Xference is the Sardinian startup of the year, with Bloomlabs and HikmaAI completing the podium.

This is the verdict of the seventh edition of SIOS26 Summer - AI First , the event of StartupItalia (formally Pull the Rabbit) with Fondazione di Sardegna as main partner, in collaboration with Innois and with the support of Sardegna Ricerche.

Forty applications, one winner. First place went to Xference, a Cagliari-based startup that develops infrastructure to enable businesses and organizations to adopt generative AI models while maintaining full data control and compliance with European privacy and security requirements .

Second place went to Bloomlabs , a startup operating in the agritech and indoor farming sector, with a technology that combines artificial intelligence and IoT systems for the sustainable cultivation of cut flowers. The project enables year-round production in controlled environments, drastically reducing water consumption, eliminating the use of pesticides, and optimizing production cycles through intelligent crop monitoring.

Third place went to HikmaAI, a startup specializing in cybersecurity applied to artificial intelligence systems. It has developed a platform for observing, controlling, and governing AI agents in production environments. The solution allows organizations to monitor the behavior of intelligent systems, prevent data leaks and threats in real time, and ensure compliance and traceability in the use of artificial intelligence.

"Artificial intelligence," explained Simone Pepino, CEO of Pull the Rabbit , "is influencing business models and investment strategies. Italy has the expertise and startups to play a key role, but growth requires a more robust exit market, new private capital, and greater integration between innovation, industry, and finance."

(Unioneonline/lf)

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