The delay in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is significant in Italy, as well as across Europe and the world. However, startups and innovative SMEs—thanks to their contributions in terms of innovation, including digital technologies and AI—can help accelerate progress, as highlighted in Reach the Goals, the new report by Cariplo Factory.
Among the most commonly pursued goals by the startups featured in the report are: Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12)—with 20% of surveyed companies primarily active in this area—Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3) at 16%, and Climate Action (Goal 13) at 13%. These are followed by Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11), each accounting for 11%.
Trying to achieve 2030 SDGs
On the other hand, the least represented goals include Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10), No Poverty (Goal 1), and Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17). Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Goal 16) is not among the top priorities but is still present within the broader scope.
Geographically, startups based in Southern and Central Italy tend to focus on specific SDGs such as Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Quality Education (Goal 4), Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), and Climate Action (Goal 13), while those in the North demonstrate a more balanced distribution across the various goals.
The report also highlights limited access to public calls and dedicated funding for sustainable entrepreneurship: only 1 in 3 startups accessed public grants, and less than 1 in 2 collaborated with institutions for SDG monitoring and implementation. However, 80% participated in incubation and acceleration programs. Additionally, over 70% of startups reported having already received investment, with notable differences: in the South and Center, the main investors are incubators and accelerators, while in the North, venture capital and corporate venture capital also play a role.
The full report is available here: https://cariplofactory.it/en/progetto/reach-the-goals-3/
Milan, August 26, 2025 – The new report “Reach The Goals | Italian startups for the SDGs” was presented, marking the fourth stage in a journey of analysis and promotion of the Italian innovation ecosystem launched by Cariplo Factory in 2020.
After having examined the impact of startups during the pandemic with “Startup vs Covid-19”, celebrated female entrepreneurship in “Pow(h)er Generation”, and explored sustainability in “Sustainability Waves”, Cariplo Factory continues its commitment by giving voice to 128 startups and innovative SMEs that work every day to provide concrete solutions inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. They are only a part of the wider Italian innovation ecosystem, but their characteristics make them a representative sample of companies that can concretely contribute—with solutions tested in the market—to the achievement of the Goals set for 2030.
The report “Reach the Goals – Italian Startups for the SDGs” shows, in fact, that all the participating startups work on one or more SDGs, with particular attention to Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and Goal 13 (Climate Action). On the contrary, the least addressed by startups are Goal 17, “Partnerships for the Goals”, Goal 16, “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”, Goal 10, “Reduced Inequalities”, and Goal 1, “No Poverty”—a sign of the difficulty in translating institutional and systemic themes into sustainable business models.
The report, which received the patronage of the European Commission, fits into a national and global context: according to the Global Sustainable Development Report 2024, only 17% of measurable targets are likely to be achieved by 2030, while almost half (48%) are at risk of not being reached—even considering the challenges of measuring on a global scale. The latests ISTAT reports also highlights several delays in achieving the SDGs. Nonetheless, there is room for optimism: innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence are identified by top experts and policymakers as crucial tools to accelerate the path forward.
THE SNAPSHOT OF THE 128 STARTUPS: WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED
The 128 startups and innovative SMEs that responded to the “Reach The Goals” report survey are young, yet show a strong inclination toward international expansion and a high level of technological maturity (about 70% of the startups have already obtained certifications or patents). The majority are startups (66% of the total, compared to 34% of innovative SMEs), half of which are in the pre-seed and seed stage, 20% in the early stage, and 30% in the growth stage. They are primarily active in the B2B sector (70% of cases), although there are also companies targeting consumer markets and public administration.
There are many overlaps that highlight the cross-cutting potential of innovative technological solutions: one in four operates in at least two segments simultaneously among B2B, B2C, and B2G. More than half of the startups and SMEs were founded after 2021, and over 90% came into being after the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. These are companies that were born, in every sense, in the SDG era, and in their dynamics reflect the full complexity of a world that seeks to reconcile economic growth with sustainable development, aiming to achieve the benefits generated by both.
THE SECTORS AND ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE STARTUPS OPERATE: FROM AGRITECH TO FEMTECH, INCLUDING AI, HEALTH, AND SATELLITE INDUSTRY
The sectors in which the 128 startups and innovative companies participating in Reach the Goals operate are many, complex, and cross-sectoral: from agritech, which focuses on monitoring devices for agriculture and water resource savings (9.3% of the surveyed sample), to energy efficiency, with companies active in the production of innovative geothermal power plants and others developing platforms to automate the implementation of renewable energy systems.
