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The JCU Institute for Entrepreneurship provides a world-class entrepreneurial education, instilling a strong sense of social responsibility, and building an international network of researchers, practitioners, and leading innovation hubs.
Any student who wants to learn more about entrepreneurship can pursue specialized academic paths, participate in national and international competitions sponsored by IFE, and develop soft skills through a variety of programs.
"My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long University education that I never had - everyday I’m learning something new."
Richard Branson
It is essential for aspiring entrepreneurs to study the most recent and cutting-edge entrepreneurial theories in order to learn from the achievements and failures of others before them.
Our unique Minor in Entrepreneurship allows students to select the courses they need to meet their entrepreneurial ambitions; students are tutored individually by the Director of the Institute as well as their Advisor and their professors.
The Certificate in Entrepreneurship provides students with a taste of the entrepreneurial world early on in their careers. The Certificate is open to all students, from any major, whether they already have an entrepreneurial and/or a business background or not.
A dedicated section with books, articles, videos, and other material for entrepreneurs is available from the Library Entrepreneurship collection.
The Minor in Entrepreneurship at JCU is a unique program that allows non-business as well as business students to acquire the entrepreneurial mindset that will enable them to start their own company, participate in a family business, or develop innovative ideas in traditional settings.
The JCU Institute for Entrepreneurship provides students with the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, a Certificate in Social Innovation, a Certificate in Cultural Innovation, or a Certificate in Sustainability. The certificates are open to all students, from any major, whether they already have a business/entrepreneurial background or not. It is also open to students from the M.A. in Art History program and from the Continuing Education programs.
Hult International Business School offers two scholarships to selected JCU students for Hult’s Boston Summer Bootcamp: a 3-week innovation program providing hands-on workshops, networking events, and innovation challenges to enhance global learning and practical business skills.
The Fairfax City Economic Development Fellowship offers three internship positions to JCU applicants. Students will have the opportunity gain hands-on experience in economic development projects, and will be invited to present their findings in Fairfax City, VA, USA, where they will also participate in networking events and gain professional insights.
A dedicated section with books, articles, videos, and other material for entrepreneurs is available from the Library Entrepreneurship collection.
Build your entrepreneurial career starting with hands-on experience, internships, dedicated mentorship programs, and other initiatives.
Learn Do Share is the initiative that brings real companies and real problems into the classroom, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations.
The Institute regularly offers a variety of internships within startup companies, where students can hone their entrepreneurial skills.
As part of its commitment to fostering a creative, collaborative community of innovative leaders, the JCU Institute for Entrepreneurship (IFE) has established a predominantly Alumni-based mentoring program connecting aspiring entrepreneurs and social innovators with a network of experts; mentors are meant to provide support in the early stages of idea and business development, in addition to sharing their wealth of experience in areas such as career, academic and general advice.
Mentors can play an important role in the entrepreneurial development of an individual. They guide entrepreneurs from conception to development and growth, inspiring extraordinary effort, nurturing experimentation and adding experience to the decision-making process. We aim to create purposeful, mutually rewarding relationships, in which Mentors will act as enablers of young talent, providing knowledge, advice, connections and valuable insights.
The immediate intent of this program is to match JCU students and recent graduates to experts who can help them move to the next level.
The longer-reaching objective is to support the development of skills and learning habits for a lifetime, to encourage leaders who will make positive contributions to a complex multicultural world, and to create a tight-knit, collaborative community, all values embedded in the University's Mission.
All JCU students and recent graduates, regardless of major, can participate as Mentees. If they have a project they would like to pursue with the assistance of a mentor, it should be presented clearly and persuasively. If you are interested in becoming a Mentee, (a) complete and submit the Mentee Request Form, and (b) send a copy of your resume to [email protected], specifying "Mentee Request" and your name in the Subject.
We are looking for people from JCU's global community with 5+ years of experience, particularly in the areas of entrepreneurship, social business, social innovation and fundraising. Mentors are successful professionals who appreciate the support and inspiration they have received along the way and who want to give back by helping their mentees grow as people and as professionals.
Our mentors are members of our community, either as Alumni or as Friends of the Institute, thus ensuring an understanding of our culture and values, and consequently facilitating the establishment of a rapport.
