network. Develops corporate volunteering initiatives with Fondazione Triulza using MIND as a laboratory for engaging young people.
• Hammersmith & Fulham Council (London)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLondon borough council providing Repair Prize for hackathons as part of agreement between Arexpo and White City Innovation District. Enabled international participation from Fulham Cross Academy in Social Innovation Campus.
• InvitaliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agency for inward investment and economic development. Participates in social economy events discussing incentives and innovation support.
• Chamber of Commerce of TurinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional business support organization. Presents Torino Social Impact initiatives and social procurement practices at Fondazione Triulza events.
• Consorzio Consolida (Trentino)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrentino consortium presenting solidarity economy district models and DES (Distretti di Economia Solidale) at social economy events.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs; directly comparable to Fondazione Triulza's mission of identifying, connecting, and supporting social innovators and impact ventures across multiple geographies.
• Fondazione Cariplo: Major Italian philanthropic foundation providing grants and capacity building to civil society and social innovation initiatives, including the same co-financing programs that support Fondazione Triulza; closest national peer.
• Euclid Network: European network focused on social innovation and social enterprise development; comparable as a pan-European intermediary connecting civil society, intermediaries, and funders — similar role to Fondazione Triulza's EU Cluster designation.
• Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: World Economic Forum-affiliated foundation that curates and convenes a community of social entrepreneurs and corporate social innovation leaders; highly comparable as a convener/cluster-builder for the social economy at global scale.
• Social Enterprise UK: UK membership body for social enterprises and social economy organizations; directly comparable as a national cluster/network promoting social enterprise development, policy advocacy, and capacity building.

Broad incumbents

• Nesta: UK innovation foundation running large-scale programs on social innovation, education, and future-focused research; comparable as a larger incumbent in the social innovation foundation category with broader portfolio activity.
• Impact Hub: Global network of coworking and innovation spaces with a strong social impact focus; comparable as a broader incumbent in the social innovation space offering physical hubs, capacity building, and community programs at scale.
• European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA): Pan-European membership association supporting venture philanthropy and social investment; comparable as a sector-building intermediary serving social economy organizations across Europe.

Regional players

• Confcooperative: Italian cooperative federation and strategic partner of Fondazione Triulza (President Massimo Minelli leads both); comparable as a stakeholder providing institutional alignment and access to the cooperative/social economy ecosystem in Italy.

Emerging players

• Social Innovation Exchange (SIX): Global network dedicated to social innovation practice and learning; comparable as a peer ecosystem-builder focused specifically on social innovation methodologies, communities of practice, and cross-border collaboration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FTriulza
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fondazionetriulza
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondazionetriulza
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondazione-triulza
• Instagraminstagram.com/Fondazione_Triulza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Fondazione Triulza