4.6% of the companies are active in the social sector, including those working to break down communication barriers for deaf people, and those who – through multi-specialty centers in complex cities like Milan – offer medical, psychological and rehabilitation services at affordable rates for everyone and free of charge for vulnerable groups of the population. There is also attention to the world of education, with young entrepreneurs combining research, technology, and theatre to promote education, training, and participation for the new generations. And there are those working to improve job search through technology, such as the startup dedicated to the professional growth of new and expecting parents.
And again, among the startups interviewed, there are those who combine culture and technology, such as the itinerary platform offering travel, culture, and sustainability proposals by following alternative routes to traditional tourist circuits, or the app that facilitates access to thousands of high-resolution artworks from major Italian and foreign museums.
Particularly interesting is the startup that applies AI to medical diagnosis for advanced pulmonary diagnostics, with the goal of creating the first Large Language Model for surgery and patient monitoring; still in the medical and female health (Femtech) sector, someone is creating the first virtual clinic in Italy dedicated to menopause.
Among the 128 companies interviewed there are also businesses working in the field of architecture and new materials: from the design of children’s furniture with sustainable materials, modular and aligned with a zero-waste policy, to the development of next-generation, eco-sustainable materials made from cork stopper waste sourced from the Sardegna region. Finally, some are looking upward and designing miniaturized satellite telecommunication systems, while in the foodtech sector, work is underway on a portable device capable of detecting the presence of gluten in restaurant dishes.
GEOGRAPHY AND GENDER: 64% ARE LOCATED IN THE NORTH, MAJORITY OF MALE FOUNDERS BUT ONE IN THREE TEAMS IS MIXED
Many companies in “Reach The Goals” originated from entrepreneurs from Southern Italy, who were drawn – in the constant search for market opportunities, capital, and connections – towards the northern regions of the country, where developing a business proves to be easier, both in terms of accessing investment opportunities and due to the dynamism of the innovation market itself. The location of the companies reflects the existing gap between the North, where 64% of the total is based, and the Center-South, from which many entrepreneurs nonetheless came to bring value to the entire ecosystem, starting from their homeland. The same applies to the gender of the founders: even here, the numbers can be misleading at first glance, with 63% of companies founded by all-male teams and 9% by all-female teams. However, it is worth noting that one in three teams is “mixed”, with a significant female presence – a sign of an ongoing change and a progressive reshaping of gender dynamics, beyond any rigid division.
THE MAIN SDGS IN WHICH ITALIAN STARTUPS AND INNOVATIVE SMEs OPERATE
The startups of “Reach The Goals” seem to favor certain goals over others, such as Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), identified as the main focus by 20% of the companies, followed by Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3) with 16%, and Climate Action (Goal 13) with 13%. Also in double digits are Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11), both indicated by 11%. All other goals fall below the 10% threshold, with only one goal, Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), not identified by any company as a primary goal.
However, the main goals are increasingly intersecting and integrating with other goals, addressed with varying intensity depending on the individual companies, such as Quality Education (Goal 4), Gender Equality (Goal 5), and Life on Land (Goal 15).
CHOICE OF SDG GOALS: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN ITALY AND BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
The report shows that in Southern and Central Italy there is a clear prevalence of entrepreneurs specialized in a few but well-defined SDGs, such as Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Quality Education (Goal 4), Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), and Climate Action (Goal 13). In contrast, in the North, there is a much more evenly distributed engagement across all Goals. As for gender distribution, mixed-gender teams and all-female teams dominate in the areas of Clean Water and Sanitation (Goal 6) and Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), in addition to the more “expected” Gender Equality (Goal 5), where notably absent are mixed or all-male teams. Mixed teams, in this special ranking, are among the top performers in Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), No Poverty (Goal 1), Clean Water (Goal 6), and Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17).
