A bridge between two worlds: Milano-Silicon Valley. The Mind the Bridge Gymnasium and the start-ups of the Acceleratore d'Impresa

The Acceleratore d’Impresa del Politecnico di Milano and the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
are pleased to invite you to the conference:

A bridge between two worlds: Milano - Silicon Valley.
The Mind the Bridge Gymnasium and the start-ups of the Acceleratore d’Impresa

Thursday, 17 September, h 10:15
Politecnico di Milano – Auditorium - Via Pascoli, 53 – Milano, Italy

What is the motivation for an Italian successful company to open a company in the Silicon Valley? What chances are there to succeed? What is the role played by one of the most important Italian universities and by the American institutions in supporting high-tech entrepreneurship?
The answers will be given during a conference which will announce the agreement between the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano-Acceleratore d’Impresa del Politecnico di Milano and the Mind the Bridge Foundation, that allows Neptuny to open a company in the Silicon Valley (the target is of five companies).
The aim of the conference is also to show the internationalization potential of young, innovative Italian start-ups and explain why Silicon Valley is still an attractive and binding challenge.
A short movie by Roberto Bonzio will show the uniqueness of Italian “talents”, who since the 19th Century have succeeded in becoming entrepreneurs in California.
The conference is organized by the Acceleratore d’Impresa del Politecnico di Milano and the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, in collaboration with the Mind the Bridge Foundation and with the patronage of the Consulate General of the United States in Milano. The moderator is Emil Abirascid (Innov’Azione, Il Sole 24Ore).


Programme:

10:15
Registration

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OPENING SESSION

Ore 10:30
Welcome remarks and introduction on the agreement between the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano-Acceleratore d’Impresa and the Mind the Bridge Foundation
Giampio Bracchi (President, Fondazione Politecnico di Milano)

10:45
The role of the American institutions in supporting high-tech entrepreneurship in Italy
Carol Z. Perez (Consul General of the United States of America for the Milan district)

11:00
Stories of Italians in Silicon Valley from the 19th century until today (movie)
Roberto Bonzio (Reuters, Italiani di Frontiera)

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THE SILICON VALLEY EXPERIENCE

11:25
The Mind the Bridge Gymnasium and the Funambol model
Fabrizio Capobianco (Mind the Bridge Foundation, Founder and C.E.O., Funambol)

11:40
The networking between Italy and the Silicon Valley: how and why it was born
Marco Palombi (Tipi Inc. -Splinder, First Generation Network)


11:55
Neptuny and the Silicon Valley: globalizing success
Fabio Violante (Founder and C.E.O., Neptuny)

12:10
California: myths and hopes
Leandro Agrò (Founder and C.E.O., Wide Tag Inc.)

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CLOSING REMARKS

12:25
The project of the Acceleratore d’Impresa and the chances for Italian university incubatore
Giuseppe Serazzi (The Rector’s Delegate for the Acceleratore d’Impresa del Politecnico di Milano; Board Member, PNICube)

12:40
Q&A

13:00
Networking cocktail

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MODERATOR
Emil Abirascid (Innov’Azione, Il Sole 24Ore)

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The conference is free and open.
RSVP:
eventi@ai.polimi.it
P: +39 02 2399.2997 / 2996