What professional path led you to join Fundo.one?

I have been a serial entrepreneur for many years, and these experiences have enabled me to develop a comprehensive understanding of both the Italian and international startup ecosystems. After earning a doctor degree in electronics engineering with a specialization in computer science, followed by a master in telecommunications and an MBA, I launched my first startup projects and then held corporate senior positions, before joining Ubiquisys as CTO and leading it to a successful 310 million dollars exit to Cisco in 2013. I subsequently held interim CxO positions, carried out advisory activities, invested directly in over 30 UK and Italian startups and served as “champion” for several investments promoted by Italian Angels for Growth . The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence convinced me to return to entrepreneurship, as I believe this technology still offers significant opportunities to be fully leveraged.

What motivated you to become entrepreneur-in-residence and CEO of Fundo.one?

My objective is to place artificial intelligence at the service of the real economy, facilitating access to subsidized finance for thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises that are currently excluded from traditional consulting models. In a country like Italy, where access to bank financing is particularly restricted for smaller companies and specialized subsidized-finance advisory services do not operate below certain thresholds, agentic AI solutions - such as those developed by Fundo.one - can significantly reduce entry barriers and support the growth of companies, employment, and entire supply chains. It is an opportunity too important not to be seized.

What are your priorities for the coming months?

Now that we are fully launched, together with the partners and investors of Maritime Ventures, we are working to finalize the first collaboration agreements with maritime companies operating with large supply chains and the broader SME ecosystem, starting from Italy. Our long-term goal is to serve thousands of SME clients across Europe, initially leveraging the Maritime Ventures partner network, which has shown strong interest in our solution from the outset. To achieve these objectives, I can rely on a highly competent and structured founding team composed of other three co-founders who bring complementary expertise in business, technology, and product development. There is no “one-man leadership,” but rather a cohesive group committed to bringing Fundo.one to market and scaling it rapidly.

In your view, what advantages does the role of entrepreneur-in-residence offer compared to more traditional founder profiles?

An entrepreneur-in-residence working within a venture builder benefits from the unique opportunity to join a project that is already supported by a comprehensive market analysis and an initial functional prototype. Another key advantage is the de-risking component, made possible by the involvement of major stakeholders who support the venture-building initiative and provide access to resources, networks, and institutional relationships from the earliest stages of the startup’s development. The venture-building model adopted by Maritime Ventures is already well established in advanced ecosystems such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany ones. I am confident it will generate concrete and lasting impact in Italy as well.