Italian startups face a harsh reality: merely 7% advance beyond the initial growth phase. Qonto, the French financial services platform operating across 8 countries and supporting over 600,000 small businesses and independent professionals, recognised this challenge and established PowerUp in 2022 as a response. Rather than functioning as a traditional competition, the programme equips early-stage founders with tangible resources—structured networking opportunities, hands-on mentorship and investor introductions—that go well beyond symbolic recognition.

Now in its fifth iteration, PowerUp is welcoming applications from Italian startups. The submission window remains active until 18 October 2026.

The programme's foundation and purpose

Qonto's reasoning is grounded in lived experience. The company itself navigated the precarious early years that most startups don't survive, giving it both motivation and credibility to invest in the ecosystem. Italy's startup survival trajectory trails the broader European pattern, making the intervention particularly relevant for the local market.

PowerUp operates as a sustained commitment rather than a seasonal campaign. The initiative draws strength from partnerships with over 30 incubators, accelerators, shared workspaces and investment firms. Throughout the year, the programme runs a series of events—PowerUp Masterclasses, #asktheFund and #asktheFounder sessions—that connect emerging founders with established entrepreneurs and venture capital professionals, extending support far beyond the initial application phase.

Timeline and key milestones for 2026

  • Late June 2026 — programme launch at We Make Future
  • July–October 2026 — partnership amplification with online #asktheFund / #asktheFounder sessions pairing early-stage founders with scale-up leaders and investors
  • 18 October 2026 — application deadline
  • 5 November 2026 — final Pitch Night held in Milan

Founders interested in participating in the #asktheFund sessions can track these events via the Qonto Community platform, which also shares announcements about upcoming masterclasses.

Eligibility requirements

PowerUp focuses on specific stages of company development. Applicants must be Italian firms with formal incorporation and fall into one of two funding brackets:

  • Pre-Seed — registered startups operating on bootstrapped capital or having secured up to €500,000 in outside funding
  • Post-Seed — startups that have raised between €500,000 and €3,000,000 in outside funding

Both categories must satisfy two conditions: the startup must have produced revenue within the preceding year and must demonstrate a financially viable expansion strategy. Applications must showcase innovation—whether in product, technology, operations or commercial approach—coupled with measurable potential for international growth.

Selection criteria encompass team completeness, market opportunity and solution scalability, plans for geographic expansion, and achievements already attained. Comprehensive guidelines and conditions are available for download on the official PowerUp page.

The Pitch Night structure

  1. Application — a brief form submitted through Qonto's website, followed by a comprehensive application via the F6S platform (accessible through an email link for later completion)
  2. Finalist selection — six startups advance to Pitch Night: three from Pre-Seed and three from Post-Seed
  3. Pitch Night — 5 November in Milan, where a panel of investors, established founders and sector specialists determine one winner in each category
  4. Continued engagement — winning startups join a year-long programme of training and mentorship

Prizes and benefits

The awards are non-monetary, as explicitly stated in the programme rules, but centre on something frequently more valuable for emerging companies: privileged access to influential people and professional networks.

  • One-on-one mentoring with Alexandre Prot, Qonto's CEO and co-founder, focused on entrepreneurship and strategic direction
  • One-on-one mentoring with Heidrun Luyt, Qonto's Chief Growth Officer, centred on growth strategy
  • Complimentary pass to VivaTech 2027 in Paris, including travel and lodging
  • Guided tour of Qonto's Paris office

Previous winners and patterns

Examining past recipients reveals more about PowerUp's appeal than marketing materials ever could. The inaugural 2022 edition crowned This Unique following an extensive tour spanning over 3,700 kilometres across four Italian regions. When the programme introduced dual prize categories in 2023, TrueScreen and CyLock emerged victorious. The 2024 round saw Crono, which automates B2B sales through artificial intelligence, and Lit, which monitors energy consumption for efficiency gains, take the honours. Most recently, PowerUp recognised Rilemo, a portable device using AI for immediate brain diagnostics, and Compri, an AI-driven platform that streamlines procurement workflows in manufacturing.

A consistent pattern emerges: winning entries address specific industry needs rather than attempting to be universal solutions.

How to submit an application

The submission process unfolds across two phases: first, a concise form on the PowerUp official page; second, a detailed application accessible via F6S through an email-sent link. This structure allows applicants to begin without having all materials prepared immediately.

Deadline: 18 October 2026.

Source: Startup Reporter