Leonardo Zamparini, a Physics student, and Valentina Coggiola, a Master's student in Marketing & Management, with their project BrusaDoor. Ivan Buttignon, Tommaso Moro, and Enrico Savorgnan, undergraduate students in AI and Data Analytics, with their project LiteAI.

BRUSADOOR

BrusaDoor combines functionality and design: how did the idea of integrating home heating with a piece of furniture come about?
Our idea stems from the need to optimize living spaces and overcome the limitations of traditional heating systems. The goal is to create a system that is not only energy-efficient but also seamlessly integrates into the decor, becoming part of the environment rather than an added element. We were also inspired by recent trends in home architecture, which increasingly focus on multifunctionality and sustainability.

How does the infrared radiant door provide superior thermal comfort compared to traditional methods?
One of its main advantages is the absence of air convection currents. In traditional systems, warm air tends to rise, causing temperature differences between the ceiling and the floor and an uneven heat distribution. Infrared technology, on the other hand, allows surfaces and objects to absorb and gradually release heat, maintaining a constant and pleasant temperature throughout the space. This is especially beneficial for sleep, as keeping a stable temperature at night promotes deeper, more restful sleep. Moreover, infrared heating doesn’t dry the air or create currents that stir up dust or allergens, making the environment healthier for allergy sufferers while helping to prevent mold and humidity. Finally, it delivers heat rapidly, enhancing overall system efficiency.

Does the project involve the use of artificial intelligence algorithms?
Yes, BrusaDoor uses algorithms designed to analyze historical heating usage data and automatically adjust the system's operation to the user’s habits and preferences. These analyses also incorporate external data, such as weather conditions, to further optimize system performance. All of this happens automatically, invisibly, and without complications for the user, ensuring efficiency and economic savings while contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing consumption and emissions.

What are your main market goals?
Currently, our priority is to complete the development of BrusaDoor to achieve maximum energy efficiency. Once this phase is completed, we’ll focus on the Italian market, particularly in Northern Italy, where we’ve observed strong interest in innovative solutions combining energy efficiency and design.

What advice would you give to students dreaming of turning an idea into a business?
Turning an idea into a business is an exciting journey, and for us, it’s just the beginning. If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far, it’s that everything starts with listening: listening to people’s needs, understanding the problems to be solved, and trying to find a solution that provides real value. Another essential aspect is teamwork. Combining our diverse skills and perspectives has allowed us to view the project from angles we wouldn’t have considered alone. Then there’s the practical side: planning, researching, and figuring out if your idea really makes sense in the real world. We’ve learned a lot by participating in the Contamination Lab, which gave us valuable feedback and opportunities to interact with experts. We know we still have a lot to learn, and perhaps that’s the beauty of this journey: every step teaches you something new and brings you closer to your goal.

LITEAI

LiteAI focuses on improving children’s educational experiences. Where does your interest in this field come from?
As AI students, we’ve recently come to fully understand the positive impact these technologies can have on various aspects of society. Reflecting on our own childhoods and investigating the current needs of the education sector, LiteAI was born.

How do you integrate soft skills into play-based educational paths, and what results do you expect in the long term?
Soft skills are the core focus of all our educational activities and will be custom-designed by our team of pedagogists. It will then be the AI model’s task to present children with the right activities at the right time and adjust the difficulty levels appropriately. While the activities will be digital, we also plan to adopt a mixed-reality approach, with games conducted both within the app and in real life. Based on various scientific studies we’ve consulted, we’re confident that the impact of such educational tools will be both positive and evident. As soon as we have an MVP ready, we’ll proceed to user testing to collect data on the improvement of children’s soft skills.

Are there specific educational areas or age groups you consider particularly suited to LiteAI?
Our app targets children aged 7 to 11. Since we deal with transversal competencies, our solution fits seamlessly into any educational segment. We also aim to propose inclusive activities for children with specific learning disorders (SLDs). For now, the main educational areas we want to focus on are emotional intelligence and communication.

Are you already collaborating with schools or institutions to test your product? What are the initial responses?
We haven’t developed an MVP yet, but we’re in the lead generation phase. The next step is to create a minimum viable product for testing. For now, we’re collaborating with the startup studio 12Venture, which specializes in the EdTech market, and we’re also in contact with the ANPE Association. However, we’re actively working on expanding our network.

What advice would you give to students dreaming of turning an idea into a business?
The journey is very challenging and complex; we’re also facing daily difficulties and delays, but we know it’s part of the process. Our advice is to surround yourself with people who share your values, who, like you, must be resilient, ambitious, and open to constant change.

Innovators Community Lab - ICL