Sisal GoBeyond competition aims to spark careers of Italy’s brightest entrepreneurs

Italian lottery operator Sisal SPA has continued its funding of talent development projects for Italy’s new workforce through the hosting of its ‘GoBeyond’ competition.
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Italian lottery operator Sisal SPA has continued its funding of talent development projects for Italy’s new workforce through the hosting of its ‘GoBeyond’ competition. 

Entering its fifth year, Sisal’s innovation competition is co-hosted with investment fund CVC Capital Partners and aims to advance the development of Italian start-up businesses focused on social impact and enterprise.

The company is seeking to appeal to students and young entrepreneurs and is offering a €40,000 equity-free grant for the winners, as well as access to expert guidance from the country’s tech and innovation experts. Entrants must submit project proposals for businesses in the tech industry to be in with a chance of earning the top prize.

The four previous GoBeyond competitions had received more than 600 applications from start-ups, awarding the eight winning ideas with prizes for a total value of over €300,000.

GoBeyond 2021 will see start-ups and entrepreneurs focus on the key areas of improving business sustainability and ensuring both the current and future generations are adapted to digital technologies.

Launching the 2021 competition, Sisal has made a further pledge, as Italian female-led start-ups will be guaranteed a ‘dedicated six-month plan’ developed by business accelerator the Impact Hub Benefit Company ‘to speed up the entry of female start-ups into the market’.

Sisal CEO, Francesco Durante, said: “Every year I look forward to the opening of applications for Gobeyond, as I firmly believe that support for young people and their ideas is fundamental for the economic and social progress of a country.

“I believe that companies like Sisal should be actively and continually committed to the progress of society… To build a more responsible future, we need to do more to encourage those who are developing innovative ideas to help society.”