NEXT AGE

Next Age is the first European Accelerator aimed at startups that develop solutions dedicated to the Silver Economy, the products and services sector targeted at the over 50 population, which is estimated to reach 5.7 trillion euro in value, equal to a third of Europe's GDP, by 2025 .

Next Age was conceived at the initiative of CDP Venture Capital together with AC75 Startup Accelerator, the startup accelerator promoted by Fondazione Marche together with Fondazione Cariverona and Università Politecnica delle Marche, and the international venture capital company SOSV, which manages startup development programmes in the seed phase. It also involves the presence of Intesa Sanpaolo as main partner as well as the Istituto Nazionale Ricovero e Cura Anziani (I.N.R.C.A.), Università Politecnica delle Marche and the UK National Innovation Center for Aging as scientific partners. 

The programme is part of a collaboration between CDP Venture Capital with Fondazione Marche and Fondazione Cariverona, which led to a total allocation of 8 million euro for the development of innovative start-ups and SMEs in the area.

With initial assets under management of approximately 5.46 million euro, subscribed by CDP Venture Capital's Accelerators Fund and by AC75 Startup Accelerator, Next Age aims to boost the growth of start-ups operating in the Silver Economy, a transversal sector encompassing innovative solutions for the emerging needs of the over 50  population, from wellbeing to health care, from new housing and welfare models to recreational activities, from mobility to tourism, up to dedicated financial and insurance services. In addition to an initial investment for the start-ups selected by the programme, assets under management include capital for the subsequent post acceleration follow-ons for the start-ups with the highest growth potential.

Next Age is a 3-year programme which plans to select each year around 10 start-ups in the seed and pre-seed phase, which will gain access to a 4-month structured process with the support of the accelerator's partners, so as to be guided towards the validation of their own business model. 

The Accelerator will be based in Ancona at Palazzo Camerata, the headquarters of AC75 Startup Accelerator, and participating start-ups will be able to follow the process in hybrid mode (physical and digital).

The call for the selection of the first 10 start-ups that will be taking part in Next Age was open  until May 31st on www.nextage.io.

The first batch will go from June to October.