Volta Mantovana, Italy – October 7, 2024 – EthConnect, a premier Web3 startup competition and networking event, successfully brought together over 100 attendees, including industry angels, incubators, founders, and key players from L1 and L2 ecosystems, on September 28, 2024. Hosted at the historic Palazzo di Volta Mantovana, just outside Milan, the event marked a significant moment in Italy’s Web3 landscape, with participants traveling from Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

This exclusive gathering showcased 17 standout startups across AI, Real-World Assets (RWA), SocialFi, and DeFi. Among the most anticipated were Hive3 and Ecoverse, both leading the charge in AI and Metaverse development. The startups, selected from over 100 applications after a rigorous due diligence process conducted with Outlier Ventures, had the opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions to a curated group of Family Offices, VCs, and angel investors.

The event was expertly emceed by Mark Ferraro of FMM Capital, while Kelly Ferraro of River North Communications participated as a judge, offering a complimentary strategic messaging consultation to all participating startups.

Key winners included Intraverse, led by Soheyla (Soe) Haghighi, which won the $85K grant sponsored by ICP Hub Italia & Ticino, fast-tracking them to the accelerator program in Lugano, Switzerland. Folks Finance secured the Cointelegraph Accelerator $25K Media Grant. In a unique charitable moment, €1000 was raised for Modern Ukraine Charity through an auction of three match-worn Ukraine national team jerseys, supporting war orphans.

EthConnect’s success was made possible through generous support of its sponsors, including  ICP Hub Italia & Ticino, Rexla Global, C8ntinuum, Leia Games, Sleap.io, MintPass, Belonq, Monteluna, and Execution. Notable VCs like Phemex VC, Mana Ventures, Outlier Ventures, Samsung Next Ventures, Atmos Ventures, Hodl Ventures, N8 Capital, FMM Capital and others also played a vital role in driving the event’s impact.

Carlo Moretti, Co-Founder of EthConnect, said,“Bringing EthConnect to life was a dream come true. The energy, collaboration, and innovation we experienced at Mantova Castle were nothing short of inspiring. Watching Intraverse and other startups secure grants and prizes to accelerate their journeys—while connecting with world-class individuals—is exactly what this event was designed to achieve. We’re thrilled to support such a diverse range of innovators and are excited to see where they take us next. I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked alongside me to make the inaugural edition of this event such a success.”

One of the lead sponsors, Paulo B., CEO at Rexla Global, noted, “We are on a mission to make blockchain technology accessible and impactful for everyone, from beginners to seasoned experts. EthConnect played a vital role in this mission by bringing together innovators and investors to accelerate the adoption and development of blockchain technology across industries.”

EthConnect remains committed to fostering connections between emerging startups and the investor community, driving the next wave of Web3 innovations through pitch competitions, strategic partnerships, and networking events. Stay tuned for updates on future collaborations and events.

For more information, please contact:
Carlo Moretti,
EthConnect

Kelly Ferraro,
River North Communications