Start Cup Bergamo 2021, 11th Edition | Awarding the Best Business Ideas
Start Cup, Special Prize The Fondazione Pesenti Special Prize was awarded to Pamac, Patient Self-Management of Chronic Diseases, a project aimed at helping citizens over 65 break down “digital barriers” in both social and healthcare contexts, facilitating access and strengthening digital health literacy.
First Prize went to LookPark, an app that helps users find parking spots.
The business idea competition, promoted by the University of Bergamo, also recognized ReHubAI, a platform connecting patients and therapists.
Once again, the Fondazione Cav. Lav. Carlo Pesenti partnered with Start Cup Bergamo, the entrepreneurial training and support initiative of the University of Bergamo, which concluded yesterday by awarding the top three out of twelve finalist projects.
The award ceremony took place in the presence of finalist teams, jury members, and faculty, along with the Rector of the University of Bergamo, Remo Morzenti Pellegrini, and representatives from the participating institutions: Intesa San Paolo, Fondazione Pesenti, Ribo, Bergamo Sviluppo, Confindustria Bergamo, Sportello Finanziario delle Idee (Bergamo Diocese), Step, and Studio Locatelli.
The participants of the 11th edition of Start Cup Bergamo stood out for their brilliant ideas, confident presentations, and ambitious projects—with the hope that their ideas will soon become reality, supported by financial awards and development support.
third place, (Prize: €2,500 + Special Prize for Highest Social Impact from Fondazione Pesenti to “ the project with Highest Social Impact”) won by Pamac, Patient Self-Management of Chronic Diseases By Mariangela Vanalli and team (Myriam Femminella, M. Speranza Tona, Umberto Della Monica, Nicola Romito, Olga Fraschini) Objective: To assist citizens over 65 in overcoming digital barriers within both social and healthcare contexts, facilitating their access to services and reinforcing digital health literacy.
Secon place (Prize: €5,000) ReHubAI, by Desirée Arancio. A platform designed to connect therapists and patients, using video analysis tools and AI technologies to build customized rehabilitation programs.
First place (Prize: €10,000) LookPark – by Alberto Noris
A real-time parking map technology that displays available city parking spots directly on users’ mobile devices. With over 2,400 parking spaces, the city of Bergamo is the prime candidate for piloting the project, which included comprehensive market analysis, problem-solving strategies, privacy considerations, and a financial development plan.
Fondazione Pesenti Special Prize for “Highest Social Impact Project” Pamac
The project Pamac – Patient Self-Management of Chronic Diseases targets citizens over 65, aiming to reduce the digital divide in healthcare by facilitating the use of the Electronic Health Record (Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico – FSE). Recognizing that older patients often struggle to keep up with the rapid digitalization of healthcare, Pamac aims to bridge this gap. The service also addresses bureaucratic hurdles that contribute to feelings of isolation and discomfort among seniors.
Pamac plans to collaborate with civil protection units, volunteers, community pharmacies, municipalities, and social services to provide transportation for clinical visits and other support services for seniors.
The project introduces a new professional role: the Health Consultant (CDS – Consulente Della Salute)—a figure increasingly needed in the current socio-healthcare context but not yet formally established.
Pamac connects with the CDS and integrates digital components through a health data interoperability platform, which monitors follow-up care and stratifies patients based on social and functional frailty (independence vs. disability), with predictive alerts and monitoring.
The service will be offered via a subscription model for patients and general practitioners/municipalities.
TEAM
MARIANGELA VANALLI Team leader
PhD candidate in Public Health at Tor Vergata University, Rome; Healthcare Consultant Manager with Ernst & Young, specializing in FSE. Responsible for organization and document review.
MYRIAM FEMMINELLA, Biomedical Engineer (Pavia), Analyst & Project Manager at ICS Maugeri Spa, focused on process analysis and scenario planning.
UMBERTO DELLA MONICA, IT and healthcare division director; contributed to process analysis and service definition.
MARIA SPERANZA TONA, Clinical Engineer (Pavia), works with ARIA S.p.A.; focused on process analysis and scenario planning.
NICOLA ROMITO, Service industry manager; responsible for market impact analysis and business plan development.
SILVIA GONELLA, Nurse researcher with a PhD from the Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin; contributed to scenario development and literature review on CDS core competencies.
OLGA FRASCHINI, General Practitioner (ATS Lecco); involved in scenario writing and identification of variables for socio-administrative records.
THE JURY
Giovanna Campopiano Università degli studi di Bergamo – CYFE
Lucio Cassia Università degli studi di Bergamo – CYFE
Davide Hahn Università degli studi di Bergamo – CYFE
Mario Salerno Università degli studi di Bergamo – CYFE
Maria Rosa Scarlata Università degli studi di Bergamo – Dip. di Scienze Aziendali
Vittorio Carrara Intesa San Paolo
Michele Balicco Ribo
Enrico Felter Fondazione Cav. Lav. Carlo Pesenti
Paolo Carminati Bergamo Sviluppo
Alessandro Giudici Bayes Business School, UK
Aldo Livolsi Fondazione Centesimus Anno pro Pontefice (FCAPP) – Bergamo
Andrea Locatelli Locatelli & Partners
Diego Lussana Confindustria Bergamo
Cinzia Morisco STEP TechPark
Armando Persico Junior Achievement Italia
INSIGHTS
Rassegna
