In October 2022, I took a significant leap forward in my career by founding Dedalo AI Srl, an innovative sustainability-focused startup based in Turin, Italy. From the very first sketch of the concept to the first line of code and the visual identity, I shaped every essential element that would become the foundation of the company. With the invaluable support of the Vento (Exor) venture building program, that vision took form and evolved into a business ready to grow.

Our mission is clear: measure, reduce, and communicate the environmental impact of digital operations—from websites to IT infrastructure—through AI-driven insights, making digital sustainability a reality for SMEs and enterprise-level organizations. For example, we enable companies to track and reduce their carbon footprint across the web and IT systems, offering AI-powered analysis, reduction plans, and even web badges to foster transparency and engagement.

Our early milestones include paid proofs of concept with an Italian bank as well as collaborations with Siemens, Reply, and EY. We also established partnerships with Stanford University and the U.S. Department of Energy, along with winning €39K in cash prizes and €60K in services.

We were honored to be accepted into SkyDeck Berkeley, one of the world’s leading accelerators. In mid‑2023, we gained pre‑seed funding—raising approximately €165,000 from SkyDeck and a Sequoia Capital scout, in addition to €85,000 in grants and awards.

From my time in San Francisco, I experienced firsthand the dynamic investor mentality there—characterized by FOMO and bold, rapid decisions—where pitch and presentation carry tremendous weight from the outset. This contrasted with the European approach, which tends to emphasize thorough due diligence before investor engagement, reflecting a more conservative, ROI-aware perspective.

Following SkyDeck, we joined the Global Startup Program—an initiative by the Italian government to support startups expanding internationally. Through this, I spent time in London, learning about the UK ecosystem. London functions as a strategic bridge between San Francisco and the rest of Europe, although Brexit remains a barrier for many continental expansions. Notably, setting up a company in the UK is relatively easy and affordable, a practical path if you’re considering scaling there.

Later, in October 2024, we joined the Techstars Sustainability Paris Accelerator, a key move to expand across Europe, especially given the EU’s evolving regulatory push for corporate sustainability, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) Techstars. Through this program, we connected with mentors and stakeholders invested in European sustainability and innovation.

Dedalo AI has been a great beginning—but it’s not the final chapter. I continue to serve on the board, although since June 2024 I am no longer operationally involved, while exploring and investing energy into new entrepreneurial opportunities.