BAIAblog

Increasing the Visibility of Italian Business: IB&II, PanoramaEconomy and BAIAbase

In recent news Italy has been on the spotlight for its debt restructuring challenge. If we look beyond the urgent and immediate issues, Italy faces more a problem of liquidity than one of solvency. In simpler terms, this means that Italy has a primary surplus and a strong working economy, dependent in large part on the small to medium firms (SMEs), especially in the high-end manufacturing sectors, as an example.

It is precisely the strong base of SMEs, which have established the “Made in Italy” premium recognized globally, that drive the Italian economy. Despite this, Italian firms and the SME sector in particular are sometimes only locally known and generally lack a visibility that other European companies have established across borders. In the efforts to solve this issue and build greater visibility to Italian firms, a few notable initiatives have taken place in the last few months:

• The Italian Business & Investment Initiative: The Italian Business & Investment Initiative (IB&II) seeks to promote Italy’s innovative small to medium size enterprise (SME) sector to the U.S. venture capital and private equity investment communities.
• Panorama Economy: IB&II collaborated with leading Italian publisher Mondadori to launch Panorama Economy’s "Why Italy Matters to the World", the first online information source on the Italian economy in English, written by Italians.
• BAIAbase: The first business database mapping Italy-US trade. A useful data bank for company executives and entrepreneurs interested in searching for strategic business partners and equally relevant for business professionals and managers interested in finding new job opportunities in Italy or the US.

Along with the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy and others, BAIA is a partner of the Italian Business & Investment Initiative. Just a couple of weeks ago, a BAIA Partner Event: Italian Business & Investment Initiative Fall Symposium, organized by IB&II, was held at Bloomberg in New York, which included high profile speakers and a roster of selected Italian privately-held SMEs.

Panorama Economy: The First Italian Business Periodical Fully Published in English

Fully published in English! It is now possible for the English-speaking audience to read about the Italian economy, case studies and opinions from one of Italy’s most influential weekly business magazine. Equally important, the Italian community has a great resource available in English. I recommend checking it out at http://www.panoramaeconomy.com/.

Also, I recommend reading the Panorama Economy article Let me show you the America that counts in which Fernando Napolitano, Founder, CEO and President of IB&II, describes how he has developed the initiative.

Sergio Mandrone

 

Event recap: Fondazione Ricerca & Impreditorialità Presentation

Fondazione Ricerca & Impreditorialità debuted in San Francisco on Nov 1 at an event organized jointly by BAIA, Mind the Bridge and the Italian Cultural Insitute.

This non-profit organization was established thanks to an alliance  from the Italian public and private sectors only few months ago . Bank Intesa San Paolo, large corporations (Finmeccanica, Enel), Universities (Scuola Superiore Sant’anna and Politecnico di Milano) and high tech SMEs, joined this partnership, driven by the idea that Italy has great potential in research that can be transformed into true economic growth.

It is a fact that academic education and research in Italy are on an excellent level, but still a relatively small number of entrepreneurial ventures are spurred by this research. Surrounded by the sumptuous collection of Maria Callas’ historic stage costumes (still on display at the IIC until December 2nd) Alberto di Minin, Assistant Professor of Strategy at Scuola Superiore Sant’anna, presented the agenda of the organization.

Studies show that funding for research in Italy - both public and private - is consistently below the level of other advanced countries. The private sector is dominated by small and medium industries and this fragmentation is both an advantage and a limit to economic growth. While the ability of small businesses to renew themselves (their "know-how") has contributed to the success of the Made in Italy brand around the world, loss of competitiveness is attributed to the fact that just few of these small and medium companies are part of the high tech sector. "Science and High Tech are not perceived as a source of business in Italy" says Professor di Minin, Phd from UC Berkeley. "It is a nice thing to do, but who pays the bills?" The answer is "New knowledge for development." Fondazione R&I believes that applied basic research is the key: Science applied in order to solve practical problems.

So can we encourage and foster the growth of high-tech startups? "Companies are afraid to make the leap because there is no comparable ecosystem as there is here in Silicon Valley. In Italy we don’t celebrate entrepreneurship and the related  infrastructure is therefore missing. Our goal – Di Minin underlined- is not to recreate a Silicon Valley in Italy but to create a bridge between users and providers. Create a demand for new knowledge and technology for developing ideas."  The foundation aims to offer qualified services to support and encourage the growth of Italian startups: from managerial training to analysis of the potential of innovation.

"PhDs are the new entrepreneurs" Di Minin pointed out "they are the new actors, the social capital needed to look at the future." "We are very optimistic", as Di Minin concluded his speech, "first of all the commitment from the foundation is real and has been in the planning stages for a long time. Plus, all the partners are trying to sustain activities within the research system, as they are aware that the whole supporting system is missing."

Special thanks to IIC for kindly hosting the event at its magnificent new location and for providing the catering from C’era una Volta restaurant.

