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Startup & CEO

The meeting point between ideas and opportunities in Retail & E-Commerce

Retail & E-Commerce companies are looking for new startups and new CEOs to build their future. Bring your idea to the attention of the right retailers and investors — or apply to lead a startup created and developed by us.

STARTUP
CEO

Vertical Startup Studio

We give your startup what it lacks: structure, skills, investors and industrial integration.

RETALIUM invests through high-value services delivered by its Business Units:

  • Strategy & Business Design (GTaviani Consulting)
  • Web & Mobile Development (Seed only)
  • AI Architecture & Automation
  • Internal fundraising support
  • Governance and board support after incorporation

Retail & E-Commerce Startups

The startups the industry actually wants — designed to attract industrial investors.

Retailers only invest in startups that solve real problems and can be integrated into their operations. RETALIUM selects, structures and enhances startups with real industrial potential.

Sectiors/Markets

  • Fashion & Apparel
  • Beauty & Personal Care
  • Home & Lifestyle
  • Food & Grocery
  • Sport, Fitness & Outdoor
  • Electronics & Smart Living
  • Kids, Toys & Family
  • Luxury & Jewelry

Relevant categories

  • New digital-first product lines
  • Vertical brands for emerging niches
  • Expansion into new geographic markets
  • Subscription and community-commerce models
  • Innovative retail concepts and added-value services

Why apply

  • Validation before incorporation
  • Direct connection with retailer co-founders
  • Strategic and internal fundraising support
  • A structured path to Pre-Seed, Seed and Exit
  • Fundraising focused on value, not speculation
APPLY YOUR STARTUP

Collaboration Path

From idea to exit: a continuous and transparent journey.

Application

Validation > Selection
  • Free submission
  • Industrial and technical screening
  • Validation with Retailers
  • Selection

PRE-SEED

Acceleration > Co-Founding
  • Training + acceleration program
  • Strategic validation
  • Business design and modeling
  • Pre-Seed fundraising support
  • DCap table definition
  • Entry of retailer co-founder

SEED

Incorporation > MVP > Seeds > Exit
  • Incorporation only with a defined equity structure
  • Product development and go-to-market
  • MVP in 6–12 months
  • CCoaching and governance
  • Investor engagement
  • Successive rounds
  • Scaling, partnerships and industrial exit

The RETALIUM model integrates Acceleration, Industrial Co-Founding, and Venture Studio functions into a single unified path. The Application phase identifies startups with genuine industrial potential together with Retail & E-Commerce partners. The PRE-SEED phase supports the startup before incorporation, preparing it for its Pre-Seed fundraising through an industrial Prime Investor: resources dedicated to product development, creation of the MVP together with the industrial co-founder, and future investment rounds. The SEED phase follows the startup from incorporation to exit, supporting all critical areas—product, technology, marketing, governance—and including potential RETALIUM investment through Business Unit services.

Startup CEOs

Not traditional startuppers — but business-oriented CEOs, not just fundraising-oriented.

The new CEO must be a complete manager: fewer pitch decks, more ability to run a company end-to-end. Leaders capable of guiding a validated startup before incorporation, with operational vision and cross-functional skills.

Key skills required of the 2026 CEO:

  • Strategic fundraising & investor relations
  • Project & operations management
  • Marketing & sales execution
  • Tech literacy & AI utilization
  • HR management & team leadership
  • Legal, budgeting & administration

Ideal candidates include:

  • Recent graduates in economics, management or tech fields
  • Professionals with corporate or managerial experience
  • Former founders with previous startup experience
  • People with backgrounds in retail, marketing, tech or product
  • Young talents with a strong entrepreneurial mindset and an AI-driven attitude
Apply to CEO Program
Application is free and activates your profile for the 2026 selection. Early applicants receive special access conditions.

Retalium Workspace

The platform where Startups, CEOs, Retailers and Investors create value together.

Startupper & CEOs Services include

  • Submission & screening
  • Retailer & investor invitations
  • Co-founder and investor management
  • Access to Business Units (Strategy, Dev, AI)
  • Management of external consulting (legal, finance, marketing, tech)
  • Training programs (including the CEO Program)
  • Dashboard, documents, governance

Membership Plans

BASE

Free
  • Submission access
  • Startup & CEO listings
  • Access to training programs
  • Contacts from retailers/investors
SIGN UP

PRE-SEED

€997/year
  • Everything in Base
  • Invitations to invest in the startup
  • Access to retailer co-founders & investors
  • Negotiation and introductions management
  • Retailer packages
  • Training + Pre-Seed acceleration
  • Internal fundraising support
  • Business Unit service investment
SIGN UP

SEED

€4.997/year
  • Everything in Pre-Seed
  • Management of meetings and board assemblies
  • Legal documentation archive
  • Access to specialised consultants
  • Valuation & exit dashboard
  • Advanced tools and services
SIGN UP

Founder or future CEO?

Your journey starts here.
Apply Your STARTUP
Apply for CEO PROGRAM