My Connections: Family, Food, and Startups

Italy, a country known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and delectable cuisine, has always held a special place in my heart. Growing up with an Italian family has been a cherished experience, filled with warmth, love, and of course, incredible food. In this newsletter, we'll explore the exciting Italian worlds of family, food, AI, and startups.

A Taste of Italy: Cherishing Family, Food, and Traditions

The memories of the aromas and flavors in my grandma's kitchen - the simmering sauces, tender meatballs, and al dente pasta - often drift into my mind during times of nostalgia and happiness.

Being an only child, I've always felt a profound closeness to my family. This bond was especially palpable through the meals we shared, a tradition passed down from my grandparents, my grandparents’ siblings, and the rest of our extended family. While many of them are no longer with us, Italian cuisine has become more than just food for me; it's a source of comfort, a link to my heritage, and a means to perpetuate and create new traditions with my loved ones.

I now realize that these moments are precious and fleeting, and I cherish every opportunity to gather around the table with my parents, knowing that my grandparents are there with us in spirit. My mother and I share this special connection through cooking, a passion that intensified during the pandemic with virtual cooking classes. Together, we've learned to make everything from pastries to pizzas and even perfected our macarons after a few trials. These cooking sessions are not just about food; they are a nurturing time for our relationship, filled with laughter and learning.

As I look to the future, I dream of exploring my family’s roots in Calabria, Italy, and deepening my connection to this rich cultural heritage, though my heart will bring me back close to my parents. Traveling more is definitely on my agenda. Aside from my brief visit to Paris at 11, I haven’t explored much internationally, but I am eager to see places like London and revisit Italy not just as a tourist, but as someone rediscovering his roots. 

Italy's New AI Rules: A Comparison with the US

I’m not just interested in Italy for the food and family ties I have there. Their entire economy and tech industry fascinates me. On the tech side of things, Italy has recently approved a new set of rules to regulate artificial intelligence (AI), covering areas such as national strategy, authorities, promotional actions, copyright protection, and much more, which brings me to companies I’ve been fascinated by most recently.

Futura: Revolutionizing Education with AI-Powered Personalized Learning

While we’re on the Italian topic, let’s talk about Futura, an Italian EdTech company that develops AI models to revolutionize the study process, creating personalized and adaptive learning paths. Founded in 2020 by Andrea Chirolli alongside his peers Francesco Salvatore and Lorenzo Pinto during their days at Milan's Bocconi University, Futura quickly distinguished itself with a groundbreaking algorithm. This technology doesn't just support students; it transforms them, enhancing their odds of acing tests by a remarkable 3.5 times compared to traditional study methods.

Initially garnering attention with a notable €1.8 million in seed funding—the largest EdTech seed funding round in Italy at the time—Futura has continued its meteoric rise. Recently, they secured a whopping €14 million in Series A funding, led by Eurazeo and supported by both previous and new investors. This influx of capital will propel their expansion across Europe and further the development of innovative products, initially focusing on medical school entrance exams but with plans to cover a broader spectrum.

Futura's mission is rooted deeply in the conviction that traditional educational models are obsolete. Their use of AI, particularly through 'Alice'—an AI-driven virtual tutor—personalizes learning to an unprecedented degree, adapting in real-time to each student’s needs. This personalized approach is not just effective; it's also scalable and affordable, promising to democratize education on a global scale.

With this latest funding, Futura is set to expand its technological capabilities and team, particularly in Italy and Spain, aiming to double its workforce within the year. The team's international composition, including a Dutch COO, underscores their global approach and commitment to diversity, which they believe is crucial for fostering an entrepreneurial spirit.

CarpeCarbon: This Italian Startup Is Trying to Save the World

In the heart of Italy, CarpeCarbon, a pioneering climate tech startup, is transforming the battle against global warming through its groundbreaking Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. As environmental challenges escalate, CarpeCarbon stands at the forefront, developing a method that extracts carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, a crucial step beyond traditional emission reduction strategies.

Founded in Turin by the visionary Giuliano Antoniciello and his team, CarpeCarbon's approach harnesses innovative chemical processes to convert atmospheric CO2 into a stable, solid form that can be safely sequestered underground or reused in various industrial applications. This technology not only addresses the urgent need to reduce atmospheric carbon but also provides a versatile solution that integrates seamlessly into global industrial practices, supporting everything from sustainable aviation fuel production to pharmaceuticals and beyond.

Recently, CarpeCarbon secured €1.7 million in Pre-Seed funding, thanks in part to CDP Venture Capital’s Tech4Planet initiative and 360 Capital. This investment underscores the potential of their DAC technology to lead the way in carbon-negative solutions and positions CarpeCarbon to build the first DAC plant in Italy's Piedmont region.

CEO Giuliano Antoniciello said, "We strongly believe in this entrepreneurial project which sets bold but necessary goals if we want to meet our climate goals and the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

5 More Italian Startups to Keep an Eye On:

Here are five more of some of the top Italian startups to watch in 2024 according to EU-Startups:

1. Algo AI. Milan-based Algo AI is an HR tech startup that helps to quickly and effectively analyze candidates’ soft and hard skills, simplifying the pre-screening phase. Founded in 2021, Algo AI has raised €524K for further expansion.

2. Equixly. Firenze-based Equixly is detecting API vulnerabilities through the use of AI to deliver actionable feedback to developers for quick security enhancements. Founded in 2022, they have raised €1.6 million to strategically create attack scenarios and testing their resistance and security, to determine their vulnerability and be able to improve it.

3. Limenet. Lecco-based Limenet has designed, patented and engineered an innovative technology for carbon storage. The company founded in 2023 raised €1.2 million for the construction of the first production plant.

4. Metacasa. Founded in 2022, Metacasa is the first startup in Europe that combines artificial intelligence and virtual reality in a B2B platform that simplifies real estate buying and selling through digital tools. Bologna-based Metacasa raised €740K in a seed funding round.

5. SynergyFlow. Milano-based SynergyFlow is a DeepTech startup developing low-cost and sustainable redox flow batteries for energy storage. Founded in 2022 they have raised €1.8 million for the ongoing technology development.

Ciao for now! 👋

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