The Social Impact Prize supports early-stage startups building scalable, impact-first solutions to complex challenges across the Mediterranean with a €20,000 grant, strategic mentoring, and access to an international ecosystem.
Scaling your impact by changing the system
Selected Projects
We are pleased to present the selected projects of this edition, recognized for their innovative ideas, strong social impact, and potential for growth.
Below, we introduce the teams and their initiatives.
AGRINOW
Greece
AGRINOW
Greece
Agrinow is a digital platform that formalizes agricultural labor by connecting farmers and workers through compliant hiring, payments, and documentation processes.
Associação Native Scientist
Portugal
Associação Native Scientist
Portugal
Native Scientist develops educational programmes connecting children from underserved backgrounds with scientists, aiming to reduce inequalities in access to science and transform how it is experienced and taught.
Akhdar
Syria
Akhdar
Syria
Agrinow is a digital platform that formalizes agricultural labor by connecting farmers and workers through compliant hiring, payments, and documentation processes.
CIS
Spain
CIS
Spain
CIS integrates international education programmes into rural areas through partnerships with schools, host families, and global agencies. It generates local economic value and builds long-term international networks.
Discentis (IUXTA S.R.L.)
Italy
Discentis (IUXTA S.R.L.)
Italy
Discentis is an online community supporting teachers in adopting learner-centered education. It provides resources, peer exchange, and practical tools to enable sustainable change in classroom practices.
Deel
Syria
Deel
Syria
Deel is a circular fashion platform that gives second-hand clothing a new life through a structured process of sorting, sanitization, authentication, and resale. Each item is carefully processed and documented, extending product lifecycles and promoting more sustainable consumption habits.
Cocosint Coop.V
Spain
Cocosint Coop.V
Spain
Cocosint transforms fragmented local services such as repairs and maintenance into a structured and scalable system. By combining demand aggregation, workforce activation, and training linked to real jobs, it formalizes local economies and generates social and circular impact.
Equivalence
Portugal
Equivalence
Portugal
Equivalence is a digital solution that translates international professional experience into locally understandable profiles, supporting labor market integration.
Ethical Assembly
Portugal
Ethical Assembly
Portugal
Ethical Assembly is an independent platform that convenes diverse stakeholders to address structural challenges in climate governance. Through summits and cultural programming, it creates inclusive spaces for dialogue and supports the co-design of systemic, justice-oriented solutions.
Factopia
Spain
Factopia
Spain
Factopia is an AI-powered verification system that analyzes and explains misinformation. It enhances critical thinking through transparent and accessible fact-checking.
Fibi - Investing Empowers
Italy
Fibi is a financial empowerment platform that supports women in building confidence and autonomy in managing money. It combines digital tools, practical education, and community support to enable saving, budgeting, and investing.
Kaldigin Yerden
Turkey
Kaldigin Yerden
Turkey
Kaldığın Yerden is a platform connecting women returning to work with companies seeking talent. Through assessment, upskilling, and matching, it enables workforce reintegration and reduces talent gaps.
Kan Akademi (Blood Academy)
Turkey
Kan Akademi (Blood Academy)
Turkey
Blood Academy is a behaviour-driven system promoting blood donation as a cultural practice. Through digital tools, storytelling, and immersive experiences, it increases awareness and engagement.
Leila srl Società Benefit
Italy
Leila enables “Libraries of Things” through a digital platform supporting community-based sharing of underutilized items. It promotes access over ownership and generates measurable environmental impact.
Mabasta- Movimento Anti Bullismo Animato da Studenti Adolescenti
Italy
Mabasta is a student-led anti-bullying model based on six structured actions implemented directly within classrooms, including peer roles, anonymous monitoring tools, and reporting systems. It empowers students to actively prevent and address bullying, fostering a shared responsibility culture and enabling classes to achieve a “bully-free” status.
MaestrIA
Spain
MaestrIA
Spain
maestrIA is a hybrid tutoring platform combining human mentorship and AI-driven learning to deliver affordable and personalized education to children in vulnerable contexts.
Mashrou By Default
Syria
MindLeague
Italy
MindLeague
Italy
MindLeague is a free digital training platform promoting mental health awareness in youth sports. It provides expert-developed resources and support for coaches, schools, and associations to foster inclusive and supportive environments.
Oh my days!
Greece
Parola Ai Padri
Italy
Parola Ai Padri
Italy
Parola Ai Padri is a cultural and advocacy initiative reshaping narratives around fatherhood and masculinity. Through media, events, and policy engagement, it promotes engaged fatherhood and influences public discourse and workplace practices.
Prime Minister
Italy
Prime Minister
Italy
Prime Minister designs experiential civic education programmes for young women in secondary schools. Through participatory learning, mentorship, and real-world engagement, it fosters leadership, political awareness, and active citizenship.
Project Parenting
Greece
Project Parenting
Greece
Project Parenting is an educational platform supporting parents through digital content and corporate partnerships. It improves family wellbeing while supporting employee retention.
