The AI Festival 2027's "AI for Future" Startup Call is officially open.
Application Deadlines:
Phase 1 Deadline: October 15, 2026 — San Francisco, USA Selection
Phase 2 Deadline: November 10, 2026 — AI Festival Selection (Milan)
Phase 3 Deadline: December 10, 2026 — Saudi Makes Future Selection (Riyadh)
Phase 4 Deadline: April 9, 2027 — WMF Selection
WMF Grand Finale: June 12, 2027
The initiative's promoter is Search On Media Group S.r.l., with its headquarters and operating office at Via Ugo Bassi, 7 - 40121 Bologna, VAT number 02418200800 - Share capital €10,000. Phone: 051 0951294 - Email: info@wemakefuture.it. The company organizes the WMF - We Make Future event.
The initiative aims to encourage entrepreneurship by supporting the most innovative projects in the fields of AI, tech, and digital. The call is open to startups that have developed or plan to develop an innovative project or study in the areas of AI and data management.
To participate in the call, you must fill out the specific form, which consists of four sections:
The Applicant and Team
The Company
The Project and Future Challenges
The Documentation
Within the third step of the form, the 14 challenges of the future are indicated, which each startup is called to select as the challenge to be addressed with its innovative project.
1. IndustryTech & Robotics
2. Space Industry
3. Food & Agriculture
4. AI - Digital Business & Media
5. Rights & Cybersecurity
6. Entertainment & Cultural Industry
7. GovTech & Public Services
8. Health & Life Sciences
9. E-Commerce & Retail
10. Education & Work
11. CleanTech & Energy
12. FinTech, InsurTech & Blockchain
13. Smart Cities & Mobility
14. Tourism & Culture Heritage
The pitch must adhere to the provided guidelines.
The finalists, to be announced in the coming months, will present their project on the main stage of the AI Festival with a 3-minute pitch. After the presentation, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Participants will be evaluated based on:
Team expertise, sector knowledge, project feasibility
Product/service development stage
Innovation level and defensibility
Competitive landscape and positioning
Market demand and customer needs
Business potential of the idea
Completeness of the documentation provided
The finalists will be evaluated by the AI Festival's technical committee, which will assign prizes according to specific criteria:
Pitch clarity
Team expertise, sector knowledge, project feasibility
Product/service development stage
Innovation level and defensibility
Competitive landscape and positioning
Market demand and customer needs
Business potential of the idea
Completeness of the documentation provided
The award represents recognition of personal merit or an encouragement for the collective interest. The promoter cannot be held liable for the distribution of awards by partners mentioned above.
The promoter reserves the right to contact the winners and third parties via the addresses provided.
In accordance with Article 6 of DPR 430/01, this initiative is not considered a competition or prize operation, as it is intended for the presentation of projects or studies in a commercial or industrial context, where the awarding of the prize to the author is recognition of personal merit or an encouragement for the collective interest.
The promoter shall not be held responsible in any way regarding the execution of the initiative and/or the awarding of prizes. In any case, the participant agrees to indemnify and hold the promoter harmless from any harmful consequences, costs, damages—including sanctions from competent authorities—that may arise from or be enforced against the promoter as a result of the participant's actions or violation of the regulations. If, for any reason, the initiative cannot be carried out as planned, the promoter reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or cancel the initiative without any liability and without prior notice. Participation in the initiative does not require the purchase or sale of any products marketed by the promoter and/or related to the WMF. Participation in the initiative is free of charge.
The initiative and this regulation are governed by Italian law.
Bologna, February 27, 2026