Networking is a crucial part to developing your business idea
Milan has strongly positioned itself as the capital of Italy’s finance and fashion industries. But what about entrepreneurship? With the worldwide rise of startup culture, has this movement reached Italy yet? Milan Entrepreneurship Network, founded by a student from the leading Bocconi university, aims to fill the gap within the flourishing entrepreneurial community in the city.
Italy has a history of entrepreneurship: think of the legendary designer Giorgio Armani and Nutella’s creator Michele Ferrero, or Federico Marchetti of Yoox Net-a-Porter and Nerio Alessandri of Technogym. In the recent years, not only did Milan face a vital economic boost following the Expo 2015 – the government has also taken a step towards attracting successful entrepreneurs to the city. In 2013, Italy has enacted a new regulation that encourages the development of ‘innovative startups’. If you have a successful business idea with high technological involvement, you are eligible to apply for an entrepreneur’s visa, or being already an Italian resident, to secure funding from the government towards your initiative.
Milan Entrepreneurship Network, founded by a student from the leading Bocconi university, aims to fill the gap within the flourishing entrepreneurial community in the city
The startup ecosystem in Milan, therefore, is large and vibrant. The city is home to over a 100 internationally-renowned startups, with an array of involved incubators and accelerators. Apart from the university-based Speed Mi Up (Bocconi) and Polihub (Politecnico di Milano), there exist industry-specific organisations such as Fashion Technology Accelerator, government-funded FabriQ, and a number of programmes sponsored by large corporations – TIM, WIND-3 and Unicredit.
But in the metropolitan city like Milan, how does one go about becoming an entrepreneur? And what are the opportunities that help aspiring startupers to find like-minded people and make their ideas come to life?
Networking is a crucial part to developing your business idea. Whether you are looking for a co-founder or promoting your existing startup, participating in local events can give you access to a prospective customer pool, attract top talent, and allow you to have more leverage with investors. Moreover, if you are just starting out, networking can help you build your personal brand and set you apart from the competition.
Italy has a history of entrepreneurship: think of the legendary designer Giorgio Armani and Nutella’s creator Michele Ferrero, or Federico Marchetti of Yoox Net-a-Porter and Nerio Alessandri of Technogym
Milan Entrepreneurship Network started out as an initiative to fill the gap in the market of networking events in city, growing into a strong community of professionals and entrepreneurs. From students to startup founders, from creatives industries to technology – the goal is to enable connections and partnerships across Milan business scene. Supported by FlexWorking coworking space, Milan Entrepreneurship Network will host its first event on January 31st. The evening will be filled with networking, and participants will be encouraged to present their startups and share their stories.
Olga Kuznietsova
To participate in the Networking aperitivo: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/milan-entrepreneurship-network-networking-event-tickets-54579224931
To join Milan Entrepreneurship Network: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8722879/