Hope to see you at our next events!

Rossella Florio

PS: Resource Links: 

• Official event photos
• Paper: A new form of entrepreneurial capitalism based on innovation and Research in Italy (PDF, in English)
• Prof. Di Minin presentation slides of Fondazione Ricerca & Imprenditorialità (PDF, in Italian)

Event recap: Transplanting startups in Silicon Valley

A cross section of the Bay Area public gathered in Palo Alto for the recent BAIA Panel event on October 14th. With the generous support of SAP Labs we were able to use the global software company’s Silicon Valley headquarters as the setting for our panel discussion.

After mingling over great wines and food, offered by Cafè Renzo of Palo Alto, Italian and American entrepreneurs, professors, students, along with many expats joined in (check out some photos) to tackle this fascinating and controversial topic: Transplanting Start ups in Silicon Valley: does it work? Can Italian tech companies be successful at home? Must international entrepreneurs move their companies to Silicon Valley if they hope to compete on a global scale? What’s the evidence?

This was the starting point for the discussion, which, along with moderator Massimo Arrigoni, BAIA Board member and CEO of Early Impact, a California-based eCommerce software company, featured prestigious and lively panelists such as Vivek Wadhwa, the inspiring Berkeley professor and senior research associate at Harvard Law school. Sharing the stage with him, seasoned and new Italian entrepreneurs such as: Fabrizio Capobianco, CEO of Funambol, Marco Marinucci, Google Manager and founder of Mind the Bridge, Aldo Cocchiglia, CEO of M31 USA, and Augusto Marietti, 22 year old co-founder and CEO of Mashape.

When talking about success in Silicon Valley, the Italian business community questions itself. It looks as if transplanting start ups from Italy hasn’t been very successful so far: why do always the same names come up? Why so few success stories? Is it an Italian problem? Has it worked with companies transplanted from other countries?

The speakers addressed these questions from different perspectives. Vivek Wadhwa, who is also a regular contributor for the online blog Tech Crunch, pointed out the importance in changing the idea of exporting Silicon Valley around the world. “Why do you bother to come into the USA? Why don’t you build a new Silicon Valley in Europe?” was his provoking question. But how do you recreate the same vibe you feel here in Silicon Valley? Vivek gave us the example of Chile. The country is hoping to lure private companies by granting $40,000 grants and providing cheap office space and accommodation to budding entrepreneurs from around the world. “We should teach each other to build ecosystems to create new Silicon Valleys around the world”, emphasized the columnist for Business Week.

So what is the “Italian problem” then? Too many internal policy issues? Or do Italians lack the attitude to succeed in this environment? Marco Marinucci, founder and executive director of Mind the bridge (a non-profit organization that aims to link the most innovative Italian start ups with Silicon Valley resources) pointed out at some of the issues: lack of management skills and auto referential politicians are important limits, or more specifically, “barriers”, as Augusto Marietti mentioned; structural barriers which limit Italian company to go global.

On the other hand success is repeatable as Marinucci emphasizes: "We need to use success stories to mentor and encourage new entrepreneurs." In a country where there is little investment in research, where the public discourse and the media are often focused on old political and economic patterns, it is important to find new ways to package content in order to reach the public. “It can be done” is the positive attitude and thinking that can persuade Italian entrepreneurs to empower new ideas, building a diverse culture that encourages risk taking and openness.

“Italy is the best place to develop software” said Fabrizio Capobianco. Italian universities produce a continuous stream of fresh bright minds even though as Aldo Cocchiglia - who has over 30 years of extensive experience in the world of start ups and technology entrepreneurship - underlined: “Professors don’t stimulate entrepreneurs as they do here in Silicon Valley”. Italian Universities lack the connection with the real world of business.

The hybrid model looks like the best option so far: it is important to keep good creative and relatively inexpensive engineers in Italy while transplanting financial and marketing resources to Silicon Valley, opening office with sales, marketing and finance teams. But still Silicon Valley seems to be the place to go “to change the world and get what you want”.

We hope you will join us at our next events!

Rossella Florio

PS: Resource Links: 

• Official event photos
• SF Examiner article #1
• SF Examiner article #2
• SF Examiner video #1
• SF Examiner video #2
• Chile entrepreneurial stimulus case study

2010 Wishes from the Italian Ambassador to the USA

We are pleased to republish Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata's Holiday Wishes to the Italian-American Community (text only in Italian, dated Dec 23, 2009):

"Cari connazionali,

e’ questo il primo Natale che trascorro a Washington come Ambasciatore d’Italia. E’ un Natale speciale per me e per la mia famiglia e desidero far pervenire a voi tutti e alle vostre famiglie gli auguri di un sereno Natale e di un felice 2010.

