The first edition of “A Sea of… Startup“, organized by NAVIGO in collaboration with InnoInvest Club Deal took place on 14 March 2025 as part of Seatec – Yachting Week. An event that confirmed the growing centrality of innovation in the nautical sector and the strong interest of investors for startups that are redesigning their future.
The day saw ten selected startups present innovative technology solutions and business models, arousing considerable interest from the public and investors.
A high-level network to support startups
The Evaluation Committee has ensured a comparison of value between startups and the main players in the sector. Committee members included:
✔ Industry and manufacturing – Confindustria Toscana Centro e Costa and companies in the sector
✔ Banking system – Intesa Sanpaolo
✔ Certifications and technological innovation – RINA
The involvement of these realities has made it possible to analyse the projects from different perspectives – technological, financial and market – highlighting the real opportunities for growth and investment.
InnoInvest Club Deal: the value of the network
At the opening of the event, Pierpaolo Vannucci and Guido Fornari, members of the InnoInvest Club Deal’s Board of Directors, illustrated the philosophy that guides the association: a selective and structured investment model, based on competence, Qualified network and focus on sectors with the highest growth potential.
The active participation of the members confirmed the central role of InnoInvest as a catalyst for opportunities for investors and startups. During the day, direct contacts were established between the startups and investors present, giving rise to concrete assessments of new business opportunities.
Evolving regulatory environment and opportunities for investors
At the end of the event, Pierpaolo Vannucci focused on a strategic theme for those who invest in innovative startups: the evolution of the regulatory framework and new tax opportunities, including:
📌 Central Medium Credit Guarantee Fund, accessible free of charge and with simplified procedures for innovative startups
📌 Facilitated finance and fundraising, with increasingly targeted tools to encourage the entry of private capital in the sector
📌 Work for Equity, an opportunity to attract key talent and boost the growth of startups
The combination of new financial instruments and an increasingly dynamic ecosystem offers real opportunities for those who invest in innovation, especially in a changing sector such as nautical.
Looking to the future: “A Sea of… Startup” 2026
We are already working on the next edition of “A Sea of… Startup” 2026, with an even more ambitious format! The next edition includes 30 startups and an even stronger network of investors.
We thank the consortium NAVIGO, the most extensive network of nautical companies in Tuscany and one of the main in Europe, for having involved InnoInvest Club Deal in this initiative.
Do you have a startup project to submit? Send us your application!
Take a look at the gallery of the day!
