17 November marks International Students' Day, established to commemorate the courage of Czechoslovak students and professors who in 1939 stood up against the Nazi occupation. Today, this date is a universal symbol of freedom of expression and the right to education: values that remain central even in the face of contemporary global challenges, from automation to uncertainty in the world of work.

Students are not only the future, but also the present of innovation. Yet the data show how much still needs to be done: according to Istat, in August 2025 the youth unemployment rate in Italy stood at 19.3 per cent, one of the highest in Europe; while in 2023, 10.5 per cent of young people aged 18 to 24 dropped out of education before obtaining a diploma. These figures show how urgent it is to rethink learning models and build more effective training pathways capable of preparing young people for the challenges of tomorrow.

The good news is that there is no shortage of organisations trying to change things. In Italy and beyond, some startups are placing students at the heart of a new model of personal and collective growth. From mathematics to pensions, from digital training to ecological awareness, these six organisations are innovating the way we study, find direction, train and access the world of work.

6 startups putting students first

• StepsConnect
• Ciao Elsa
• Math Legacy
• Becoming Education
• Futurely
• Develhope

StepsConnect: where students, mentors and companies meet

Building a bridge between education and work is one of the great challenges of our time. StepsConnect was created precisely to connect students, mentors and companies and generate concrete opportunities for professional growth. Through an intelligent matching system, it enables users to get in touch with experienced professionals and companies looking for new talent. What's more, the platform offers guidance tools, personalised mentoring sessions and skills development pathways, helping young people define clear goals.

In a constantly evolving job market, solutions like StepsConnect make the transition from school to business smoother and more accessible, helping young people find their direction.

Ciao Elsa: understanding pensions before it's too late

If we asked a young worker to analyse their own pension situation, we would probably encounter a great deal of uncertainty. According to recent research, 81 per cent of Italian young people aged between 20 and 35 do not have adequate knowledge of pension funds. Ciao Elsa aims to fill this information gap by simplifying the world of pensions. Using plain language and intuitive digital tools, the startup enables university students and recent graduates to understand how to plan their future from the very first years of their career.

Math Legacy: maths is a game

Few students love it, many fear it: mathematics remains one of the most challenging subjects for children and young people. But what if it became a game? That is the gamble of Math Legacy, an educational platform that transforms mathematical learning into an engaging, dynamic and personalised experience. Through games, challenges and interactive pathways, Math Legacy adapts content to each user's level and progress, making studying less tedious and more motivating.

In a country where, according to the latest available Invalsi data, more than 50 per cent of secondary school students do not reach adequate levels of mathematical competence, tools like Math Legacy show how technology can also help bridge educational gaps.

Becoming Education: educating conscious citizens

With eleven facilities spanning nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, Becoming Education is more than a startup: it is an educational network that integrates learning, emotion and awareness. Its aim is to nurture people equipped with emotional intelligence, ecological consciousness and respect for diversity, preparing new generations not only for work, but for active citizenship.

According to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, more than half of Italian teenagers report feeling "quite or very pressured" due to academic workloads and performance expectations. Models like Becoming Education's offer a response to this widespread fatigue, bringing wellbeing, relationships and environmental awareness back to centre stage.

Futurely: guidance to combat school dropout

Every year thousands of students leave school too early. According to Istat, in Italy one in ten drops out before obtaining a diploma, with consequences for employment prospects. Futurely was created to reverse this trend. The platform offers personalised guidance pathways that help young people identify their own talents, discover the training opportunities most aligned with their inclinations and build a sustainable professional plan. Through digital tools, data analysis and sessions with experts, Futurely accompanies students through the most delicate transition: consciously choosing who to become.

Since its launch, the startup has already supported over 100,000 students across Italy, collaborating with schools and universities to bring guidance into classrooms and reduce the distance between school and the world of work. Another example of how technology, when guided by an educational vision, can support self-discovery.

Develhope: training the digital talents of the future

Develhope is a startup with an ambitious goal: to combat youth unemployment by training the digital professionals of tomorrow. It offers online training courses for programmers, data analysts and digital marketers, with a practical, market-oriented approach. Many of its pathways are free and accessible even to those starting from scratch, and include mentoring, job search support and direct contacts with companies.

In just a few years, Develhope has helped launch hundreds of young talents onto the market, demonstrating how educational innovation can become a concrete instrument of social inclusion and economic development, particularly in southern Italy, where the youth unemployment rate still exceeds 30 per cent.