StudentsxStartUps Hackathon with University of Naples Federico II
The University of Naples Federico II hosted the StudentxStartup Hackathon in May, as part of the Start’Ship project.
A total of 17 student teams competed to solve challenges launched by international CEOs working in the fields of health, nutrition and healthy ageing.
The initiative involved students directly confronting real challenges from the start-up world.
The Hackathon promoted collaboration among students from diverse academic backgrounds, professionals, start-ups, and business leaders to develop high-impact innovative solutions.
The StudentXStartups Hackathons are a key element of the Start’Ship project, and we were truly blown away by the level of energy, creativity, and engagement shown by the students and CEOs who came together to tackle real-world business challenges.
These hackathons aren’t just about coming up with solutions—they’re about building confidence, strengthening teamwork, and giving students the chance to experience entrepreneurship in action.
Student entrepreneurship is more important than ever. It equips young people with critical skills such as problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, and innovation—all of which are essential in today’s fast-changing world of work. It also empowers students to take charge of their own futures, creating jobs not just for themselves, but potentially for others.
Thanks to the CEOs of the start-ups who launched the challenges: 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 | 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐨 | 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘𝐙 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 | 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 | 𝐆𝐢𝐠 & 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 | 𝐂𝐫𝐞́𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐫 | 𝐊𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢 | 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐈 | 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐨
Hackathon with Universidade De Coimbra showcases Innovative Health Solutions
In May the University of Coimbra hosted the Start’Ship Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hackathon, bringing together 16 participants split across five teams. Most participants were students from the Doctoral Program in Health Sciences, taking part through the optional course “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health.
Over the two days, students collaborated to develop creative solutions to real-world challenges presented by startup executives from the healthcare sector. Their efforts led to a series of impressive project ideas, including “DyslexiaApp,” “Hapillmeal,” “InEye,” “SylloApp,” and “Water-Up.”
The Hackathon was a lively and engaging event, with students showing great enthusiasm and creativity throughout the co-creation activities. The event concluded with high-quality pitch sessions that demonstrated both innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
The winning project was Hapillmeal, an innovative pet food formula designed to safely and effectively deliver medication to animals.
Start’Ship Pitch Competition
- Event Buddy
- FlatMatch
- Hanks Drinks
- Maison Ballester
- Sage Mind 40+
- Sano Sano
- SimCom
- Study Stream
Each team presented their innovative business idea to a panel of international judges, showcasing not only their creativity and ambition but also the valuable skills they had developed throughout the programme. The quality of the presentations was outstanding, with teams clearly demonstrating market understanding, problem-solving ability, and entrepreneurial drive.
The judges praised the high standard of pitches and the professionalism of the student entrepreneurs, commenting on how impressed they were with the level of research, innovation, and confidence shown by each team. It was clear that many of the ideas have strong potential to grow into successful ventures.
After a competitive round of pitching, FlatMatch from the University of Naples was awarded first place, with Sage Mind 40+ from the University of Coimbra taking second place.
Start’Ship continues to highlight the importance of nurturing entrepreneurship at university level, providing students with practical experience, mentorship, and the confidence to pursue their ideas. Congratulations to all finalists for their hard work and inspiring presentations!
University of Naples Federico II Creative Workshops & Collaborative Meetings
The DEMI UniNa project team kicked off activities in February, focusing on recruiting participants. These initial activities included presenting the entire project, initiatives to highlight the commitment of project partners, and reviewing the progress made over the past months.
Following the recruitment phase, participants engaged in Creative Workshops, where they participated in brainstorming sessions with professors and managers. The goal was to develop innovative project ideas using tools and exercises designed to stimulate strategic thinking. Students took part in interactive sessions that promoted the exchange of ideas between students and CEOs, focusing on developing project vision, planning, and practical entrepreneurial skills.
In April, the following managers and startup founders were invited to meet the students:
• Livio Barone, Project Manager @Incubatore “Stecca”
• Filippo Di Salvatore, Business Management Consultant @Incubatore “Stecca”
• Stanislao Elefante, CEO & Co-founder @MioGarage
• Vincenzo Benessere, CEO & Founder @Isuschem
These meetings allowed students to engage directly with entrepreneurial figures and discover tools that support entrepreneurship.
One of the most appreciated initiatives was the “Success Stories” from start-up founders, which inspired and motivated the participants, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit.
The students, divided into teams, are engaging in discussions within. 10 business managers and startup founders from various countries. This direct interaction is providing valuable insights in preparation for the upcoming hackathon.
Start’Ship International Collaborations
In April our partners in Antwerp had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from HfWU (Hochschule fur Wirtschaft und Umwelt) from Nurtingen-Geisslingen in Germany to the AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp.
Their mission? Dive into the world of student entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial higher education.
The delegation visited to explore student entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial higher education and AP showcased a wide range of initiatives.
From the ondernemen@AP initiatives and postgraduate entrepreneurship programme to the vibrant TAKEOFFANTWERP_ and Genius_Antwerp ecosystems, the visitors saw first-hand how AP empowers students to dream, do, and make real-world impact.
The Start’Ship project was also presented, generating high interest and enthusiastic reactions resulting in an agreement that representatives from HfWU will attend the final Start’Ship conference in Autumn 2025 to deepen engagement and explore further collaboration opportunities.
Plenty of insights were shared, questions sparked, and new connections formed — a great example of building bridges across borders for students, innovation, and the future.
