WMF opens 2027 startup calls across global innovation network

WMF has opened its 2027 startup Calls, giving founders and innovative SMEs access to investors, corporations, accelerators and international visibility across events in Bologna, Riyadh, Milan and San Francisco. The program is built around three pathways and comes after WMF says its 2026 edition drew 3,000 startups, SMEs and investors from more than 90 countries.

Why it matters: - WMF is positioning its startup program as a year-round route to capital, customers, expertise and market access, not just a pitch competition. - The 2027 Calls are meant to connect founders with an international network that spans Europe, North America and Asia. - WMF says the ecosystem includes organizations representing $1.5 trillion in total portfolio value, $304 billion in assets under management, $72.8 billion in deal participation and more than 17,000 funding rounds.

What happened: - WMF – We Make Future opened its 2027 Calls for startups and innovative SMEs. - The Calls are anchored in the WMF Builders Community, a year-round network of startups, investors, companies, researchers and innovators. - The network covers the full growth cycle from pre-seed to scale-up. - The ecosystem is organized around 14 Future Challenges tied to strategic industries, including AI and Digital Business, FinTech & Digital Assets, IndustryTech & Robotics, CleanTech & Energy, Health & Life Sciences, and Smart Cities & Mobility. - Startups applying to the Calls must identify the Challenge their project addresses. - Cosmano Lombardo, founder and CEO of Search On Media Group and creator of WMF, said startups now need access to markets, industry relationships, expertise and international exchange, not only capital.

The details: - WMF is highlighting three pathways within the 2027 startup program. - The WMF International Startup Competition is in its 15th edition and is the flagship track for companies seeking global investors and industry players. - The competition will select 140 startups. - Those startups will participate in the World Startup Fest through pitching sessions, B2B meetings and side events. - Six finalists will advance to the WMF 2027 Mainstage during the first two days of the event. - Selected startups also gain access to WMF’s global platform and international opportunities across the year, including Saudi Makes Future in Riyadh. - AI For Future is for projects with artificial intelligence at the core of the solution. - AI For Future includes four touchpoints: San Francisco on November 5, 2026; Riyadh from December 14–16, 2026; Milan on February 11–12, 2027; and Bologna from June 10–12, 2027. - The Global Impact Challenge is for startups and innovative SMEs building solutions aligned with the WMF Future Challenges and related strategic industries. - Selected companies in that track get visibility and opportunities to engage with investors, companies and experts in the WMF network.

Between the lines: - WMF is broadening its startup offering beyond a single annual event by linking scouting, visibility and deal flow across multiple geographies and industry themes. - The structure suggests WMF wants to act as an infrastructure layer for innovation, especially for founders looking to move from validation to international scale. - The emphasis on capital, deal flow and amplification shows a strategy to connect funding with market access and public exposure.

What's next: - The selected startups will move through WMF’s 2027 programming, including the World Startup Fest, AI For Future events and the Global Impact Challenge. - WMF 2027 will take place at BolognaFiere from June 10 to 12, 2027. - Saudi Makes Future is scheduled for Riyadh from December 14 to 16, 2026. - AI For Future events will also run in San Francisco and Milan before the Bologna main event. - WMF says the 2027 pathway builds on its 2026 edition, which brought together 3,000 startups, SMEs and investors from more than 90 countries.

The bottom line: - WMF is turning its startup program into a global pipeline for founders seeking funding, visibility and international expansion.