ATLAS, an association affiliated with Confindustria Innovative and Technological Services that supports the international expansion of startups and innovative companies, announces the operational launch of the Transatlantic Innovation Hub, the first permanent Italian landing place in Manhattan dedicated to accelerating companies entering the U.S. market.
Located at 417 Fifth Avenue, in the heart of Midtown, the hub was created to move beyond the model of temporary missions and instead provide a continuous presence in the United States. The U.S. is the world’s leading venture capital market, with more than $170 billion invested in 2024, and home to the second most dynamic startup ecosystem in the world after Silicon Valley.
The hub will offer operational landing services, qualified lead generation, incorporation and compliance support for doing business in the United States, and access to financing tools for the initial establishment phase through an agreement with a platform regulated within the European Union.
In Italy there are currently 11,788 registered innovative startups. In 2025, venture capital investments reached €1.488 billion, an increase of 32% compared to 2024, a figure that remains relatively limited compared with the main European ecosystems. Of the seven Italian unicorns, five have completed major funding rounds or expansions in the United States.
ATLAS has appointed Simone Tarantino as Managing Director of the hub. Tarantino, who has international experience in ecosystem building and strategic advisory, will lead relationships with American investors, accelerators, and corporations.
“The Transatlantic Innovation Hub is not a showcase, but an execution platform rooted in the New York ecosystem: here connections become contracts and visibility becomes capital. Manhattan is the most competitive ecosystem in the world, where companies prove through results that they can operate on a global scale,” said Simone Tarantino.
“Italian entrepreneurs have talent and technological expertise, but they often face barriers in accessing major markets due to a lack of support infrastructure. This hub aims to close that gap by supporting companies at every stage – from relocation to full competitiveness,” said Tommaso D’Onofrio, President of ATLAS.
ATLAS thanks the Consulate General of Italy in New York, led by Consul General Giuseppe Pastorelli, for supporting the initiative.
Save the date – The official presentation of the Transatlantic Innovation Hub will take place Monday, March 24, in New York and Rome. The program, speakers, and accreditation details will be announced in the coming days. Event details and RSVP here
Rome: [email protected]
New York: [email protected]
About ATLAS
ATLAS is an association founded in 2023 and affiliated with Confindustria Innovative and Technological Services, with the goal of supporting the international expansion of Italian startups and innovative companies along the Italy–U.S. corridor. It promotes networking, operational support, and advocacy for Italy’s innovation ecosystem.
Website: www.assoatlas.org
About Transatlantic Innovation Hub
A permanent operational base in Manhattan designed to support European startups and companies entering and growing in the U.S. market.