E’ un augurio che rivolgo a tutti gli italiani d’America: al Presidente ed ai Consiglieri del COMITES, ai parlamentari italiani eletti nella nostra circoscrizione, ma anche a tutti coloro che vantano origini italiane e, vorrei dire, a chi ama il nostro Paese e si riconosce nei valori di liberta e solidarieta’ che l’Italia rappresenta nel mondo e che uniscono da sempre Italia e Stati Uniti.

Sono valori, liberta’ e solidarieta’, che hanno segnato anche il 2009, anno di straordinario rafforzamento delle relazioni tra i nostri due Paesi. Relazioni tra i governi, ma anche relazioni tra i popoli, tra la gente.

Il 2009 e’ stato certamente l’anno della solidarieta’ che italiani d’America e americani hanno mostrato in maniera commovente nei confronti delle popolazioni dell’Abruzzo colpite dalla tragedia del terremoto. Primo tra tutti il  Presidente Obama.

Solidarieta’ e liberta’ sono valori condivisi. E’ nel loro nome che l’Italia ha ancora una volta assicurato agli Stati Uniti un convinto sostegno nella battaglia contro il terrorismo in Afghanistan. Lo abbiamo fatto mossi dallo spirito di alleati e amici affidabili: 1000 soldati italiani si aggiungeranno nei prossimi mesi ai quasi tremila che sono gia’ li’ impegnati a difendere liberta’, pace e sicurezza.

Amicizia e affidabilita’ sono le “qualita”’ di un rapporto antico e profondo. Ma esso non potrebbe esistere senza il fondamentale apporto degli italiani d’America. “Gli italo-americani contribuiscono in maniera eccezionale all’identita’ di questo Paese: sono modelli di riferimento, innovatori e straordinari uomini delle istituzioni”. Lo ha detto il Presidente Obama il 12 ottobre di quest’anno in occasione del Columbus Day.

La vostra, la nostra, e’ una comunita’, una famiglia i cui membri sono presenti a tutti i livelli e in tutti i settori della vita di questo grande Paese. L’America ha accolto milioni di italiani. Dai loro figli e dai loro nipoti – scienziati, politici, imprenditori – questo Paese e’ stato costruito cosi’ come oggi lo conosciamo.

L’Italia di oggi e’ quella dei militari italiani impegnati fianco a fianco con i soldati americani in tante parti del mondo; e’ l’Italia della Fiat che sostiene il rilancio della Chrysler; quella di Giovanni Falcone che continua a combattere Cosa Nostra insieme agli uomini di legge americani; e’ l’Italia di Roberto Vittori, l’astronauta italiano che con lo shuttle della Nasa portera’ la nostra tecnologia nello spazio; quella della Fondazione ISNAFF che lavora per creare una rete tra gli oltre diecimila scienziati e ricercatori italiani in Nord America; l’Italia del maestro Riccardo Muti che nel 2009 ha diretto la Filarmonica di New York e nel 2010 sara’ direttore a Chicago; quella delle opere di Morandi esposte al Metropolitan. 

Sono queste, insieme alle tante altre, le “Italie” dell’eccellenza, della serieta’, della creativita’, dell’arte: la garanzia migliore che anche il 2010 sara’ un anno fruttuoso per le relazioni tra i nostri due Paesi.

Vorrei pero’ chiudere con un augurio un po’ speciale per il 2010: non e’ rivolto ad una persona, ma alla nostra lingua, strumento unico per la diffusione della cultura e della conoscenza – non solo italiana – negli Stati Uniti. Un augurio accompagnato da un concreto impegno affinche’ l’italiano si diffonda sempre di piu’ negli Stati Uniti. Un impegno assunto anche sul piano finanziario dal mio Governo, in stretta, proficua collaborazione con le principali associazioni italo-americane, per riportare l’italiano nell’Advance Placement Program. Per il successo di questo sforzo c’e’ bisogno anche di voi.

Auguri a tutti voi e alle vostre famiglie!

Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata"

A Message from the new Italian Ambassador to the USA

Effective October 1, 2009, the new Italian Ambassador to the United States has taken office in Washington.  Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata assumed his duties as Ambassador-designate of Italy to the United States after having held the position of Italy’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (full bio here). 

In taking office, the Ambassador extended a welcome message to the Italian community, which we are pleased to republish below (in italian):

"Cari Connazionali,

nell'assumere la guida dell'Ambasciata d'Italia negli Stati Uniti desidero rivolgere, come primo atto della  missione che sto per intraprendere, a tutti Voi, ai rappresentanti eletti negli Stati Uniti, alla comunita’ di origine italiana, a quanti trovano nel mio Paese un riferimento ideale e culturale, il mio saluto unito a sentimenti di forte ammirazione per quanto la Vostra, da oggi la nostra, comunita’ ha saputo e continua a fare per consolidare lo straordinario rapporto di amicizia  tra Italia e Stati Uniti. 

