From Europe to China: 10 Selected Companies from Retail Hub Ready to Transform Retail with AI, Sustainability, and New Digital Models
The collaboration between Retail Hub—a tech company specializing in the international scouting of innovation for the retail world—and Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags—the global trade fair dedicated to footwear, bags, leather
goods, luggage, and travel items, organized by Riva del Garda Fierecongressi—is renewed for the 2026 edition. Retail Hub has finalized the new selection of startups that will participate in the Innovation Village Retail, the exhibition
space entirely dedicated to technology, emerging trends, and solutions capable of transforming the sector.
A Global Laboratory of Innovation
The ten young entrepreneurial realities chosen—coming from Italy, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and China—represent the best of the new generation of AI-based solutions, intelligent platforms, phygital tools, and advanced content models. A selection that confirms Retail Hub's global vocation, which has been a point of reference for brands and retailers for years in discovering the sector's most revolutionary technologies.
From January 10 to 13, 2026, the Riva del Garda exhibition center will be transformed into a dynamic innovation laboratory. During the fair, the startups will present their solutions to the entire sector community, composed of companies, buyers, professional
operators, and experts, and will participate in the Startup Competition, challenging each other in front of an international jury. The great novelty this year is the Investor Simulator: each juror will have a virtual budget available
to invest and must decide how to allocate it among the competing startups, both during the pitches and in the final. This mechanism simulates the decision-making process of real investors, making the competition more dynamic, engaging, and closer
to market logics. The winning project will get the opportunity to participate free of charge in the June 2026 edition.
The 10 Selected Startups: Technologies Redefining the Future of Retail
Reducing returns, smart inventory management, AI content for eCommerce, sustainability and traceability, brand protection, phygital engagement, and much more: each startup brings a unique technological contribution to support retailers in a time of profound transformation.
IRISPHERA, the winner of the June 2025 Startup Competition, is also returning and continues its growth journey within the fair. Its presence confirms the value of the program and the ability of the Innovation Village Retail to support the most promising ventures towards international scalability, offering visibility, mentorship, and direct connection with global retail players.
IRISPHERA: Wear the Right Choice. AI and 3D technology for a personalised fit and no returns
This Romanian platform uses artificial intelligence and 3D technology to help customers find clothes that best suit their body type. It offers personalised suggestions on size, colour and style. It improves the shopping experience, reduces returns and provides retailers with advanced analytical data to optimise assortments, conversions and sales.
Onefit.ai: get the perfect size first time with AI-native fitting
This London-based start-up is transforming footwear fitting by using AI-powered smartphone foot scanning technology. The platform generates accurate measurements and recommends the correct size for each brand and model, thereby reducing returns, waste and customer dissatisfaction. It is a strategic ally for retailers and footwear manufacturers committed to improving conversions and margins.
Musthad: adding value to waste — the platform that transforms waste into a resource
This Italian platform specialises in circular waste management for the fashion and textile industries. It enables companies to digitise waste flows, activate recycling and reuse solutions via a European network of over 100 partners, and monitor environmental KPIs and regulatory compliance. It is a model that combines sustainability, efficiency and cost reduction, transforming waste management into a real strategic asset.
Metreecs: predicting growth, demand is no longer unknown
This French start-up is focused on intelligent demand forecasting. It reduces excess inventory, avoids stockouts and frees up capital thanks to advanced technology that goes beyond the limitations of Excel spreadsheets. It offers companies a clear, up-to-date view of trends, optimising supply chains and operations.
Lab-Go: Every product tells the truth with phygital authentication for brands, with no compromises
A deep-tech company that combats counterfeiting and promotes transparent engagement. Thanks to its patented phygital environment, Lab-Go provides comprehensive solutions for product authentication, brand protection, and direct consumer interaction.
Solaya: quality shooting, anywhere. Pro content with a simple iPhone
An AI platform that enables eCommerce brands to produce professional visuals using iPhones and advanced 3D modelling. Solaya enables you to instantly and consistently generate product photos, lifestyle imagery and advertising creatives that reflect your brand identity, thereby reducing costs and accelerating omnichannel content production.
Custom Wrkshop, fashion on demand: the platform that eliminates overproduction and reinvents the supply chain
This technology is revolutionising fashion production thanks to its end-to-end platform, which allows brands to create customised products on demand and definitively overcome the problem of overproduction. It connects real-time digital configurators with a global network of MTO factories spanning India, China, Europe, Vietnam, and the Americas. This enables one-to-one, small-batch, and large-scale production without any inventory risk. The system integrates a co-creation engine that enables customers to customise products online or in-store and an order management module that automates orders, tracking, data exchange and end-to-end visibility. It also offers plug-and-play integration with e-commerce and retail and immediate factory onboarding via API.
Smartzeroing: carbon neutral, simplified ESG solutions for global brands
With over 30 years' experience and having served 32,000 companies, Smartzeroing is bringing a certified platform for carbon and ESG process management to Europe. The SmartZ solution enables brands to monitor, reduce and offset emissions through a simple, automated approach that is verified by international bodies.
Totally In Store: sound becomes a brand, highly personalised musical identity
Totally In Store is a forward-thinking startup redefining the way businesses design their in-store audio identity. Leveraging its proprietary music catalogue and a dedicated AI model trained to generate fully original compositions, the company introduces a breakthrough approach to background music for retail, hospitality, transportation hubs, and professional spaces. Its mission is to transform sound from a cost center into a strategic asset, eliminating licensing burdens while enabling brands to craft immersive audio experiences.
TotallyInStore (TiS), is an AI-powered platform that delivers high-quality, copyright-free music specifically tailored for commercial environments. TiS allows businesses to access personalized playlists that are refreshed monthly, ensuring an ever-evolving and consistent sonic atmosphere that enhances customer experience and strengthens brand perception. Beyond music delivery, the platform integrates an innovative advertising marketplace, enabling stores to promote their own services locally or monetize unused audio slots by selling them to other businesses. This model not only reduces operational costs but also unlocks new revenue streams. With an intuitive interface, seamless streaming, and a scalable subscription structure, TiS sets a new standard for in-store audio management, positioning Totally Innovation as a key innovator in the rapidly growing market of commercial sound design."
