GammaDonna Award - The Six Finalists
The 13th GammaDonna Award—created in 2004 to highlight women‑led businesses—returns with a fresh slate of innovators. Six entrepreneurs from very different sectors share a single common denominator: groundbreaking innovation in both product development and business management.
From the oldest “pasta” factory in the world to the leading company in the particle decontamination sector, from advanced solutions for precision irrigation to the biotech startup that has patented the technology to recreate “a living organ in the laboratory”, passing through the first socially responsible company from fruit and vegetables to metal-free and biodegradable tannery: all this is done by the 6 finalists of the 13th edition of the GammaDonna Award, which since 2004 has been promoting women’s entrepreneurial initiatives. Different sectors, with a single common denominator: innovation, in business and in business management.
Silvia Scaglione – React4life (Genoa) – A biotech startup that has patented a technology to grow living organ tissue in the laboratory.
Milena Baroni – Mycroclean Italy (Gorgonzola, MI) – Specialist in particle de‑contamination for industrial processes.
Amelia Cuomo – Pasta Cuomo (Gragnano, NA) – Leader of the world’s oldest pasta factory, combining tradition with modern quality standards.
Giulia Giuffrè – Irritec (Capo d’Orlando, ME) – Provider of advanced precision‑irrigation solutions for agriculture.
Marianna Palella – Citrus (Cesena) – The first socially‑responsible fruit‑and‑vegetable company, committed to sustainable sourcing and fair trade.
Sara Santori – Conceria Nuvolari (Monte Urano, FM) – Innovator of a metal‑free, biodegradable tannery that reduces environmental impact.
These six women will compete for the coveted GammaDonna Award on Sunday, 21 November 2024, at 21:00, live from the QVC Italia studios.
The QVC programme is Italy’s first television format dedicated exclusively to celebrating and rewarding innovative female entrepreneurship. Its core mission is to help shrink the gender gap in the socio‑economic arena by showcasing virtuous business role models.
Additional Awards in This Edition
Presented by Valentina Communication, this prize honors the entrepreneur who has stood out for outstanding on‑line and off‑line communication strategies.
Women Startup Award – Powered by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center
The Women Startup Award recognises the most innovative startup among the finalists. This year, Silvia Scaglione and React4life took home the trophy, underscoring the company’s pioneering work in laboratory‑grown organs and its potential impact on healthcare.
Special Mention for Sustainable Development (European Commission)
The European Commission—GammaDonna’s institutional partner—awards a Special Mention for Sustainable Development to Mariasole Bianco, marine biologist and founder of Worldrise. Since 2013, Worldrise has driven creative awareness campaigns and concrete conservation projects to protect marine ecosystems.
“With this recognition, granted as part of the GammaDonna Award, we intend to reward Mariasole Bianco’s exceptional commitment as both an entrepreneur and a science communicator at the forefront of sustainability and its economic and social impacts on marine ecosystems” said Massimo Gaudina, Head of the European Commission Representation in Milan.
Bianco’s work aligns perfectly with the European Green Deal and the Next Generation EU plan, reinforcing the Commission’s agenda on environmental sustainability and development.