Il tricolore issato all’Ambasciata a Washington, insieme a quelli nei Consolati, negli Istituti di Cultura e in tutte le istituzioni e associazioni italiane sul territorio americano sono il segno dell’accoglienza e dell’invito rivolto a tutti i membri della grande famiglia italo americana: siamo qui per far crescere questa famiglia e sappiamo di poter contare sul sostegno e la partecipazione attiva di ognuno dei suoi componenti, anche attraverso l’importante strumento della diffusione della lingua italiana in questo Paese.

Ci separano pochi giorni dalle celebrazioni del Columbus Day. Piu’ di ogni altra questa ricorrenza segna la profondita' storica e culturale del contributo italiano alla formazione e alla crescita della societa' americana. Erano italiani, uomini di pensiero come Filippo Mazzei, d’azione come Giuseppe Garibaldi, di scienza come Antonio Meucci, che in America, come in Italia, sono stati fautori degli ideali di liberta’ e di unita’ nazionale, ancor prima che si consolidassero nei nostri Paesi le attuali realta’ statuali. Un ricchissimo, comune patrimonio di valori politici, culturali, umani si e’ consolidato tra le nostre societa’ e i nostri Governi nel secolo e mezzo di rapporti diplomatici tra Roma e Washington.

Oggi il mio Paese vede negli Stati Uniti un partner essenziale per contribuire al proprio futuro di liberta’, di prosperita’ e di pace. Cio’ deve avvenire a livello globale e in un quadro transatlantico che incoraggi l’Europa a esercitare tutte le sue responsabilita’ sulla scena mondiale.

Ho trascorso molti anni in Nord America come rappresentante dell’Italia e dalla mia esperienza, anche quella recentemente maturata alle Nazioni Unite, ho trovato sempre conferma della strettissima unita’ d’intenti che lega Roma e Washington su questioni vitali della convivenza tra i popoli quali la sicurezza internazionale, l’economia, la tutela dei deboli, la protezione dell’ambiente: lo sforzo comune in Afghanistan, l’impegno per il disarmo, il sostegno al ruolo dell’Onu nel settore delle operazioni di pace e dei diritti umani sono solo alcuni dei punti piu’ qualificanti di un’azione congiunta che Italia e Stati Uniti hanno ancor piu’ intensificato in questi ultimi anni.

E’ la fotografia di un rapporto solido che, come conferma un recente sondaggio sui legami transatlantici, non riguarda solo i nostri governi, ma appartiene anche ai popoli ed e’ ben radicato nelle stessa opinione pubblica. Il grado di sostegno e di condivisione che ottiene attualmente l’immagine degli Stati Uniti in Italia e’ superiore al 90 per cento, un valore in assoluto tra i piu’ elevati che si registrino tra i 27 Paesi dell'unione Europea. 

Vi e’ spazio per approfondire questi straordinari legami diretti che si accompagnano all’alleanza politica tra i due Paesi. A cominciare dalla cultura, con particolare attenzione all’insegnamento e alla diffusione della lingua italiana, dall’innovazione tecnologica e dalla cooperazione in campo economico ed industriale: i recenti successi italiani nel settore automobilistico rappresentano la sintesi ideale di questi tre elementi e costituiscono un modello per futuri progetti comuni.

Per immaginare e realizzare questi progetti serve il contributo di ognuno di voi, che cosi’ spesso manifestate il vostro legame verso l’Italia con una straordinaria partecipazione alle vicende del nostro Paese, sia sotto il profilo della solidarieta’ come e’ stato il caso in occasione del terremoto in Abruzzo, sia con il sostegno verso le iniziative per la diffusione della nostra cultura e della nostra lingua in questo Paese.

E’ con questo auspicio che inizio la mia missione, consapevole dell’apporto che ognuno di voi puo’ dare all’affermazione del ruolo e dell’immagine dell’Italia negli Stati Uniti. 

Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata"

An Interview with Roberto Bonzio, Reuters Journalist

A couple of months ago I received an e-mail from Roberto Bonzio, asking for an interview. Roberto told me he was here in Silicon Valley for a few months on a project about Italians. After a few e-mails, we set up an appointment and a few days later we met at my office. We spoke for a couple of hours about my experiences here in the US and my company, Novedge. A couple of days later Roberto published the interview on his blog, Italiani di Frontiera. I read the interview and was amazed to discover how much Roberto was able to capture from our talk. Despite taking few notes during the interview, he understood all the details about our online system and strategies, as well as our company strengths and weaknesses. Impressed by Roberto's professional capabilities, I've become an avid reader of his blog and discovered a mine of interesting articles, stories, and people. Despite not being a journalist myself, I wanted to return Roberto's favor and so invited him to be interviewed for the BAIA blog. Here are my questions and his responses.

Roberto, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional activities?