Helping someone else and making a difference in his or her career and life is extremely rewarding. You'll also be helping your own career by being pushed to stay at the cutting edge so you can pass on the latest strategies and advice to your mentee. You will be a more valuable employee and experience personal and professional growth as your leadership, problem-solving, networking and general communications skills continue to advance. Interacting outside your regular networks with the next generation of students is invigorating and will inspire (or reward you with) fresh and creative ideas. So make mentoring part of your legacy and start sharing your expertise!
If you are interested in becoming a mentor in our program please complete and submit the Mentor Registration Form.
The Institute will match mentoring requests with the mentors registered in the program, based on the needs of the mentees and on the profile provided by the mentors. The Institute will provide an initial introduction of the parties and will follow the relationship from a distance, without direct involvement unless otherwise required.
Each mentoring match will have unique needs and characteristics, but generally the Mentor can expect to play a role in providing advice in the areas of career development, further education and specific entrepreneurial advice in relation to one or more of the following areas:
Mentors are expected to contribute 6-10 hours of their time to the Mentee during the course of a year, through meetings, Skype conversations or emails, to be distributed in terms of length and frequency according to the Mentor's availability and the Mentee's requirements.
Mentees will behave courteously and professionally at all times, mindful of the Mentor's commitment and dedication to the program.
What is a mentor's time commitment?
The mentor is expected to meet, Skype or email the mentee for about half an hour, on average once a month, for six months to a year. The frequency of the communication may vary throughout the period depending on specific needs and state of development of the project.
Can I be a mentor if I do not live in Italy?
Yes, we are looking to build our network worldwide, to serve a student body that represents more than 80 countries in all continents.
As a student, why would I want to be in the program?
The program gives students the opportunity to form one-on-one relationships with successful alumni and professionals. Mentors provide resources, support, and introductions to other professionals.
Is there a standard structure for the meeting?
During the first meeting, the mentee will take the time to explain the idea to the mentor and describe his/her need. Every meeting should end with a list of things the mentee should accomplish by the next meeting. The mentee should also follow up with an email summarizing what has been said as well as the action items agreed to.
How many projects can a mentor follow at a time?
In order to provide the best quality of advice and commitment, we believe a mentor should take on a maximum of 2 projects at a time. This however is not mandatory and can be discussed.
| Friends of the IFE | Role | Title | Expertise | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauro Valenti | Founder & Managing Partner | H&N Management & Consulting S.r.l. | Business models, Finance, International | Europe, North America |
| Stephanie Mitchell | Founder | Sunnystorm Marketing | Branding, Marketing, Public relations | Europe, North America |
| Eugenio La Mesa | Partner | Traction Management | B2B, Business models, Marketing | Europe, North America |
| Roberta Alessandrini | CBDO | FILO srl | Branding, Business moderls, Education | Europe |
| Alessandro Angeletti | Senior Analyst | LVenture Group | Business models, Fundraising, Venture Capital | Europe, North America |
| Leonardo Bertini | President | Concreta-Mente Think Tank | Business models, e-Commerce, Internet of things | Europe |
| Andrea Germicca | CMO | Impactscool | Advertising, Education, Marketing | Europe, North America |
| Falvio Notari | Dottore Commercialista e Revisore Legale | Legalitax Studio Legale e Tributario & BAIA | Business models, Corporate governance | Europe, North America |
| Pier Francesco Geraci | CEO | Traction Management | Branding, Business models, Marketing | Europe |
| Fabio Filocamo | Managing Director | Dynamis | Business models, Finance, Venture Capital | Europe, North America |
| Livia Di Nardo | Development Director | Junior Achievement Italia | Education, Fundraising, Leadership | Europe, North America |
| Simone Pescatore | Head of Marketing and Communication | Bennet | Advertising, Branding, Marketing | Europe |
| Alumni | ||||
| Stefano La Pera | Country Manager and International Advisor | whatchando and HRC Group | B2B, Business models, Venture Capital | Europe |
| Laura Fabi | Co-Director | Resintex Technology Srl | International, Marketing, Public relations | Europe |
| Nicole Focone | Owner | NFA Trading Company | Branding, Public relations, Marketing | Europe, North America |
| Thabet Al Qaissieh | CEO/co-founder | Al Sadeem Group of Companies | Education, International, Venture Capital | Australasia, North America |
| Cara Koenigsberg | Research Analyst | Research Partnership | Health, International, Marketing | Europe, North America |
| Rebecca Anne Proctor | Editor in Chief | Harper's Bazaar Art | Design, Travel | Africa, Europe |
| Riccardo Mattioli | CEO | Kanito | B2B, Business models, Product development | Europe, North America |
| Andrea Di Rocco | Founder, Director | SOS WP | Business models, e-Commerce, Marketing | Europe |
| Carlo Guercia Sammarco | Head of Finance | Lonza AG | Finance, Controlling, Manufacturing | Europe |
| Aerie Changala | Chief Program Officer | Nuru International | Fundraising, International, Other | Africa |
| Dimitri Visnadi | Data Scientist | Vanalize | Data Science, Lean Methodology, Internet | Europe |
| Sara Romeo | Director, Strategic Accounts | TransPerfect Translations | International, Marketing, Other | Europe, North America |
| Vito Lentini | Junior Controller | Auxilia Finance SPA | Reporting, Budgeting, Forecasting, Finance | Europe |
The JCU Youth Entrepreneurship Ambassador (YEA) program provides students the opportunity to assist the Institute for Entrepreneurship in promoting entrepreneurial culture in a collaborative, international and academically rich setting.