FUNDING SYSTEMS: STARTUP GRANTS AND INCUBATION AND ACCELERATION PROGRAMS
A mixed picture emerges from the report regarding the country’s support for innovative businesses and startups: in most cases, entrepreneurs relied on their own resources, without being able or willing to access grants and funding dedicated to sustainable entrepreneurship—only 30% of cases examined accessed such funding. This percentage drops to 20% for companies based in Central-Southern Italy and for those founded by women only. Lack of support especially affects companies in the pre-seed and seed stages, where less than a third managed to benefit from dedicated funding; in contrast, for early stage companies the percentage improves significantly, with almost half securing financing. Among the goals least covered by grants and funding for sustainable entrepreneurship are Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11) and Climate Action (Goal 13), with 80% of companies declaring they have not received any dedicated support; in the areas of Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9), and Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), this percentage falls to 60%, still below the overall average.
Things go better with acceleration and incubation programs: almost 80% of the total companies have taken part in such programs, with important differences depending on the specific goals. In particular, companies active in a widely pursued goal like Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3) nearly reach 100% participation in incubation and acceleration programs, while goals such as Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal 7) and Climate Action (Goal 13) do not exceed 60%, with a significant percentage of startups reporting that they have never taken part in these types of programs.
THE ADVANTAGE GENERATED BY IMPACT MEASUREMENT
A particularly positive note emerges from the ability of individual companies to enhance their performance through voluntary impact measurement based on Sustainability Reporting and the SDGs. Here the difference is in the double-digit percentage range: over 80% of startups that have carried out at least one of the two types of measurement received awards or other public recognitions, compared to just under 70% of those who did not produce any impact report. This is a figure that should be considered with appropriate caution and context, but which still indicates the importance of making clear choices when it comes to monitoring, analysis, and above all, communicating one’s commitment to sustainability externally.
A LOOK AHEAD AT FUTURE CHALLENGES
Finally, the “Reach The Goals” startups have already shown a positive response in terms of investments: over 70% have received at least one round of funding, with percentages ranging from 57% for Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11) to 80% for Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), up to nearly 90% for Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9). Four out of five companies are seeking new rounds, with 20% aiming to raise over one million euros and another 25% over half a million. In Central Italy, investors are mainly incubators and accelerators, while in the North, these are joined by business angels, venture capital, and CVCs, in a significantly greater proportion than in the rest of the country.
” Our report highlights the crucial role of Italian startups and SMEs in closing the SDG gap, offering innovative solutions for businesses and institutions. Young, dynamic, equipped with patents and technologies tested in industrial environments, these companies are changing the paradigm—even while operating in an ecosystem that doesn’t always offer adequate resources and support – said Riccardo Porro, Chief Operating Officer of Cariplo Factory. – The contribution of the startup ecosystem focuses on key themes such as Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12, 20%), Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3%), and Climate Action (Goal 13, 13%), a reflection of sectors where our country has strong traditions and areas of excellence, such as bioeconomy and circular economy.
These are crucial sectors that, however, require new approaches—such as supply chains. Indeed, it’s rare for a company, no matter how large, to address such complexities relying solely on its own expertise. That’s why we believe open innovation can be a winning model: it facilitates access to external know-how and experiences, accelerates the adoption of technologies already available on the market, all while boosting the growth of the best startups.”
TECHNICAL PARTNERS AND EU PATRONAGE
“Reach The Goals” received the patronage of the European Commission, along with the support of the following technical partners: AIFI, Bocconi4Innovation, Fondazione Social Venture Giordano dell’Amore, Innovup, Italian Tech Alliance, La Carica delle 101, Lifegate Way, and SheTech.
METHODOLOGY AND REPORT DEVELOPMENT
Reach the Goals is the result of nearly a decade of experience in managing innovation projects by the Cariplo Factory team. Over this time, the team has developed proprietary skills and methodologies that make it possible to accelerate transformative processes within companies, create innovation ecosystems, and organize growth and internationalization paths for startups. From a methodological point of view, Reach the Goals consists of four main phases: the call for startups, the selection criteria, the survey, and the actionable insights. The call for startups is the phase during which innovators were invited to join the project through an online form, which in this edition remained open from October 2024 to February 2025.
The second step concerned the selection criteria, which included: being established as a startup or innovative SME, having a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 or higher, having their main headquarters in Italy, and being active on at least one SDG. The third step is the survey itself, consisting of about 40 questions, created by the Cariplo Factory team responsible for Circular Economy and Sustainability initiatives. Finally, the Actionable Insights phase involves the interpretation of the data, supported by a Cariplo Factory team with experience in over 100 projects in the field of open innovation.
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