I was born in Mestre Venezia, start working as a reporter in Venice newspaper Il Gazzettino, as my grandfather Roberto, my father Giovanni "Gibo" and today my brother Giampaolo. I moved to Milan in 1986 at national newspaper Il Giorno, joining Reuters Italian service in 2001, now in a 6 months leave of absence here in California. Be pro-positive and nonconformist have been often not helpful, working in Italy, in media too. I got some more opportunities in reportages around the world for magazines. Then I found in Reuters a fantastic chance for good journalism and international perspectives. And in the web the ideal environment for my unordered curiosity. That goes from movies (I graduated at Venice University in History of Cinema, dissertation about Harpo Marx), to music (I play a lot of instruments, you wouldn't believe how many and how badly), rugby. And new media.

What is your project "Italiani di Frontiera," and how you come up with this idea?

Less than a year ago, I was just trying to figure out how "to survive" to come as a freelance journalist in leave of absence in USA, with wife Pola Science teacher and kids (Alessandro 18, Francesca 16, now happy students at Gunn High School in Palo Alto). I knew few about Italians in the Bay. Three e-mails changed my mind (and hopefully my life): from Matteo Daste (BAIA) Jeff Capaccio (SVIEC) and Palo Marenco (Silicon Valley Italian Study Tour). I understood from their committed answers there was a big story waiting to be told. And this was the right moment (not only for Super-Euro), in a blooming of activities (Baia, Sviec, Mind the Bridge...), and commitment of US Embassy too. In Italiani di Frontiera I am interviewing entrepreneurs, researchers, engineers. Some young newcomers, some veterans with outstanding records, as Federico Faggin, Roberto Crea, Enzo Torresi. They are a mine of gold of memories, enterprises, challenges. Still more precious are their thoughts and critical comments about Italy, its qualities and its faults. Now a blog, then an interactive web site with videos, Italiani di Frontiera will be a book in Italy, sponsored by Centro Formazione Management del Terziario for FrancoAngeli Publisher. And more is still in my mind...

After spending some time in the Silicon Valley, how has your opinion of America and the American way of life changed?

I first came in USA 30 years ago as a young hitchhiker At that time this was an other world from Italy. Big cars and standardized behaviors impressed me more. Today cars are a bit smaller, I'm still impressed by standardization and predictability in daily life. Sometimes I find it funny or boring. But I realize these strict rules are fundamental ground for a multicultural and multi ethnic country. Meanwhile, Italy and Italians became more standardized and stereotyped, after years of flat consumerism and silly hedonism pumped by TV model over exposition. But they lack a ground standard of rules and civic commitment, quite strong here. We still have a sense of quality of life, in terms of friendship, food, beauty. While sometimes I had the feeling that a part of American way of life, in its pursuing of success, has still the goal to make money to show money and money symbols. And then... what else?

After interviewing so many "Italians," did you find some sort of common background or shared archetype?

Yes, absolutely. And much stronger than I expected. Perhaps we managed for centuries to survive with unpredictable as individuals. And our classic roots, deeper than we realize and remember, are the best background for an open mind. Italians graduated in averaged Italian Universities act wonderfully here. Many of them told me they feel to have a special capacity to solve problems out of the standard better than others. Somebody thinks too  you can recognize a software "made by Italians" for a particular touch of creativity an aesthetic...

Once you are back in Italy, do you think you will be able to communicate and share your experience?

If I'll fail, I'll be the only one to blame. Because I think contents and thoughts from Italiani di Frontiera are of extraordinary value, for what in my view is today Italy. So many outstanding goals achieved thank to Italians to remember, while the country dramatically lacks memory. And so many examples to study and pursue, in hard work, creativity, courage, challenge on a global competition, both in entrepreneurs and in corporations. Mainly  ignored in a country dulled by local argues and silly gossip. A country of emigrants, now pretending to isolate and protect itself, than better widely exploit its talents. Let's open doors and windows in Italy, to fresh air! More web, more English speaking. More good models for young people. More chances for inspired ideas. And more sights from abroad, from Italians in the Bay too!

The Italian community in California is very fragmented. Only now are Italians becoming aware of being part of a community and gaining a benefit from that. What can associations like BAIA and Italian institutions such as the Italian Consulate do in this direction?

They can act stronger, in building a powerful community here. But I really think that in this, meetings and networking must be supported by a strong cultural effort. This means first to know what other Italians are doing here around. Then be aware how strong can be their contribution and example non only each other but for their country. Business opportunities are not enough, we need a careful consideration. About qualities that let Italians here acting fantastically: open mind, improvisation, aesthetic taste etc. And a critical reflection on what obstacles the emerging of the same qualities in Italy in entrepreneurship. It is a cultural effort because from my work it emerges that bad habits, distorted traditions (for example family extensions in corporation management) are for Italy heavier chains than old infrastructure and lack of financing.

Will you come back to California with a new project?

