Silicon Valley is bringing the startup hub to the Vatican

Rome

IT'S QUITE a cocktail: throw in some profit-seeking techies, mix in the age-old Roman Catholic Church and add a twist of anti-globalism. What you get is a startup hub.

A year ago venture capitalists Stephen Forte of Fresco Capital Fund and Eric Harr of Imagine Ventures - both based in California - asked the Vatican to back a technology competition among startups addressing climate change, energy and managing resources.