From Zero to Startup: Empowering the Next Generation of Italian Entrepreneurs

What does it take to launch a startup from scratch? For the 60 aspiring founders who took part in From Zero to Startup, the answer was clear: knowledge, mentorship, and a thriving ecosystem. 

Over four months of intensive training, hands-on workshops, and expert-led sessions, participants developed their ideas into validated business models, culminating in an inspiring Demo Day at the ESCP Turin Campus. 

A Journey from Ideation to Execution

Launched in November 2024, the programme guided participants through ten structured modules, covering essential startup development aspects, from customer discovery and lean methodology to financial planning, legal frameworks, and fundraising strategies. Led by industry experts, each session provided valuable insights into the entrepreneurial landscape.
In the early stages, participants explored startup dynamics, disruptive technologies, and AI's transformative potential. They engaged in collaborative team-building exercises, refining their business ideas while adopting problem-solution frameworks. Throughout the course, workshops on customer development, product-market fit, and minimum viable product (MVP) validation helped teams structure and refine their startup concepts.

Industry Experts and Real-World Insights

A defining feature of From Zero to Startup was the direct engagement with seasoned entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders. Participants had the opportunity to learn from experts who have built, scaled, and invested in successful ventures. Alberto Giusti introduced the cohort to the pace of change in the business world, exponential technologies, and the fundamentals of startup validation. Enrica Bonora guided teams in customer development and product-market fit, helping them define their target audiences and refine their value propositions. Lorenzo D’Amelio shared key insights on market validation and go-to-market strategies, emphasising the importance of understanding customer pain points before product development. Farhad Alessandro Mohammadi delved into strategic prioritisation, teaching participants how to define focus areas, identify beachhead markets, and make data-driven decisions for sustainable growth.

Other inspiring speakers included Francesca Papa and Alessandro Nasi from Djungle Studio, who provided invaluable insights into startup methodology and risk reduction strategies, as well as Fabio Sferruzzi and Matteo Gallo from Feat. Ventures, who guided participants through financial planning and business sustainability. Legal experts Larissa Stieven Trizotto and Raffaele Battaglini from Futura Law Firm helped teams navigate intellectual property protection and contract management.

Additional industry leaders contributed their expertise across various modules: Mariafebronia Sciacca from 2i3T and Giancarlo Rocchietti from Club degli Investitori led Demolition Day, challenging teams to critically evaluate their business ideas. Michele Osella (Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo), Massimiliano Cipolletta (Camera di Commercio di Torino), Matteo Pessione (OGR Torino), and Giuseppe Mayer (Talent Garden) shared insights on startup ecosystems and networking opportunities. Giuseppe Serrao (2i3T), Paola Mogliotti (I3P), and Laura Orestano (SocialFare) provided guidance on incubation and acceleration strategies. Christian Racca delivered a session on impact-driven entrepreneurship, and Sheila Simon and Virginia Pigato from Techstars delivered an intensive workshop on perfecting startup pitches, preparing participants for their final presentations.