The University of Siena, in collaboration with Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena and *beeco, announces the launch of X Combinator, an incubator designed to support early-stage startups (pre-seed, pre-revenue, or initial pilots) developing innovative solutions for the agricultural and agrifood sectors. The initiative is further supported by Fondazione SAIHub, Fondazione Siena Impact, and Fondazione Siena Food Lab.

X Combinator is built on a clear conviction: true innovation in food cannot happen without innovating agriculture itself. The incubator adopts an approach that starts from real-world field challenges and extends to processing and the market. It specifically focuses on the Mediterranean area, a region that shares common productive, climatic, and supply chain challenges, making it a strategic laboratory for testing high-potential solutions.

The program offers a 5-month journey (from July to November 2026) in a hybrid format, alternating remote work with in-person events in Siena, hosted at facilities provided by the University of Siena.

The primary goal is to guide teams through the development and validation of their solutions. The program integrates structured methodology, dedicated mentorship, access to a wide innovation ecosystem, and direct engagement with the supply chain. This 2026 debut is the first step in a broader project: building a long-term support infrastructure for startups in one of the country’s most strategic sectors, fostering dialogue between innovative entrepreneurship, applied research, businesses, and local territories.

Applications for the first batch of X Combinator opened on 15 April 2026, and will remain active until 5 June 2026.