Telling the truth, I'm just ready to stay... Kidding (not too much). At the end of July I have to go back to Reuters in Milan and finish my work on the project. For me and my family it would be a dream to come back to stay. There are a lot of subjects and links to work on, in media between Italy and the Bay. I could have ten more "start up" projects in my head, as a web radio, needing a venture capitalist I am afraid... because this adventure 'til now has been hardly self-financed. Good investment for me, my wife and mainly for my teen son and daughter, in their international open mind experience at Gunn High School (while Ale, soccer striker, scored 18 gols in 7 match with Stanford Earthquakes...). One new project is already a part of Italiani di Frontiera. I called "Italindiani" some outstanding Italians in the West, discovered by my friend Cesare Marino, anthropologist at Smithsonian Institution and one of most prominent experts of Native Americans. Nearly unknown both here and in Italy, they deserve a book for themselves, having in past centuries the same bold spirit of Italiani di Frontiera we all need to challenge the new 21th Century Global Fronter.

I would like to thank the Roberto Bonzio for taking the time for this interview and for the incredible work he has done in such a short time exploring the local Italian community and exposing the  unexpectedly long list of entrepreneurs, researchers, and influential people. If you have a question for Roberto or for BAIA please do not hesitate to contact us or to leave a comment below. Roberto is also a member of our online community BAIA Link where he can also be reached.

Franco Folini

An Interview with Fabrizio Marcelli, the New Consul General in San Francisco

Last week I received an e-mail from the Italian Consulate asking for my availability to answer a set of questions from a questionnaire. The questions were part of a survey of Italian companies in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. I was pleasantly surprised. This was the first “business” contact with the Consulate my company had ever had. The person behind this change of style is the new Consul General Fabrizio Marcelli. He came to San Francisco just a few weeks ago and the Italian community is already noticing the difference. People who went to the Italian Consulate offices on Pacific Heights are now sharing stories of efficiency, organization, and a service-oriented approach. The old jokes about the Italian Consulate that have been circulating among Italians for decades are becoming suddenly obsolete. I personally asked the new Consul for an interview in order to get to know him and to facilitate a direct dialog with the Italian business community. Here is the interview. Thank you Consul.

Fabrizio, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional experience?

I have served in various capacities in the Italian Diplomatic Service. This in San Francisco is my first assignment in the United States. My previous posts abroad have been in Argentina (twice), Madagascar and Germany.  In particular, my consular expertise is based on my professional experiences both as head of a Consulate and as coordinator of a major national consular network.

Do you have some information or data you can share that would give us a better picture of the Italian community under your jurisdiction?

The impression I have gathered in this first month in San Francisco is that although Italians in the Bay Area are not as numerous as in other parts of the United States, they nonetheless are a major component of the cultural identity of the Bay Area. There are 12,780 Italian citizens registered with our consulate (our district includes seven states of the Pacific Northwest and a large part of California). Of these, over 9,000 reside in the 48 California counties that fall within our jurisdiction. Besides the San Francisco Bay Area, the Italian community in California is concentrated in the Sacramento area.

What are the major problems you currently face at the Consulate and what are your plans to address them?

My very first priority is to reorganize the Consulate. We have massive arrears in many areas. Also, due to a protracted lack of personnel, we have several hundreds applications for citizenship by descendants of Italian immigrants in the US waiting to be analyzed and sent to Italy for registration. The same applies to certificates relating to vital statistics (DATA). The visa, legal and passport sections are up to date. In addition, we are also striving to “resuscitate” the commercial office.

As the youngest Italian Consul to come to San Francisco, your presence raises large expectations from the Italian community. What changes can be reasonably expected from the Consulate?

Thank you for considering me still young at 47. I hope not to disappoint our community. Their high expectations are justified by the arrival of a new Consul General.  Mi initial effort will focus in reviewing the procedures used by consular personnel in order to find all possible ways of improving our processes and turn around time. I also involved in promoting the image of the Consulate through contacts with local entrepreneurs, authorities and organizations. I hope that the Consulate will become a full protagonist in the life of San Francisco and of the Bay Area. To this end, the Italian Cultural Institute, whose acting director is the capable and dynamic Valeria Rumori, can play a very important role.

In the local Italian community there is always a sort of unexpressed desire to give back to the motherland. What can the Consulate and the Italian community do to facilitate this flow of ideas, experiences, and business toward Italy?

There is much that they can contribute.  As I said before, the “high-added value” of the Italians living in and around San Francisco requires a special attention by the Consulate in terms of efficiency and rapidity of services that we usually provide. I hope that those who use are consular services and are also involved with advanced technologies and software will be willing to give us their suggestions to improve our services and the interactive services available in our web page.

You mentioned a few times that California and San Francisco are not getting the attention they deserve in the relationship between Italy and US. What can be done to change that?

When I arrived in San Francisco, I was surprised by the large number of Italian entrepreneurs, researchers and University professors who settled in the Bay Area in these last years.  It is my intention to have this community adequately represented in Italy.  The first opportunity to do so is offered by the visit to San Francisco of the Italian Ambassador in Washington, Giovanni Castellaneta. We have organized for him an entire day dedicated to visiting UC Berkeley and the Silicon Valley, with a meeting including all researchers and entrepreneurs active in high tech sectors in this region. I also hope that a journalist will be willing to report on the history of the Italian presence in the Silicon Valley, starting with the important contributions given by the pioneers, many of whom were originally Olivetti employees, to the significant influx of young engineers in most recent years.

