Southern Stars 2026

The redemption of the South passes through the ingenuity of visionary and resilient companies

It is the passion that drives many small entrepreneurs to start businesses in niche markets that, over time, become success stories

by Luigia Ierace

17 March 2026

La città della scienza a Bagnoli (Napoli), simbolo dell’ingegno del Mezzogiorno

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Ingenuity, creativity, resilience, but also the passion and desire for redemption of a Southern Italy that relies on skills, high training, technology and connections to overcome the heavy infrastructure gap. Anchored to the territory, the companies on the Stele del Sud 2026 Sole 24 Ore-Statista list reverse the trends of emigration and brain drain with that flicker of originality typical of southerners, which combined with digitalisation and innovation distinguishes them in the most diverse sectors: it&software, commerce, services, logistics.

Visionary, eclectic, passionate about physics, Guido Bozzelli was inspired by the Divine Comedy to found Digiltacomoedia srl in Naples in 2003, a plunge into the sea of imagination through digital. Thirty employees and a vision in which virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence and digital twin are applied to aerospace and defence, culture and entertainment. Travel through time and space to interact with a radar that controls the defence system of a virtual ship for digital training, or to interact with an ancient priestess to enhance museum heritage, or to follow the adventures of 'Lola on board', the 3D rendering cartoon, one of the first all-South Ip animations.

There is insight in computerising, without renouncing human presence, oil & gas inspection and making testing activities more efficient, traceable and transparent, thanks to PipeTrue, the software from EX.T.IN srl of Taranto that, explains sole director Pasquale Bello, 'from pipe production to inspections provides comprehensive, real-time information on quality and compliance'.

But there is also a great vision in Spike Rete Soggetto, formerly the Post & Service Group, founded in Modugno (Bari) in 1998 with the liberalisation, today an innovative model of network and technology applied to public logistics and proximity services, with 150 operating sites in Italia and a turnover of 20 million. "The old postman's bag," says founder Carlo Stramaglia, "is becoming more and more digital, even if it will take at least 10 years for the complete digitisation of mail". And in the meantime it does business by delivering 67 million court documents.

The generational transition in the South is not easy. You have to have an extra gear, like Mattia Mucci who, with Marco Luciani, founded Treddy srl in Pescara in 2020, 5 million turnover, specialising in industrial 3D printing and additive manufacturing. From 3D shin guards for football players, to one of the largest hubs in Italia (3,000 square metres) for producing large parts with robotic arms, especially for the nautical industry.

Antonella D'Ercole, on the board of directors of Lucana Sistemi srl, founded in Matera in 1980 by her father Cosimo, one of the main technology partners of the Basilicata Region (80 professionals and 8 million turnover), has revolutionised the way of learning with Ars Book, the first 4.0 publishing house, and a leader in the development of augmented reality apps for the education market in Italia. Among the novelties is a book-shaped children's seat with an integrated multitouch monitor and interactive software.

Talents and innovative start-ups are growing in Sicily. "We have invested in young people and in the territory, and OASI digitale was born, a network of a dozen companies with 1350 professionals and over 350 million in turnover," emphasises Stefano Ricca, who founded Ricca It in Ragusa and launched a suite of artificial intelligence services all 'made in Sicily' called Arianna in 2025. Over 63 million euro in turnover and with the entry of international leader Alessandro de Bartolo into the Board of Directors, he is aiming for a new branch in Milan, in addition to the offices in Ragusa, Catania, Rome, Naples and Bari.

Human capital is the strength of Next04, from Catania, more than 50 employees, all university graduates, average age 30, with offices also in Rome and Milan. 'There were four of us in a small flat,' explains CEO Carlo Testa, 'today we are an engine of innovation for the country. And also in Catania, Pixora, an innovative startup, born 2021, committed to the digitalisation of industrial processes and distinguished by its 100% open source approach; and Persec, founded in 2016, 28 employees 2.5 million turnover, which aims, says founder Antonio Licitra, to cross the strait, continuing to invest in training.

In Campania, DnaFactory has grown rapidly in Naples, from a 50-square-metre basement in 2016 to the 1,000-square-metre warehouse in Bacoli, by the sea, which will become an artificial intelligence hub (30 employees and 1.5 million in turnover). The founders Andrea Caprio and Daniel Russo, who collaborate with the Itis of Scampia and the Federico II University of Naples, operate with a start-up mentality, also paying attention to the well-being of employees between the gym and a management system for nutritionists.

From Naples to Rome to Sicily, ES Progetti, technical and technological excellence, was founded in 1991 as an information technology company applied to the digitisation, preservation, restoration and enhancement of cultural and environmental heritage with projects from Saudi Arabia to the archaeological park of Pompeii and the Colosseum. Around EUR 6.8 million and over 40 employees. The secret for Vincenzo Sommella, sole director, is in the multidisciplinary cross training in which each professional understands the digital language, but also that of cultural heritage.

In Apulia, Generation Bit, founded in Lecce in 2009 by Cesare Ingrosso to provide IT rental services for companies and PA, a reference for the market with 360-degree solutions, and Algòmera, founded in Brindisi in 2014, with offices also in Milan and Rovigo, which stands out for its 'tailor-made' approach and multidisciplinary team.

In Sardinia, Digital Pa, founded in 2014 in Cagliari, Sardinia, by Oscar Pitzanti, not only to build innovative software, but to fuel digital transformation, has over 100 employees, an office also in Sulmona, and around 7 million in turnover. Among the novelties is the InfoBandiPA platform.