WMF - We Make Future is a certified International Trade Fair on Innovation and a leading European platform for startups, investors, and open innovation. For over 10 years, WMF has connected entrepreneurial ecosystems across Italy and the world, creating tangible opportunities for growth and international expansion.

At its core is the World Startup Fest, which in its latest edition welcomed over 73,000 attendees from more than 90 countries, including 3,000+ startups and investors.

WMF also hosts one of the largest International Startup Competitions, now in its 14th edition. The final takes place on the Mainstage during WMF 2026 (June 24 - 26, Bologna, Italy) and is globally livestreamed. Startups are selected through the main international call and from competitions held across the WMF International Roadshow.

Within this framework, the AI 4 Future call will select 4 European and 4 American AI startups to compete during the Silicon Valley event, with the opportunity to connect with international investors and VCs.

The call is officially open and closes on March 12, 2026. Apply now!

Eight AI startups (4 European and 4 American) will be selected to compete live during the Silicon Valley event.

Selected startups will have the opportunity to:

Pitch to a Qualified Industry Audience

Present their solutions to investors, venture capital firms, corporate leaders, and key players in the AI ecosystem.

Access Strategic Networking

Engage with the WMF global business community, including VCs, open innovation stakeholders, entrepreneurs, and potential partners, during and beyond the event.

Gain International Visibility

Showcase their project to a high-profile audience and receive exposure from media, industry professionals, and ecosystem leaders.

Compete for Access to WMF 2026

Two EU and two American startups will be awarded the opportunity to participate in WMF - We Make Future 2026 (June 24 - 26, Bologna, Italy), pitching within one of Europe’s largest innovation events.

Enter the Global WMF Ecosystem

Selected startups gain access to WMF’s international network through pitch sessions, investor panels, B2B meetings, and side events, including Innovation Night.

Access the Tecnopolo in Bologna

Through WMF’s partnership with Tecnopolo and the Metropolitan City of Bologna, standout startups may gain access to the Tecnopolo spaces, home to the Leonardo supercomputer — a strategic opportunity to accelerate development and research.

Present at Saudi Makes Future (Riyadh, December 14 - 16)

Selected startups may access new opportunities in the MENA region, connecting with investors and companies in the Middle East.

The call is dedicated to startups and companies composed of teams with innovative projects or ideas in the technological and digital AI sector. Furthermore, those innovative projects aimed at generating a positive impact on territories and society through the use of artificial intelligence are considered with particular interest.

The Silicon Valley event is part of the WMF For AI initiative.

Candidate projects are selected based on the following criteria:

• Integration of Artificial Intelligence and its scalability in the project;

• Team skills, knowledge of the sector, feasibility of the project;

• Stage of development of the product/service;

• Degree of innovation and its defensibility;

• Competitive context and positioning;

• Respondence to market and customer needs and size of the same;

• Business potential of the idea;

• Completeness of the documentation presented.

Once the call is closed, and the candidates evaluated, the WMF's Innovation Team will announce the 6 startups that will have the opportunity to pitch and present their project to the jury and the attendees on the Silicon Valley event. Each team will have 3 minutes to present the key elements of their business idea. The jury of investors, will then have another 2 minutes to ask further questions. A round of votes at the end will then announce the winners.

→ Read further details in the instruction page

The elevator pitch is a brief presentation where you describe your business venture in a nutshell. A solid elevator pitch needs to convey the business idea in a concise manner, so as to attract the audience's attention quickly.

→ Download the support material

→ Watch the winning pitches from past editions of WMF

The call is closing on march 12 : fill out the form to apply!