I would like to thank the Italian Consul General in San Francisco Fabrizio Marcelli for taking the time for this interview and introducing himself to the Italian community this way. If you would like to share your ideas, experiences, and opinions with the Consulate, you are encouraged to visit BAIA Link, the online BAIA community, where we have a section of our forum dedicated to this dialog.

Franco Folini

An Interview with Gaetano Pellicano on Venture-Capital Reform in Italy

On February 19, 2008 I had the pleasure to be invited to speak at the Italian Parliament for an event on Venture Capital reform organized by Gaetano Pellicano, the President of BAIA Italy. Since the inception of BAIA Italy last year, Gaetano has been working on connecting the business communities gathered by BAIA in Italy and California, leveraging his experience to promote the exchange of knowledge, especially in the venture capital area.

Gaetano, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional activities?

Since 2001 I have been a political advisor of the U.S. State Department at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. I work with American companies and institutions in Italy and advise the U.S. government with respect to policies in Italy and the EU. I focus also on job creation policies and have taught public administration at the Scuola Superiore della Pubblica Amministrazione. After meeting BAIA founders Matteo Daste and Giorgio Ghersi in San Francisco and seeing what BAIA is doing, I espoused the idea and in 2007 I promoted the launch of a BAIA Rome Chapter, that I am currently presiding.

How relevant of a topic is promoting venture capital investment in Italy today?

Low level of investment by risk capitals hinders the capability of boosting an ecosystem which favors innovation. Either big corporations or the research sector call for a stronger network between different actors, including venture funds, in order to improve their competitiveness, to establish cooperation with international players, and to bring new ideas, products and service to the market.

How did BAIA Italy play a role in organizing the February 19 event?

BAIA had been working in close cooperation with the Partnership for Growth of the U.S. Embassy in Rome that promoted a network between serial entrepreneurs, business angels and venture capitals. We proposed to work with this group of players to strengthen the links with Californian counterparts and to consolidate a package of proposals of improvements of the legal system along with most interested policy makers. Decidere.net and Competere appreciated our initiative and decided to cosponsor it.

What possible benefits could come out of these activities for Italy?

Our aims are to improve the ecosystem, to increase its dynamism and to help Italian innovators willing to establish joint ventures and other forms of cooperation with American colleagues. We will submit the package to the new parliament and the new government by September.

What's the outlook for BAIA Italy?

We are structuring our organization concentrating our energies on few events which might allow us to involve new members. Volunteerism is less common in Italy than in the States, but with a strategic vision we hope to stimulate the participation of a significant group of innovators interested in our unique initiative.

I would like to thank again Gaetano for his contribution. It is hoped that initiatives like the one promoted by BAIA Italy will be a welcome addition to the Italian economic panorama and will not only contribute to promoting knowledge of California models in Italy, but will also give a fresh  perspective on venture capital to leaders and entrepreneurs in Italy.

Matteo Daste

Middle school creativity wins as education and sports team up in preparation for the Rome 2009 13th FINA World Championships

The creative, Italian-style, design of a middle school student was chosen for the Mascotte of FINA World 2009, a major world swim competition to be held in Roma in 2009, July 18 through August 1st.
What’s especially inspiring about this winning outcome is the fact that the school, Riccardo Quartararo, whose student won the creative contest, received a prize of 5000 Euros in support of structural improvements. The prize was consigned by Olympic Champion Domenico Fioravanti.
Top Italian swimmers, among which Alessia Filippi, Federica Pellegrini (latest testimonial of the FIAT 500!), Filippo Magnini and Massimiliano Rosolino, greeted DIVA, the new Mascotte, along with champions from the other water disciplines (synchronized swimming, diving, open water/distance swimming and water polo).
Official partners of Roma 2009 are, at present time:  ENEL, Intesa Sanpaolo and Omega.  Official sponsors currently include:  Aurora Assicurazioni and AVIS.
An Aquatic Festival of cultural events and performances developed around the water theme will take place during the 2009 competitions.
In numbers, Roma 2009 will present:

• 16 Days of Competition
• 5 Disciplines: swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming
• 170 Nations
• 2.500 Athletes
• 2.500 Volunteers
• 1.500 Officials
• 1.500 Journalists & Technicians

As an enthusiastic master swimmer and water lover I cheer at the idea of having the FINA 13th World Championships hosted on Italian soil.
As usual, with well-designed international sports events, there is a unique opportunity to open our borders to champions and representative of other nations and to celebrate records, achievements, discipline and perseverance, which go well beyond the confines of the pool, in a spirit of open friendship and fair play.

