​JOIN GLOBAL INVESTORS AND LEADING STARTUP MENTORS IN ROME FOR OUR FIRST ANNUAL EVENT!

​Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is an ecosystem.

​One afternoon at Villa Fassini, hosted by ELIS Innovation Hub, where international program builders, investors and Italian corporate innovation leaders compare what actually works in startup programs, open innovation and AI adoption.
Why this matters

​This intimate gathering brings global best practices to Rome, creating space for honest dialogue, practical tools, and relationships that can reset the standard for founders, corporates and ecosystem operators.

​
2026 Agenda

​13:30 · Doors open
Initial networking and registrations

​14:00 · Welcome
▸ Erika Lucciola, ELIS Innovation Hub
▸ Benedetto Reitano, Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale

Part One: what it really takes to make innovation work

​14:15 · Four corporate programs, four countries, four strategies: Cases by Siemens, Ford, Akbank and Medgulf
▹ Ozan Sönmez, Co-founder @ Brutally Honest Innovator

​14:35 · Roundtable: the future of startup programs
▸ Francesco Rossi, Partner Fondo Tech Transfer @ CDP VC
▸ Marco Rossi, CEO @ Venture Bottega
▸ Erika Lucciola, Head of Business Innovation @ Elis Innovation hub
▸ Elena Massucco, Managing Director Corporate Services @ Startupbootcamp

moderated by Gianmarco Carnovale, Roma Startup

​15:15 · Keynote: Building the initial fort, and how AI changed it
▹ Chris Heivly, co-founder of MapQuest, former Techstars Executive

​15:35 · Corporates' perspective on international collaboration
▸ Nicola Rossi, Head of Innovation @ Enel and CEO of Enel Innovation Hubs
▸ Tyson Nutt, Director, Frontier Engineering (ANZ) @ Snowflake
▸ Jari Ognibeni, Venture Operations Director @ Eniverse
▸ Daniele Vitullo, Head of Innovation Scouting and Ecosystem Management @ Terna

moderated by Maria Isabella Leone, Luiss Business School

​▸ Short Introduction to 1845 Ventures

​16:15 · Break

​Part Two: the method, the experts, the conversations

​16:30 · Universities as Catalysts: Driving Innovation in Local Ecosystems
Connecting research, talent and industry
▸ Jeni Olney, Director of Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship @ University of Michigan
▸Paul Orlando, Incubator Director & Adjunct Professor @ University of Southern California
▸ Candace Cavazos, Mentorship & External Engagement Manager @ University of Michigan

​17:00 · Fireside chat with international guests
Audience questions collected via QR code

​17:30 · Capital as ecosystem builder: the role of venture funds in building the ecosystem
▸ Leonardo Rubattu, CEO @ Atlas SGR
▸ Virginia Filippi, CEO @ Open Advisory
▸ Fabio Pirovano, Senior Partner @ United Ventures
▸ Wolf Starr, CEO @ Venture Atlas

moderated by Andrea Scarano, Elis Innovation Hub

​18:00 · Aperitivo and networking
Themed conversations on corporate innovation, venture capital, angel investing, intrapreneurship and US expansion