The Startup Competition at Innovation Village Retail, an exhibition space dedicated to technology, emerging trends, and solutions that can transform the sector, was organised by Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags in collaboration with Retail Hub. Solaya stood out among the selected international start-ups and was proclaimed the winner of the first 2026 edition by a jury of industry experts.
The competition showcased state-of-the-art technological solutions from Italy, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel and China, further solidifying Innovation Village Retail's position as a pivotal hub for identifying the technologies that are reshaping the retail landscape.
Solaya: high-quality shooting at your fingertips. Here is the winning start-up
It is an AI platform that enables e-commerce brands to produce professional visuals using smartphones and advanced 3D modelling. Solaya enables you to instantly and consistently generate product photos, lifestyle imagery and advertising creatives that align with your brand identity, thereby reducing costs and accelerating omnichannel content production.
A global innovation laboratory
The nine young entrepreneurial companies that presented their projects to the international jury represent the best of the new generation of AI-based solutions, intelligent platforms, phygital tools, and advanced content models. This selection confirms the global vocation of Retail Hub, a tech company that has been helping brands and retailers discover the most revolutionary sector-specific technologies for years.
The solutions presented ranged from AI- and 3D-based personalised clothing and footwear fittings, to advanced demand forecasting and inventory optimisation. Other solutions included circular waste management and ESG processes, product protection against counterfeiting, automated visual content production and the creation of tailor-made sound identities for retail spaces, as well as the structured collection of feedback on the in-store experience. This set of complementary technologies offers retailers the concrete tools they need to improve performance, sustainability and customer experience in a context of profound market transformation.
The big news this year was the Investor Simulator. Each judge was given a virtual budget of €150,000 to invest, and had to decide how to allocate it between the competing start-ups during the pitches and in the final. This mechanism simulated the decision-making process of real investors, making the competition more dynamic and engaging, and bringing it closer to market logic. Solaya raised €505,000.
“The Innovation Village Retail Startup Competition was created to connect start-ups, brands and retailers, offering visibility and real opportunities to the most innovative technologies,” comments Massimo Volpe, founder of Retail Hub. “The quality of the projects presented this year confirms how rapidly innovation in retail is evolving, especially thanks to AI-based, sustainable and new production solutions.”
Alessandra Albarelli, General Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, the organiser of Expo Riva Schuh and Gadabags, shares this view. “With Innovation Village Retail, we aim to provide a tangible platform for dialogue between start-ups and industry leaders, where innovation is not just discussed, but experienced. Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags are business hubs, but also dynamic laboratories where trends are anticipated and the future of retail is shaped.”
The Innovation Village Retail confirms its position as a space for discussion and experimentation. It is capable of generating value for the entire supply chain and identifying the technologies that will shape the future of the sector.
