Meet the Startups
Taranto CirTech
In our acceleration program, innovation becomes tangible through the start‑ups that have cleared the selection stage and are now following a structured journey of growth, mentoring, and market validation.
To match each project’s maturity level, the program is organised into three distinct tracks: Pre‑Acceleration, Acceleration, and Post‑Acceleration.
Pre-acceleration
Projects at the Pre-Acceleration stage have a defined idea and a proposed solution, but still need to validate technical or economic feasibility. The focus is on problem/solution fit, evaluation metrics, prototyping, and engaging local users and stakeholders. One‑to‑one mentorship sessions consolidate the data collected and build a clear roadmap for further development.
iMENSA
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Phytoroots
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Acceleration
Acceleration‑stage projects sit on solid foundations, but these must be proven in the field. Mentorship focuses on defining the financial plan, executing Proofs of Concept with industrial partners, and shaping the go‑to‑market strategy.
Post-acceleration
Projects in Post-Acceleration have already achieved advanced validation, so the work is highly targeted. Business mentors support fundraising, certifications, and market consolidation. The team strengthens its position and plans expansion without losing operational control.
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In this section we showcase concrete solutions devised to meet real‑world needs and create impact in strategic sectors. Explore the teams, the technologies they employ, and the real‑life applications they are developing, all with the goal of turning promising ideas into solid, scalable ventures.
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iMENSA – Ingenium
WASTE
iMENSA Circle turns the university canteen into a circular, fully digital hub. Students book meals via app, while an AI‑driven algorithm forecasts quantities and cuts waste at the source. In parallel, reusable “smart” containers replace single‑use items and a cloud dashboard coordinates local suppliers, electric delivery slots, and the recovery of scraps destined for biogas. A “light” blockchain certifies the CO₂ avoided and distributes “Circular Credits” to users and partners, creating measurable incentives. The goal is concrete: –20% food waste, –15% kilometres travelled, –80% single‑use packaging, while generating new revenue for Apulian producers. Born on the Taranto campus, the platform is designed to scale to any food‑service community.
Phytoroots
WASTE
Phytoroots was created to remediate Taranto’s S.I.N. areas through phytoremediation using two legal strains of Cannabis sativa. These varieties absorb pollutants from the soil but do not retain harmful amounts in seeds or stems, so every part of the plant remains usable. Seed oil, textile fibres, and biomass feed into multiple value chains (textile, cosmetics, lubricants, biogas), opening new opportunities for local enterprises. In parallel, low‑impact deep‑tech such as anaerobic digestion and steam explosion transform residues into energy and prepare fibres for industry. The outcome is a circular‑economy model that regenerates land, cuts waste, and generates value‑added products, with concrete benefits for the Taranto community and the wider production ecosystem.
2pack
WASTE
2pack aims to create a water‑repellent, paper‑based material that is easy to recycle, starting from fishery scraps and other non‑food organic residues. The technology extracts a hydrophobic coating from these biomasses and applies it to biodegradable substrates; a subsequent fixation process yields the final material. The objective is twofold: reduce pollution and meet EU rules that demand plastic alternatives, while keeping production costs sustainable. Unlike solutions that rely on food‑grade resources (e.g. PLA from corn), this proposal valorises non‑edible waste. The resulting packaging targets mass retail (GDO) and cosmetics.
B&Y
WASTE
B&Y stems from experience in the family marble workshop and from the awareness that stone powders, slurries, and offcuts sent to landfill are a waste of resources and an environmental and economic cost. The startup transforms these scraps into a low‑impact mortar, 3D‑printable with LDM (Liquid Deposit Material) technology, for furniture and building components in line with circular‑economy principles. Market opportunity comes from rising demand for sustainable products among consumers, companies, and public bodies, and from evolving European environmental regulations. The project is a high‑impact innovation in cleantech and construction tech: scalable, replicable, and aligned with ecological transition and decarbonisation goals. By combining upcycled waste, specific low‑impact hydraulic binders, and digital technologies, B&Y offers a concrete alternative to traditional materials with environmental, economic, and employment benefits.
BlueGeo – Nature-based marine solutions
BLUE ECONOMY
The project was born to offer a practical response to the problems affecting the Apulian coastline and, more broadly, Italian and Mediterranean coasts: sea encroachment and erosion of low sandy beaches, on which tourism, local economies, and biodiversity depend. BlueGeo’s goal is to bring to market coastal protection systems, natural or engineered, by developing and industrialising its patents.
CrioPura
WATER
CrioPurA has developed a polymeric cryogel that removes toxic substances from water (arsenic, chromium, boron, phosphates). It lasts longer than traditional filters and can be regenerated multiple times, cutting costs and waste. It is also customisable in shape and size, fits into existing systems without overhauls, and is produced with an eco‑friendly process that lowers CO₂ and disposal costs. Beyond purification, it enables the recovery of valuable elements (such as phosphates), turning waste into a new resource. The model is B2B: CrioPurA supplies the material, while distribution and service are outsourced. The technology is protected by patents in Europe, China, and the USA.
