A Università Mediterranea team wins the StartCup Calabria 2025.

Organized in collaboration between the Calabrian Universities, the Calabria Region and Fincalabra , the 17th edition of StartCup Calabria took place last October 24th in a crowded and festive auditorium of the Magna Graecia  University of Catanzaro, the regional competition that promotes innovative entrepreneurial ideas and avant-garde visions in and for the Calabrian region.

The eleven competing teams were evaluated by a jury of experts based on criteria such as innovation, feasibility, impact on the territory and sustainability.

This year's overall first prize went to the Reggio Calabria "Wine – Fresh" team, created by Ilaria Lupis (a recent graduate in Food Science and Technology and a sommelier) and Antonio Cosimo Pio Trimboli (a graduate in Energy Engineering and a PhD candidate in Civil, Environmental, and Industrial Engineering, majoring in "Processes, Technologies, and Materials for Ecological Transition"). Their goal was to enhance the consumer's sensory experience and promote their product on the market. They presented a proposal for technological innovation in wine preservation, ensuring freshness and quality through advanced solutions.

Also participating on behalf of our University was the "TuMangi" team, developed by Lorenzo Giosuè Borgia (Agricultural Science and Technology student), Maria Assunta Mazzacuva (Food Science and Technology student), and Davide Crea (photographer). Focusing on sustainability, promoting local products, and innovation in the restaurant sector, they proposed a model aimed at promoting Calabrian agri-food excellence with traveling technology platforms, demonstrating how tradition and modernity can coexist harmoniously. 

Preceded by greetings from the Rector of Magna Graecia Gianni Cuda , the working groups were introduced by:  Marianna Mauro , delegate for the Third Mission activities of UMG,  Maurizio Muzzupappa , Delegate of the Rector for Technology Transfer of the University of Calabria and  Massimo Lauria , Pro-Rector for Research and Technology Transfer of the Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Antonio Mazzei for Fincalabra.

The winners will now have the opportunity to participate in the prestigious National Innovation Award (PNI Cube), which will be held in Ferrara on December 4th and 5th.

Giuseppe Zimbalatti, Rector of the Università Mediterranea, emphasized that " with this initiative, the regional university system and the Calabria region renew their commitment to supporting the growth of the productive ecosystem, aiming to foster ever-increasing awareness of the ability to do business and retain our talent. "

Massimo Lauria , Vice Rector for Research and Università Mediterranea delegate member of the StartCup Calabria Technical Committee, stated: " This is a success story that comes from afar. It is the result of an investment in the training of our young people. In fact, the teams that participated in the Business Plan Competition both trained at our University's Contamination Lab, where, thanks to regional funding, the InnovAction Lab, a business idea incubator, was held in 2024. This proves that investments in training, always proving to be the most productive, show us the path to follow ."

The Reggio Emilia “Wine – Fresh” team, made up of Ilaria Lupis and Antonio Cosimo Pio Trimboli, won the first overall prize