Smart&Start Italia 2026: how it works and how to prepare your application

Smart&Start Italia is open and funds business plans of innovative startups between 100,000 euro and 1.5 million euro with a zero-interest, unsecured loan covering 80% of eligible costs. For a startup in Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia or Trentino-Alto Adige there is no 30% non-repayable portion, which is reserved for some southern regions and the central Italy earthquake area: so it is debt to be repaid over 10 years. It can make a lot of sense, but only if the plan is solid and your co-financing share is covered.

In short

• Managed by Invitalia and promoted by the Ministry of Enterprises (MIMIT), listed as "active" on the official site.
• For small innovative startups incorporated no more than 60 months ago, teams of individuals who will set up the company, and foreign companies opening a site in Italy.
• Plans from 100,000 to 1.5 million euro, with costs to be incurred within 24 months of signing the contract.
• Zero-interest loan for 80% of costs (up to 90% in some cases), repaid over 10 years starting from the twelfth month after the last disbursement.
• Rolling online applications with no rankings, evaluated within 60 days, including an interview with Invitalia experts.

Who it is for

According to Invitalia's official page, applicants can be:

• small innovative startups incorporated no more than 60 months ago and registered in the special section of the Business Register;
• teams of individuals, including foreign citizens with a "startup Visa", who will set up the company;
• foreign companies committing to open a site in Italy.

If you do not yet have innovative startup status, start there: after Law 193/2024 the requirements changed, so check them before building the plan. You will find useful material in our resources.

What it funds

The "What it funds" page requires business plans with at least one of these features:

• strong technological and innovative content;
• development of products, services or solutions in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, blockchain or the Internet of Things;
• commercial exploitation of public or private research results.

Eligible costs fall into two groups.

Investments: new plant, machinery and equipment; hardware and software; patents, trademarks and licences; certifications and know-how; design and development of IT architectures; specialist technology consulting; staff and collaborator costs; incubation and acceleration services; marketing and web marketing.

Operating costs: raw materials, services needed for operations, hosting and housing, leasing or use of third-party assets.

The terms in detail

From the "Benefits" page:

• Base loan: 80% of eligible costs, zero interest and no guarantee required.
• Loan raised to 90%: if the startup is made up entirely of women and/or people under 36, or if a shareholder holds a PhD (or equivalent) obtained no more than six years earlier and has spent at least three years in research or teaching abroad.
• Repayment: 10 years, starting from the twelfth month after the last loan instalment received.
• 30% non-repayable grant: only for startups based in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily, and in the central Italy earthquake area.
• Tutoring: for startups less than a year old, webinars, technical-management tutoring and a dedicated Invitalia tutor.

There is also debt conversion: after the final disbursement, part of the loan can be converted into a grant against a risk-capital investment by third parties or shareholders. If the transaction is already closed, the request must be filed within six months of the final disbursement. The official page does not state thresholds or percentages: check them in the "Regulations" section.

Scoring bonuses

Startups get extra points if they:

• work with incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs or research bodies;
• operate in the Centre-North but carry out the plan in the South;
• have an investment agreement with a qualified investor;
• hold a legality rating ("rating di legalità").

For a North-East startup the most realistic lever is often an agreement with a qualified investor or a collaboration with an incubator.

How to apply

From the "How to apply" page:

1. Get a digital identity (SPID, CNS or CIE), a digital signature and a certified email (PEC).
2. If the company already exists, register it in the "Anagrafica e deleghe" module of the Invitalia personal area. Data moved to a new platform on 3 November 2025.
3. Fill in the application online in the personal area.
4. Upload the business plan and attachments.
5. Submit and keep the electronic protocol number.

The application is signed by the legal representative; for companies not yet incorporated, by the individual responsible for the project, who must be one of the future shareholders. The full list of attachments is in the "Manuale per Presentare la domanda - Nov2025" published by Invitalia.

Evaluation follows order of arrival: formal check, merit assessment including an interview with Invitalia experts, and possible requests for additional documents. It ends within 60 days, excluding time for additions.

How to build a business plan that survives the interview

Invitalia does not publish a list of interview questions. What you can control is the plan's consistency:

1. Every cost linked to an output: if you hire two developers, write what they will deliver and when.
2. Covering the other 20%: the loan covers up to 80%. Show where the rest comes from, and the cash you need while you advance costs.
3. Realistic repayment: repayment starts after the last disbursement and runs for 10 years. Model the instalments in the financial plan.
4. Costs within 24 months: build the timeline inside the allowed window.
5. Team: who does what, full or part time, and which skills are missing.

What to do now

1. Check that you have, or can obtain, innovative startup status by the time you apply.
2. Download the application manual from the forms section of the Invitalia site and read the attachment list.
3. Set up digital identity, digital signature and PEC.
4. Build the financial plan with loan, repayment and co-financing.
5. Consider whether an agreement with an investor or incubator could earn you a scoring bonus.
6. If you want a second opinion on your plan before submitting, contact us.

Sources

• Invitalia, Smart&Start Italia
• Invitalia, Smart&Start Italia: what it funds
• Invitalia, Smart&Start Italia: benefits
• Invitalia, Smart&Start Italia: how to apply
• Invitalia, Smart&Start Italia: debt conversion

Terms can change: before applying, always check the official page and current regulations.

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