Sicily is an island known for its vibrant lifestyle, rich culture, and world-renowned cuisine. Yet beyond its heritage and charm, the island is steadily carving out a reputation as a centre for innovation and entrepreneurship. While the pace of startup growth may not yet match established Italian centres like Rome or Milan, Sicily is steadily gaining visibility on the innovation map and positioning itself as a rising hotspot in southern Italy.
At the core of this development is Catania, where a mix of corporate ventures, universities, and institutional support has created fertile ground for new ideas. Often described as the “Milan of the South”, the city hosts one of STMicroelectronics’ most important semiconductor plants, a cornerstone of the Etna Valley, an area with a dense concentration of innovative companies. Combined with a steady pipeline of highly skilled engineers graduating from universities, the city has become a key driver of the island’s tech and creative industries.
Taking into account all this information, we have selected 10 promising startups that are based in Sicily or which where originaly founded in Sicily, shaping the technological future of the island by fostering innovation and science. Note that all the startups presented here were founded since 2020 until now.
Baze: Based in Aci Castello, Baze connects families with qualified, pre‑verified domestic workers, including caregivers, babysitters, housekeepers, and live‑in staff. They aim to simplify and modernise traditional employment pathways in the domestic sector, promoting legality, transparency, and efficiency.
The process starts when a family completes a short online questionnaire outlining their needs. Baze’s platform then uses matching algorithms to identify suitable candidates from its database. Once matched, families can view profiles and schedule free interviews. Founded in 2023, they have secured €100k, aiming to become a key player in the hiring of domestic workers.
Hidonix: This DeepTech startup transforms physical spaces into smarter, more interactive environments by blending multiple technologies such as AI, robotics, extended reality (AR/MR), among others. They create smart systems that help physical spaces, like museums, airports, malls, hospitals, schools, and event venues, become more interactive and navigable online.
Since its founding in 2020 in Catania, Hidronix has developed one of its standout innovations, “ION”, a navigation system that guides people seamlessly indoors and outdoors without the need to use GPS or extra hardware, using just their phone and the Earth’s magnetic fields.
Kazaam Labs: Launched in 2020, this Palermo-based startup provides decision support in healthcare. They turn data into meaningful solutions. Their core product, the Kazaam eHealth Platform, leverages AI to integrate vast amounts of biomedical information, from molecular and clinical data to phenotypic profiles, into complex network models and real-time analytics. This enables physicians, labs, and pharmaceutical companies to identify the most effective, personalised therapies for serious diseases, thereby advancing the reach of precision medicine.
Their products support users in making difficult decisions, such as selecting suitable therapy for individuals affected by serious diseases. Kazaam Labs is backed by €50k in funding, which has allowed them to fine-tune their technology.
Keplera: Headquartered in Palermo in 2021, Keplera is a LegalTech startup that combines specialised legal consultancy with the development of digital tools to simplify legal processes. The platform integrates advanced features such as generative AI, end-to-end encryption, and electronic signature solutions, making legal workflows more efficient, secure, and accessible for startups, SMEs, cultural organisations, and the non-profit sector.
Its flagship product, LexHero, is a SaaS platform that manages the entire lifecycle of legal documents, allowing users to create, archive, share, and digitally sign them. Keplera’s technological progress enabled them to secure €770k in funding.
Lualtek: This AgriTech startup empowers agricultural entrepreneurs, whether they manage greenhouses or open-field cultivations, to remotely monitor and manage their crops without relying on internet connections, wiring, or costly renovations. They have developed LoRaWAN, a wireless protocol known for long-range, low-power data transmission. This technology ensures real-time access to environmental data via a web app accessible from phones and computers. Farmers can view and control sensors and automated systems from anywhere, with no need to be physically on-site.
Since 2021, Lualtek has raised €501k to enhance its technology, which uses easy-to-deploy sensors and actuators to automate tasks such as irrigation, ventilation, and greenhouse management. Farmers can manage everything through a web interface, setting automations, receiving notifications, and running customised workflows.
MUV: Founded in 2020 in Palermo, this gamification startup transforms sustainable mobility into a community-driven sport. Through its mobile app and web dashboard, users earn points by walking, biking, using public transport, or carpooling, turning everyday eco-friendly actions into engaging training sessions, challenges, and team tournaments. This approach not only fosters healthier habits and environmental awareness but also integrates friendly competition and rewards to motivate behavioural change.
The startup emerged from a 2012 research project, which demonstrated a significant reduction in carbon emissions among its participants if encouraged to adopt greener habits. This experience shaped the startup’s mission to transform sustainable commuting into a global sport. A key feature is the calculation of environmental impact, providing users with data on their personal CO2 savings. This journey enabled the startup to secure €107k in funding.
