Italian start-ups take centre stage in Nashville at the most important conference in the US South

For the first time, Sistema Italia was the protagonist in Nashville, Tennessee at 3686, the most important conference in the Southern United States dedicated to start-ups, investors and innovation, now in its 12th edition, bringing talent, creativity and concreteness to the stage. Thanks to the efforts of the Consulate of Italy in Detroit, led by Consul Allegra Baistrocchi, who also has jurisdiction over Nashville, and the collaboration with RetImpresa Confindustria, three Italian start-ups had the opportunity to present themselves in front of a qualified audience of over 300 international investors.

The three selected companies - 2hire, Alba Robot and Volvero - represent some of the most promising projects on the national scene in the field of sustainable mobility, and their founders arrive in Nashville after a lengthy selection process involving the Confindustria network. 2hire, with Filippo Agostino, showed how its technological solutions can transform any vehicle into a digital device, opening up new scenarios for mobility services. Alba Robot, with Daniel Chiaravalli, impressed with the strength of its project integrating robotics and artificial intelligence to propose autonomous options for transporting people and things. Volvero, led by Marco Filippi, presented its innovative car sharing platform, which connects private owners and vehicle users making mobility more sustainable and inclusive. Their presence in Nashville is the result of the second edition of 'The Perfect Pitch - Rock Your Startup' competition, promoted by RetImpresa Confindustria, which gave these Italian excellences the opportunity to access one of the most important ecosystems of relationships and capital in the United States.

"With The Perfect Pitch we have shown that Confindustria not only supports start-ups, but also accompanies them to conquer international stages, generating concrete results and opportunities for real growth. Collaboration between companies and institutions is the trump card for producing value and being more competitive in Italy and abroad," stressed Carlo La Rotonda, Director of RetImpresa. "Being the first foreign country invited with our companies to the benchmark event for innovation in the state, after having contributed to Tennessee's +40% increase in imports in one year, is concrete proof of the strength of Sistema Italia. The future of mobility is moving people, things, energy and data, and Italy is ready to lead this sustainable transformation,' commented Consul Allegra Baistrocchi.

What makes this experience even more significant is the television story: the entire mission has been documented in the docufilm 'Italian Mindset', a production designed for the American public that bears witness to the concrete results of this journey and enhances the image of Italy as a hub of innovation and creativity. A project that overcomes clichés and tells of an Italy capable of competing on a global level, thanks to the collaboration between institutions, businesses and the world of innovation, and that will be released on TV in spring 2026.

The docufilm is realised in partnership with the Italy America Reputation Lab and the Gruppo Editoriale ilNewyorkese, the Italian American Media Powerhouse founded by Davide Ippolito, confirming a communication strategy that does not just promote individual start-ups, but strengthens the 'Italy' brand in the United States.