Lucia Panini

An Interview with Massimo Scognamiglio, CEO of D-Helix

Massimo Scognamiglio is the founder and CEO of D-Helix a new biotech company based in San Francisco with strong roots in Italy. Massimo is approaching business with an angle that is quite unusual in Italy: he is trying to combine the best academic resources with a solid business structure and plan. While Silicon Valley success is based on this kind of connection, in the Italian business landscape Massimo is still an exception. In order to learn more about Massimo's entrepreneurial adventure I invited him for an interview. Enjoy!

Massimo, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your company?

In my opinion the most important part of life is curiosity. When it doesn't kill the cat. It is an extraordinary source of knowledge that you first learn as a little kid. And if you can retain that curiosity, it can become the most important source of knowledge. Obviously that's not enough - you also need to study and have some luck. My curiosity led me to try to understand the mechanism that governs the world around us. I guess "curiosity" it's part of my DNA. However, what explains my actions best is the concept of multitasking: my life is multitasking. Everybody knows that you have only one life that has to be shared with your friends, your love, your society and your professional life... so for this reason you can't sleep too much and you have to live your life to the fullest. And the most important part of that life is to maintain your integrity.
Talking about my company, it's difficult to start a biotech company, but it's possible if you can see the business opportunity. I have this opportunity and I turned it into reality, much the same way as my first venture. In 1996 I founded a multimedia company in Italy at a time when the market was not quite ready even for the concept of the internet. However, I was successful in convincing the market. It also gave me the opportunity to grow as entrepreneur. I understood that you have to risk your own money, your stable job, the most precious years of your life, and all your passion. In 2000 I sold my first company (xmedia) to the most important media group in Italy. Years later, here I am in California. D-Helix, my company, was incorporated in San Francisco in April, 2006: It is the project that builds the bridge between academic discoveries and the industry. You don't realize how many great discoveries never see daylight because they are hiding in the university. Our main business is to fill this gap by sponsoring early stage research in many biotech areas. Even thought the risk is greater, so is the payoff. At the same time, we think that we are on an important mission for society: transforming these groundbreaking technologies for the real world.

With your company you are building a business bridge between Italy and California. Can you explain the reason behind this choice?

Italy is so beautiful, the perfect place to live but it's not the right place to be an entrepreneur. California is the perfect place to start up a global company based on a global network between universities and research labs all around the world, between United States, Spain and Japan.

San Francisco, the Silicon Valley, and the Bay Area are becoming key places for the biotech industry. How favorable is the business environment in Italy for biotech startups?

As I said before, Italy, today, is not a simple place to work like entrepreneur, and the university research environment is even worst: we have some great university and great scientists but absolutely no entrepreneurial culture... for too many years (and probably also today) research has been considered a loss of money and not a gasoline for new companies and for the Country.

Starting up a company is a difficult job. Based on your experience what are the most common errors new entrepreneurs should avoid?

The one billion dollar question... the first answer that comes to mind is avoid arriving too soon: you risk being not understood, and you must have a "marketable idea." The second error is to choose bad associates: do not trust from the very beginning, build the trust day by day... You must remember that even the greatest idea needs a great team and great marketing to reach the market. For these reason I believe that D-Helix could be a winner: biotechnology is becoming mature, from the business and scientific side, and, at the same time, our associates are strongly committed to the company. When I present my company to an audience, I emphasize not only the business/scientific side but also my spirit, my vision, my very personal way of seeing the world, and my commitment.

You are a strong supporter of the connection between academia and business. How do you manage the bureaucracy of the Italian academia in a way that makes sense from the business point of view?

We are currently working in the United States. D-Helix is active in scouting, acquiring, developing, and commercializing groundbreaking intellectual property licensed from a number of universities and research institutes in particular areas of biotechnology (with current focus on environmental stress plant tolerance, biofuels, and antiviral treatment possibilities.) The company’s business model is represented by an independent innovative platform (made of a strong research world wide network of leading scientists with a deep pipeline of development), able to accelerate the research value creation time to market and reduce related direct costs. We will soon begin collaborating with some Italian universities, so wish us good luck! The bureaucracy is awful and it's still one of the most important difficulties when working with universities. You can't manage bureaucracy. If you are a very lucky boy, you can just survive bureaucracy!

Fundraising is one of the most critical steps for new entrepreneurs. Any recommendations?

A very good Business Plan, a short Time to Market, and a clear competitive advantage. Then great imagination and luck.

BAIA has plans to promote on Italian land the Silicon Valley open approach to business network. What will Italians have to change in order to fully benefit from those types of social relationships?

The network is the most important issue, more than the money. In Italy the network is always a closed network, you can't talk directly to anybody. The Californian way is the opposite: it's not a matter of friendship, it's just business.

I would like to thank Massimo Scognamiglio for taking the time to speak with me today. If you have any questions for Massimo or for BAIA, please leave a comment below and we will be glad to answer.

Franco Folini