Four two-day sessions built on MIT's venture-design method, a network of mentors who've built ventures, and a closing Pitch Day. Equity-free, in English, at Fabbrica H3.

Equity-free acceleratorGiudecca, VenicePowered by MIT DesignX

Build a future-proof venture.

12editions
48startups accelerated
27countries
100+applications
Focus areas

Four themes Venice is building its future on

The focus of this call. If it's your field, wherever you're based, this is where we want to meet you.

01

Culture, Heritage & Tourism

Culture, Heritage & Tourism

Culture, places and experiences.

  • Heritage preservation & enhancement
  • Sustainable & regenerative tourism
  • Next-gen hospitality & HoReCa
  • Immersive & digital cultural experiences
  • Local identities, craft & communities
  • Cultural & creative industries
02

Cities, Mobility & Public Services

Cities, Mobility & Public Services

More livable, intelligent cities.

  • Smart cities & intelligent infrastructure
  • Shared, autonomous & micromobility
  • Urban resilience & adaptation
  • Digital twins & urban data platforms
  • GovTech & CivicTech, digital public services
  • Participation, transparency & civic trust
03

Climate, Energy & Environment

Climate, Energy & Environment

Energy and environmental transition.

  • CleanTech & ClimateTech
  • Renewables, storage & grids
  • Circular economy & resource management
  • Blue economy, water & coastal environments
  • Environmental monitoring & predictive modeling
  • Climate adaptation & mitigation

Venezia living lab dove tocca l'acqua

04

Work, Learning & Human Capital

Work, Learning & Human Capital

New models of work and learning.

  • Future of work & new organizational models
  • EdTech & lifelong learning
  • Skills development & reskilling
  • HR tech, talent & people mobility
  • AI agents & generative learning
  • Professional communities & historic centers

Venezia come proof-point

Fit check

Is Vortex right for you?

We back early-stage teams with ambition and a clear problem to solve. If that's you - let's build.

The right moment

01
Apply if
  • You have a clear idea and a first business hypothesis, not just a hunch.
  • You're shaping your business model and how it holds over time.
  • You're testing the model's key assumptions, but haven't proven it on the market yet.
  • You want a team and a method to make your venture solid and future-proof.

Come back later

02
Not yet if
  • You're at the hunch stage, with no defined business hypothesis.
  • You already have a model proven with customers, first sales, and you're scaling.
In practiceValidated need and an early prototype, model and team forming — early-stage, not an idea on paper nor an already-scaled company.
Vortex phases

A method, not a masterclass

Four phases of the MIT DesignX venture-design method, one per workshop.

What 'powered by MIT DesignX' meansThe method is MIT's; the people guiding you are the mentors and founders who came through the program in Venice. Continuity, not a downgrade.
01.UnderstandDeeply understand the need and who'll use the solution, by engaging people and stakeholders.
02.DefineClearly define the concept, product or service that delivers the solution.
03.EnvisionEnvision where to take the venture and the principles guiding decisions, development and funding.
04.DeployA master plan of priorities, people, processes and funds to deploy and scale the venture.
Benefits

What you get?

A network of mentors who've built ventures
The DesignX Playbook
A Pitch Day in front of investors and partners
Equity-free — your IP stays yours
Dates & format

Choose your Vortex workshop

Four two-day workshops (Thursday–Friday) from September to November, in person at H3, in English. Along the way, a Pitch Clinic and Pitch Rehearsals, up to the Final Pitch.

Workshop 1Sept 15–16 / 17–18
understand
Workshop 2Oct 1–2
define
Pitch ClinicOct 9–10 / 16–17
Workshop 3Oct 22–23
envision
Workshop 4Nov 5–6
deploy
Pitch RehearsalsNov 13–14 / 20–21
Final PitchNov 25–30

In personEnglishH3 Giudeccasome dates still to be confirmed

Vortex leaders

Who leads the Vortex program

Mentors and founders who came through MIT DesignX in Venice.

Mentor photo 1 — TODO replace with real mentor
About Maria

Maria RossiFounder
Mentor photo 2 — TODO replace with real mentor
About Luca

Luca BianchiMentor
Mentor photo 3 — TODO replace with real mentor
About Elena

Elena works at the intersection of climate innovation, circular economy and urban resilience. She has helped early-stage ventures turn research into scalable products and advises founders on sustainability strategy, partnerships and growth.

Elena ContiProducer
Mentor photo 3 — TODO replace with real mentor
About Andrea

Andrea MorettiFounder
Mentor photo 3 — TODO replace with real mentor
About Andrea

Andrea MorettiFounder

Church Cosma e Damiano (Giudecca)

A former church on the Giudecca, now an innovation hub run by SerenDPT. A real working space, a vaporetto ride from the heart of Venice. Here Venice takes the lead: the experience, not the themes.

Vortex stages

How selection works

01Apply
02Shortlist
03Interviews
04Cohort

What to prepare to apply

01

Problem & needs, market (TAM/SAM/SOM), model, team, prototype.

How we assess maturity

02

Open KTH model: six dimensions and expected levels.

Apply to the selection
Our partners

With the support of

MIT DesignX
SerenDPT
Fondazione di Venezia
Comune [TODO]
Regione [TODO]
Questions & Answers

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Equity-free and no training fee.