The initiative

The start-up event To the Peak will for the first time put capital directly on the table of the founders

It is Italy's first 'money on the table' mechanism. The investment fund 360 Capital will contribute EUR 360,000, tba Network and BluLime will add EUR 100,000. Applications to participate in the competition are open

by Pietro Menzani

1 June 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

For the first time in Italia, an event dedicated to startup founders will make capital directly available to participants. Within the scope of the 2026 edition of To the Peak - the South Tyrolean competition formerly known as Bolzano Slush'D - Italy's first 'money on the table' mechanism will make its debut: the event has announced a formal investment commitment for a total sum of EUR 460,000 for the winner of the pitch competition.

This is a first for our country and a breakthrough for the entire national start-up ecosystem. Applications to take part in the competition - to be held in Bolzano between 9 and 11 September 2026 - are now open.

The prize

The funds are dedicated to the most promising start-ups and derive from contributions made by various entities active in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. The most significant investment - EUR 360,000 - comes from 360 Capital, one of Europe's leading venture capital companies in the deep tech, climate tech and digital sectors. The fund manages EUR 700 million in assets and has an active portfolio of more than 80 companies.

The remaining EUR 100,000 is offered by the Tyrolean Business Angel Network (tba network) - the leading business angel network in South Tyrol and North Tyrol - together with BluLime, a holding company with offices in Bolzano, Innsbruck and Vienna that finances projects related to digitalisation, healthcare and sustainability.

Lucrezia Lucotti, partner at 360 Capital, explained that "ten years after our first 360 pitch competition, supporting To The Peak is a natural step," adding that "over the past ten years we have seen first-hand how the right stage, at the right time, can change the trajectory of a company. To The Peak is where we want to meet the next generation of digital, deep tech and climate tech founders: not just to see them present, but to support them with real capital. This is the signal we want to send to the tech ecosystem'.

Eva Ogriseg, ceo of tba network, also expressed great enthusiasm for the initiative: 'For the local investment community, supporting local entrepreneurial talent is both an honour and a responsibility. The collaboration with 360 Capital is a strong signal of how local ecosystems and international venture capital can work together to create concrete opportunities for founders".

Tutela del territorio con lo smartphone, l’idea di IntelligEarth

The event programme

The 2026 edition of To the Peak will feature outstanding speakers and guests on stage. The organisers' aim remains to bring participants into direct contact with the broader innovation landscape. For this very reason, the epicentre of the opening day will be the NOI Techpark - South Tyrol's leading science and technology park -, while numerous experiential and themed events will be staged throughout the city. Among other things, there will be a hackathon organised with ElevenLabs and Lovable in partnership with Yellow Tech, a Climb and Talk session hosted by Salewa, and an event dedicated to social entrepreneurship together with the international network Enactus.

Local institutions will also participate in the event. On 9 September, Arno Kompatscher, President of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, will speak as part of an experiential afternoon hosted by the NOI Techpark.

Then, on Thursday 10 September, 60 startups selected from those who apply will present their products and services to investors, corporations and partners to win the 460,000 euro prize. The event will be held at the Bolzano Trade Fair.

The speakers

The programme is constantly being updated, but the first confirmed speaker is Jack Mardack, co-founder of the unicorn hr-tech Oyster and founding member of Eventbrite, who will be coming from San Diego to provide founders with his expertise in building and scaling high-potential businesses.

The CEO of the Organising Committee, Cristian Frigo, explained that 'with this edition we are moving from the ability to aggregate ecosystems to a concrete commitment. The resources provided by 360 Capital and tba network, the institutional support of the Province of Bolzano and the level of speakers and partners involved send a clear signal: To The Peak is establishing itself as the place where capital, talent and policy converge to support the next generation of European founders'.

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