Zest, Italy’s leading startup accelerator and early-stage investor, is the right partner to help you turn an idea into a startup.
We work with founders who already have a startup ready to go to market, as well as those who are still at the stage of an idea, prototype or MVP. We look for founders who deeply understand a problem, believe they can solve it, and are ready to rapidly validate a solution.
The Scouting Ticket is our first step towards investing in potential from the earliest stages: a €35K initial investment, including €10K+ in cash, designed to fund early experiments, validate key assumptions and determine whether there is a real business opportunity.
Capital is just the starting point. For 8 weeks, we work side by side with you to build, validate and grow your startup.
An initial investment to fund experiments, test key assumptions and start building your startup. Early-stage funding for innovative startups, designed for the stage where speed and validation matter most.
For 8 weeks, we work side by side through hands-on sessions covering product, business model, go-to-market, fundraising and execution, supporting you through the decisions that matter most.
Partiamo dai founder, dalle competenze disponibili e dagli obiettivi del progetto per capire quali profili servono a costruire il team giusto per far crescere la startup.
We help you test your idea in the market, engage potential customers and gather real-world evidence.
Join the Zest ecosystem and get access to a community of founders, mentors, investors and corporate partners, plus exclusive events, resources and perks for startups across our network.
If you show potential and traction, we support you through your next round and fundraising journey. Zest may also participate in the next investment round.
We’re not looking for perfect business plans. We’re looking for founders.
Founder first. We’re not looking for startups that already have it all figured out. We’re looking for people who have identified a real problem, want to build a solution and are ready to put it to the test in the market.
We’re looking for founders with expertise, ambition and strong execution skills. You can be a solo founder or already have a team, have an incorporated startup or still be at the idea stage. What matters is understanding the problem and having the determination to tackle it.
We start with the problem and the potential of the target market. We look for real, relevant needs in markets large enough to create a genuine business opportunity.
We’re not focused on any specific sector. But the first question we’ll ask is: Who is your customer?
We’re not looking for perfect business plans or flawless forecasts. We’re looking for experiments, data, feedback and early signs of traction.
We want ambitious founders who can learn quickly from the market and change course when the evidence calls for it.
Tell us about your idea
Let’s get to know each other
We review your application and, if there’s a fit, set up an initial call with Zest.
Let’s dive deeper
We assess the founder, team, problem, solution and market, involving industry experts where relevant.
Make the first investment
If your project is selected, you receive a €10K Scouting Ticket and start an 8-week acceleration journey with Zest.
No. You can apply with just a validated idea or a prototype. We work with pre-seed startups and founders who are still building their venture.
Yes. Many founders start out without a co-founder.
Yes, as long as your startup is still at a very early stage.
Approximately 8 weeks.
Yes. It is Zest’s first investment in the project. The terms are shared during the selection process.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer: it depends on the project, the market and the level of validation. The Scouting Ticket helps fund early experiments and gather evidence before moving on to subsequent investment rounds.
Zest is a startup accelerator and early-stage investor. Beyond providing capital, we work alongside founders to validate their product, market and business model.