Innovation Program Evolution
Annual Summit on how startup programs get rebuilt now that AI has broken the old playbook on supporting and mentoring founders. Welcome to FLUX 26.
The season
14 Oct → 3 DecSide events
Eight events across seven weeks. The warm-ups, the reserved lunch, three nights of Book Week, and two European sessions in December.
The Summit
One room, eight sessions, free to attend. The startup ecosystem's playbook, rewritten live with experts from all over the world.
Full agenda +
Doors, networking, coffee
Stage opening: about today
Startup Program Design: before and after
Building the initial fort, and how AI changed it
Keeping students focused in university hubs and incubators
About the investors. Any changes so far? What is next?
Major changes within CVC and Open Innovation
Closing
Networking until 7:30 PM
The Executive Retreat
FLUX 26's speakers gather at an olive estate in Itri for executive workshops, roundtables and olive harvesting, plus local products and cuisine.
Retreat agenda +
6 NOV
Arrival and welcome dinner
7 NOV
Olive harvest and executive workshops
8 NOV
The press, and closing
Six seats left
Speakers
Seven countries · more to be announcedPanels grow as sponsors join. This is today, not the final line-up.
Startup ecosystems live in constant flux. AI disrupts how ecosystem players support founders and startups, validation processes, program management and the role of mentors. On 5 November in Rome, and across side events, international experts imagine a new playbook together.
Partners
More joiningRead bio+
InnovUp is the Italian association representing the innovation and startup ecosystem, born from the merger of Italia Startup and APSTI. It unites startups, scale-ups, innovation centers, incubators and accelerators across Italy and Europe, working on advocacy, networking and knowledge sharing as Italy's representative to IASP, the European Startup Network and EBAN.
innovup.net →Read bio+
ELIS Innovation Hub is a structure within the ELIS consortium that fosters open innovation by connecting universities, research centers and startups with corporate needs. Through its OPEN ITALY co-creation program it has supported 58 corporate clients and a network of 542 startups, generating 134 projects since 2017.
elisinnovationhub.com →Read bio+
Roma Startup is an action think tank founded in 2012, working with public and private actors to turn Rome into a leading Mediterranean hub for entrepreneurial talent, technology and investment. It runs Rome Startup Week, the Angels of Rome investment community and the Allied4Startups global coalition.
romastartup.org →Read bio+
Peekaboo is an Italian company supporting youth entrepreneurship by connecting young people's original ideas with corporations open to innovation. It acts as a bridge between aspiring founders and established companies looking for fresh perspectives.
peekaboovision.com →Read bio+
Scuter is an Italian electric three-wheeled sharing mobility platform for cities, businesses and territories, combining vehicles, software and fleet operations into one system. As FLUX's Mobility Partner, Scuter supports getting attendees around during the event.
scuter.co →Read bio+
Hi!Founders is Italy's largest early-stage startup community, an almost 4,000-member Telegram community built by touring the Italian startup ecosystem for nearly three years. It connects founders, operators and ecosystem players across the country, and its network is central to how FLUX reaches early-stage founders nationwide.
Join the community →Become a partner+
Partner slots are open for the 2026 edition. Ecosystem associations, hubs, universities and companies who want to be part of how the program is built.
See sponsorship →Become a sponsor
Join the project from the front row, and
grow it with us.
Ten events across seven weeks. Your presence runs through all of it, not through one afternoon.
On its way. Check your inbox.
Not there in five minutes, write to simonemartinelli95@gmail.comOrganizers
Curation and moderationOrganize FLUX with us.
We are looking for a startup to build the 2026 edition alongside the team. Visibility across all ten events, a seat in the room where the program is decided, and your name on the summit.
Library
Read before you comeBooks from the people on the stage
What Paul Graham, McKinsey and others have published on this
paulgraham.com
Lackéus, Martin
Small Business Economics
Miller, Allen
Sprague, Kara
MIT Office of the Provost
FAQ
Quick answersAre sessions recorded or streamed?+
Do I register separately for side events?+
What does it cost?+
How do I sponsor or partner?+
How do I reach the organizers?+
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