Silverce
Spain
Silverce
Spain
Silverce is a longevity platform enabling safe shared living solutions for adults 50+. Through AI-based matching and structured support, it promotes social connection, wellbeing, and independent living.
Resustainovation Lab
Syria
QLUB
Turkey
Smart Hand
Syria
SoDe - Social Delivery
Italy
SoDe - Social Delivery
Italy
SoDe is an ethical delivery service using cargo bikes and inclusive employment models. It combines logistics, social inclusion, and food recovery, creating scalable urban impact.
Trovador
Portugal
Trovador
Portugal
Trovador develops autonomous, all-terrain robots for large-scale reforestation. By combining robotics and data-driven planning, it increases efficiency and reduces costs in tree planting operations.
Zagara
Italy
Zagara
Italy
Zagara is a hybrid infrastructure combining digital platforms and territorial hubs to address structural inequalities through a feminist and place-based approach.
Women in tech syria
Syria
Ready to scale your systemic impact
Apply now to the Social Impact Prize
Application deadline: March 23, 2026
Download here the rolebook
Did you miss the webinar?
No worries! During the session, participants asked many great questions about the Social Impact Prize, the eligibility criteria, and the application process. We’ve gathered the key questions and answers below so you can easily catch up on what was discussed.
Do you have questions about the Prize?
We’re here to help, feel free to reach out at [email protected]
FAQ
Can early-stage ideas apply? Is a prototype required?
We welcome applications from early-stage ventures, including teams that are not yet formally incorporated.
However, applicants are expected to have developed at least a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and to be actively validating it (e.g. pilot testing, early users, partnerships, or market experimentation).
Purely conceptual ideas without ongoing validation activities are not aligned with the eligibility criteria.
Can startups from other Mediterranean countries apply?
Yes. The Social Impact Prize is open to ventures operating across the Mediterranean region. If your startup operates in or addresses challenges relevant to the Mediterranean context, you are encouraged to apply.
Is there a limit in years since incorporation to apply?
The Social Impact Prize is primarily designed for early-stage ventures, typically incorporated within the past five years.
However, there is no strict maximum age requirement. Applications are evaluated based on the venture’s current stage of development, growth trajectory, innovation, scalability, and systemic impact potential — rather than solely on the date of incorporation.
How many applications can one startup or organization submit?
As a general rule, we encourage one application per organization.
If different legal entities are involved, each may apply separately. For multiple projects within the same organization, we recommend submitting the most strategic initiative.
Is the programme fully online? Will there be any in-person activities?
The programme is primarily delivered online, including capacity building sessions and mentoring.
A final in-person Award Event is planned. Partial travel cost coverage will be provided for finalist teams. Further details will be shared with selected participants.
Prize Team
Federico Mento
Head of evaluation impact, Avanzi
Federico Mento
Head of evaluation impact, Avanzi
Federico Mento holds a degree in Cultural Anthropology from Sapienza University of Rome and earned a PhD in Ethno-Anthropological Sciences at the same institution, with a dissertation focused on urban studies in Latin America. From 2000 to 2003, he worked in social project design at the Ora d’Aria Association, an organization active in the social and professional reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. From 2006 to 2008, he worked at the Ministry for Youth Policies and Sport, where he developed programs related to sport for all.
From 2012 to 2019, he served as Director of Human Foundation, and since 2015 he has been Secretary General of Social Value Italia. He also sits on the Board of Social Value International. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Advisory Board of Aimpact – AvanziEtica SICAF EuVECA S.p.A.
Since May 2020, Federico has served as Director of Ashoka Italy.
Federico Mento can be contacted at the following email address: [email protected]
Lavinia Carrese
Acceleration Consultant a|cube
Lavinia Carrese
Acceleration Consultant a|cube
Lavinia Carrese is currently an Acceleration Consultant at a|cube, an impact-driven incubator within the Avanzi Group, where she coordinates acceleration programmes promoted by CDP Venture Capital, with a focus on impact assessment and ESG integration.
She previously worked as a Financial Analyst at BizPlace Holding, a financial advisory boutique, supporting startups and SMEs through business planning, financial modelling, fundraising processes and investor relations.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Rome Tor Vergata and a double Master’s degree in Innovation Management from LUISS Guido Carli and the University of Gothenburg.
In 2021, she obtained the EFPA ESG Advisor certification, following a specialization course in Sustainable Finance and ESG Investments at SDA Bocconi School of Management.
Eleonora Cadone
Community Integrator
Eleonora Cadone
Community Integrator
Eleonora Cadone è laureata in Relazioni Internazionali, con specializzazione in Management dell'economia Sociale. La sua passione per il mondo del terzo settore e per i viaggi l'hanno portata a collaborare con organizzazioni non profit in Messico, Guatemala e Benin, nell'ambito dello sviluppo sostenibile, del fair trade e dell'imprenditoria sociale.
Eleonora ha iniziato il proprio percorso in Ashoka con un tirocinio presso l'ufficio di Città del Messico. Dal 2020 fa parte del team italiano, con il ruolo di Community Manager.
È possibile contattare Eleonora Cadone al seguente indirizzo: [email protected]