A journey designed and delivered by WDA for Enactus Italy

Every great idea has a turning point: the moment when it takes shape and becomes a project capable of generating real impact. With this belief, Enactus Italy—part of one of the world’s largest networks dedicated to university social entrepreneurship—chose to rely on WDA | The Co-Founder You Need to design and run the Pre-Acceleration Program for Impact Entrepreneurship.
A program that goes beyond training, guiding teams step by step toward building sustainable businesses ready for the market.

From Idea to Pitch: An Approach Combining Method and Passion

The goal was clear: to turn high-impact visions into scalable projects, ready to face the market and compete within the global network of the Enactus World Cup, which every year engages over 500,000 students across more than 35 countries.

From day one, the teams embarked on a journey structured into eight sprints, each dedicated to a key phase: market analysis and idea validation, MVP development, business model design, traction strategies, and preparation of the pitch and investor deck.

The activities combined interactive training, personalized mentorship, and hands-on work thanks to the contribution of Roberto Macina (Founder), Valentina Iannucci (General Manager), Alessandro Piccinini (Program Lead), and the entire WDA team.
Throughout the sessions, participants experienced a concrete and collaborative approach that helped them focus their ideas and shape them into structured proposals.

“We worked side by side with WDA’s mentors in every phase,” the participants shared. “Each session was an opportunity to compare ideas, correct mistakes, and learn how to turn a concept into a solid project. In the end, we didn’t just have a business plan, but a new awareness of what it really means to build a business.”

The Numbers Behind a Program That Creates Value

The Pre-Acceleration Program involved dozens of students from universities all over Italy, selected for the quality of their ideas and their determination to turn them into initiatives with a positive impact.

Throughout the journey:

• Each team strengthened their business model and defined a growth strategy.
• Professional pitch decks and presentation materials were created, essential for engaging with companies and investors.
• Some projects already began initial validation activities with potential partners and stakeholders.

As Valentina Iannucci shared, it was also a moment of inspiration for those who supported them:

“It’s wonderful to be able to give something to these young people and see how determined they are to overcome every challenge. The passion and seriousness they demonstrated show just how much a program like this can make a difference.”

The Defining Moment: The National Competition and the International Challenge

The program concluded with the Enactus National Competition 2025, an event that brought together students, mentors, and companies to celebrate and reward the most promising ideas.

The finalists of the pre-acceleration program were four teams, each presenting an innovative concept with strong impact potential:

• Vimini, a platform promoting sustainable consumer choices.
• Shea Matters, a development model connecting Italy and Ghana through fair trade.
• UniPlus+, an innovative solution designed to support students along their university journey.
• Rewear, a circular system for reusing and revaluing clothing.

Among these projects, Rewear impressed the jury with a clear presentation and the strength of its circular economy model, earning the final victory. The team will now have the opportunity to represent Italy at the Enactus World Cup 2025 in Bangkok, where they will compete alongside the world’s best university projects.

At the end of the program, several special awards were presented to recognize the teams’ commitment and the quality of their ideas.
Vimini achieved second place in the pre-acceleration final and won the KPMG Challenge Award for its innovative use of artificial intelligence.
Purifas UNIPD received the BAITE Generation Hub Award 2025.

Individual awards were also given to outstanding contributors: Carl Harvey Nardo was named Team Leader of the Year, Stefania Coppo received the Faculty Advisor of the Year award, and Edoardo Pascucci was recognized as Alumnus of the Year.

A Model That Combines Method, Vision, and Impact

For WDA, this program is more than a training path: it is proof that with the right guidance and a structured approach, any idea can become a business capable of generating value.
We are proud to have supported each team and contributed to consolidating a replicable model that can inspire other organizations ready to invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs.

As Roberto Macina reminded us:

“I also started where these students are starting now, and without the help of the mentors I had, it wouldn’t have been the same. This project allows me to give back some of the experience I’ve gained over the years and across different roles. It’s my way of doing my part to support those who have the courage to step up today. We are ready to fly to Bangkok!”

A special thank you to Enactus Italy for the trust in sharing this journey, and heartfelt thanks to all the mentors, partners, and advisors who made it possible: Alessia Baratto, Francesca Chiesa, Marta Bertolai, Valentina Iannucci, Alessandro Piccinini, and SocialFare | Center for Social Innovation.

If you’d like to discover how to build acceleration programs for social and innovative entrepreneurship, WDA is the partner that can turn your vision into tangible results.

Learn more about Enactus Italy and how to participate:
https://www.enactusitaly.org/become-an-enactus-student