PLAI, the Mondadori Group startup accelerator aimed at transforming ideas based on the use of artificial intelligence into successful companies, has selected 11 startups for its first accelerator programme.

The startups were chosen from among 520 applications based on the quality of the team, the potential for business integration, level of scalability, technological innovation, roadmap, and go-to-market.

‘The decision was incredibly difficult, starting with the first round of selection from the more than 500 applications received. Each startup was full of innovation and ambition. The selection reflected our commitment to supporting the most revolutionary and sustainable ideas, highlighting the fierce competition and high quality of the projects submitted. We selected 11 of them in the end, and we are very eager to work together with the different teams and help them transform their ideas into successful businesses,’ says Stefano Argiolas, CEO of PLAI.

Startups entering in BATCH 2024

AD cube – new media & advertising
Companies waste up to 26 per cent of their advertising budgets due to inefficiencies in channel allocation. AD cube is an AI-driven director that optimizes ad campaigns across multiple platforms, including Google, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, and more. It meticulously manages budget allocation, creative content, and targeting strategies throughout the entire marketing funnel, leading to increases in ROI of up to 30 per cent.

Ahilab – new media & advertising
SEM and SEO are decreasing as they are progressively replaced by Gen AI. Ahilab is a native ads network for AI apps, connecting AI developers to digital advertisers. Developers use the Ahilab API to display ads in any AI-generated content (images, text, or video). Advertisers can run ads and reach only the target audience that interacts with Gen AI apps.

Aidamask – books and publishing
Options to optimize processes through new technologies are often blocked by fears that data protection is not ensured. Aidamask offers an API-based intelligent de-identification system integrated with Gen AI solutions; it is available as both a cloud (SaaS) and on-premises option. The zero-trust approach to data protection enables companies to harness the power of leading Gen AI models safely and effortlessly.

Alfred – education
Preparing for oral exams is challenging for many students. Due to a lack of personalized feedback and limited interaction with teachers, it often results in anxiety and poor performance. Prof. Alfred is an innovative e-learning platform that revolutionizes exam preparation through an intelligent virtual assistant. The platform provides personalized feedback in real time, is accessible 24/7, dynamically adapts to the specific educational content uploaded, and offers an experience that transcends traditional student-teacher interaction.

Equal Education – education
The unguided use of AI risks obscuring students’ and teachers’ actual abilities, and schools are struggling to ensure widespread mathematical literacy. Equal enhances math education with its challenge-based platform: math problems become interactive experiences for students to grow, with assistance and progress analysis. Supported by AI, Equal generates theoretical support and personalized exercises, while providing teachers with learning analysis tools to effectively address individual needs.

IStory – books and publishing
Children’s reading habits are changing due to passive time spent in front of screens, and parents are struggling to find engaging solutions that encourage reading and promote active and positive digital use. Istory provides a unique and personalized reading experience that combines AI-guided print books with interactive digital content that encourages safe, positive reading and use of technology.

Olivia – retail
Demand analysis at retail stores today requires a data-driven approach. Olivia is a retail data analytics platform that enables future demand forecasting through machine learning algorithms and sentiment analysis tools to better allocate budgets and plan commercial offerings appropriately at stores.

Paperbox Health – education
Paperbox’s DINO addresses challenges related to delayed or missed identification of learning disorders by offering an efficient and engaging screening and intervention tool that is highly accessible for children aged 5 to 7. Using Monte Carlo simulations for assessment and monitoring and employing Gen AI to personalize the learning pathway, DINO identifies each child’s learning needs, including potential disorders, and defines the most effective approach to interaction.

Pathway English – education
Preparation for exams and certifications is a challenge, both due to a lack of personalization if done independently and because private tutoring services are expensive. This Digital Academy is AI-based and offers continuous 24/7 personalized support. The virtual tutor analyzes student performance, identifies areas for improvement, and provides real-time feedback, creating a custom learning experience for each user.

Similar – books and publishing
Books based on movies attract fans but adapting a movie for a novel can take up to 6 months, limiting the author’s creativity to the confines of the original screenplay. Similar’s Bookify is a state-of-the-art deep learning system that converts movies to books in a single day and eliminates the need for manual effort.

Stip – retail
AI for customer service is not just about chatbots. Unless supported by additional AI models, chatbots only lead to partial improvements in efficiency. Stip has developed 15 AI models, each dedicated to a specific stage of the customer service process. With Stip, companies can automate content moderation, find similar requests and check how they were handled, generate response suggestions, automatically collect missing information from the customer, categorize requests, and more. All in their CRM software.

What the selected startups will do now

The four-month acceleration cycle for these 11 startups begins this afternoon with the kick-off at PL7 (WAO, Milan).

During this period, each startup will participate in workshops, dedicated operating and hands-on sessions, inspirational masterclasses led by Italian and international experts — divided into General AI Trends and Industry Verticals to help them understand their industry — and tailored mentorship sessions.

In addition, the startups will be able to participate in ecosystem events, networking meetings with partners, and company visits to stimulate collaboration and provide new opportunities for business development and growth.

The first appointment is with Milano Digital Week, the popular event that opens a discussion on new technologies with citizens and businesses. On Monday, October 14, all the startups in the PLAI accelerator programme will have the unique opportunity to present their innovative ideas to the professionals in the city of Milan at the Palazzo dei Giureconsulti.

On October 22 and 23, the 11 startups will also have the opportunity to preside over a booth entirely dedicated to them at the Codemotion Conference in Milan.

This will be followed — in parallel with training and mentorship — by other presentations at SMAU Milan 2024 (October 28 and 29), Italy’s reference event on innovation and startups. The startups will also participate in Intersections 2024, the largest event in Italy dedicated to marketing, communication, creativity, and technology, stemming from the collaboration between IAB Forum and IF! Italian Festivals (October 29 and 30).

At the end of the acceleration period in early 2025, the startups will be featured at Demo Day, a full day where they can make themselves known to investors and companies, kicking off another important stage of development.

PLAI is the Mondadori Group startup accelerator that aims to transform ideas based on the use of artificial intelligence into successful entrepreneurial ventures. PLAI offers them a distinctive field of application and an industrial market both within the Group and with the initiative’s partners. PLAI operates in the pre-seed and seed phases, selecting and investing in Italian and international startups. In addition to capital, the accelerator provides startups with concrete areas to apply AI, structured training and mentorship courses, and the opportunity to participate in networking events, partly thanks to the unique set of skills and assets provided by major Italian and international partners.