Myconic
WASTE
Myconic replaces thermoplastics and toxic additives with regenerative materials derived from agri‑food waste and fungal mycelium. The first market is consumer electronics, where plastics can account for up to 65% of a product and are often loaded with brominated flame retardants; thanks to the properties of mycelium, Myconic’s myco‑materials eliminate the need for these compounds. Two main product lines: a 3D‑printing filament for structural/exterior components and a spongy material as an alternative to polyurethane foam. The target is B2B(2C), with potential expansion into consumer markets.
Techloop
WASTE
TRACE is a platform that makes urban waste management transparent and smart. Sensors and connected devices on bins indicate when to intervene, optimise fleet routes, and enable fair application of TARIP (Tariffa Rifiuti Puntuale). A digital assistant communicates with citizens, operators, and administrations in plain, natural language, delivering instant alerts and reports. Result: fewer empty trips and more sorted collection. Plug‑and‑play, interoperable, and functional even offline, TRACE targets local authorities and multi‑utilities seeking efficiency, sustainability, and data‑driven decisions.
Arabat
WASTE
AraBat is a cleantech startup tackling the recycling of lithium batteries and other critical industrial waste: recovering metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel without heavy impacts. Its patented bio‑based hydrometallurgical process uses local plant waste (orange peels and other biomasses) to extract up to 95% of precious metals, with lower emissions and energy use. The technology, validated in the lab and at pilot scale, is designed to be scalable and adaptable to different regions, activating circular value chains and industrial symbiosis. The business model foresees licensing or co‑development with recycling operators, industries aiming to decarbonise, and consortia managing tech waste. The goal: become a key player in the ecological transition, integrating industry and nature with a globally replicable platform.
Be.Me
ADVANCED MATERIALS
Be.Me develops the first bio‑derived, circular electrode for batteries and supercapacitors, combining natural thermoplastic biopolymers with electrically conductive carbon recovered from recycled composite materials. The result is a drop‑in component that replaces conventional metal and plastic parts, eliminates harmful solvents and additives (such as PFAS), and cuts costs and emissions along the supply chain. Initially aimed at consumer electronics, where plastics can represent up to 65% of a product, the material delivers high technical performance (fire and water resistance, lightness, durability) while remaining natural and biodegradable. The platform is modular and integrates into existing production processes, paving the way for safer, more sustainable components for various energy‑storage systems.
W3DS
WASTE
W3DS turns mussel shells, currently aquaculture waste, into calcium carbonate and aggregates for self‑levelling screeds, precast elements, and mortars designed also for 3D printing. It embeds a circular‑economy model with advanced technologies that optimise processes and shrink environmental impact. The PoC has been completed in the lab and at pilot scale: the resulting materials offer purity and performance comparable to (or better than) quarry products, and the treatment supply chain is already engineered to be modular and scalable. The business model combines the production of premixes for construction, partnerships with cement plants and the fisheries supply chain, and educational activities on circular economy and 3D printing. Goal: become the benchmark for sustainable materials dedicated to bio‑building and additive construction.
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Promoter and Organizer
Tondo supports analyses, studies, scientific research, projects, pilot initiatives, and operational activities aimed at safeguarding and improving environmental conditions, as well as promoting the wise and rational use of natural resources, in line with the principles of the Circular Economy.
Scientific partners
The scientific partners provide their technical and scientific know-how, making an essential contribution to the development of the programme. Their involvement is vital to guarantee methodological rigour, support in evaluating solutions, and technical-specialist accompaniment during the key phases of the programme.
Institutional partners
Institutional partners play a strategic role in bridging research and innovation with the productive sector. Thanks to their operational expertise, technical resources, and direct market knowledge, they contribute to the development and validation of the most promising solutions. Their active involvement, through mentoring and close support, helps foster the growth of an ecosystem focused on innovation and industrial sustainability.
Ecosystem partners
Ecosystem partners leverage their networks and technical-methodological expertise to strengthen the innovation ecosystem and foster high-impact synergies. They contribute to the identification and development of projects by providing specialised guidance, promoting technology transfer, and valorising research.
Financial partners
Financial partners play a strategic role in evaluating the growth potential of the most promising startups. Thanks to their expertise in assessing entrepreneurial opportunities and understanding development dynamics, they help identify the most solid and scalable initiatives. Their involvement supports the growth of an innovative and sustainable ecosystem.
Media partner
Media partners play a key role in promoting and disseminating the event to a broad and diverse audience. Through their channels, they help raise awareness of the initiative, amplify its visibility, and engage new communities, fostering wider and more informed participation.
“Taranto CirTech: Taranto Circolare – Call 4 Deep Tech Ideas” project created following the participation of Tondo in the MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action – project, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) Mission 4 Component 2 Investment Line 1.5: Strengthening of research structures and creation of R&D “innovation ecosystems”, set up of “territorial leaders in R&D”.