Selected YEAs will be entrusted with the development of a self-contained project that will enhance the Institute's ability to achieve its mission. The projects will give students the opportunity to test their existing skills and develop new ones; they will be exposed to many players in the entrepreneurial eco-system and will be able to develop new, enriching relationships; most importantly, their work will directly impact the JCU entrepreneurial community.
Students from all majors are welcome to apply; cross-disciplinarity is an integral part of entrepreneurship. Projects will be decided semester to semester, based on the opportunities identified by the Institute and the skills of successful candidates. YEAs are selected on a competitive basis. If you are interested, send your resume and a statement of purpose to [email protected].
Kateryna Umanets, Marketing major with a minor in Communications, President of both the Marketing Club and the JCU chapter of Universities Fighting World Hunger, rose to the challenge of becoming the first Youth Entrepreneurship Ambassador. Her project consisted of organizing the 2019 Social Change Day, the first in a series of events leading up to the November 2019 pan-university Weekend of Startups. The Social Change Day brought together students and players in the social entrepreneurship arena, for a full immersion day in which they learned about impact banking, fund-raising and business modelling, for successful support of their social entrepreneurship endeavors. The organization of this event involved great responsibility, and Katya made us proud.
The JCU Institute for Entrepreneurship has been developed in support of John Cabot University's vision that our graduates "should be engaged citizens and should be prepared to be responsible leaders within their chosen vocations and communities, committed to solutions that are creative, compassionate, and just."
As such, the Institute is built on three main pillars:
The guiding principle is to build community, and the Institute's activities are designed to be inclusive of all academic disciplines; the Institute is also mindful of entrepreneurship as a tool for social change, and it encourages non-profit and social entrepreneurship.
We see our visiting students as a key part of building an international community that understands collaboration and social responsibility. At John Cabot, entrepreneurially minded students will find multiple ways to enrich their semester abroad with unique experiences that will both expand their horizons and enable them to contribute with their own unique skills.
The university has created a chapter of Enactus, an international, student-driven nonprofit organization that uses entrepreneurship to create social change. In its first year of existence, the JCU Enactus team won the national competition presenting "Our Common Thread", a project that will aid people in need of the Trastevere community in Rome to pursue a job in tailoring through the refurbishing of second-hand clothes, leveraging the 75kg of clothing per year that visiting students leave behind. They are also working on a new idea, "Project Terminus", which aims to create touristic services and experiences for socially conscious people who wish to visit Rome. Through partnerships and alliances with local companies and entrepreneurs, Project Terminus will design socially, environmentally, culturally and economically sustainable activities that benefit the tourist, the business owners, and the city of Rome. These will be ongoing projects in which the experience of visiting students could create significant value, especially if they already have an Enactus chapter at home.
Entrepreneurship is a state of mind that enables us to identify opportunity and to marshal the resources needed to go from idea to implementation. This applies to any human endeavor, transcending the specific objective of creating. One of the main goals of the Institute is to bring this message to all our students, regardless of their majors. To this purpose, we have created the Certificate in Entrepreneurship, which provides students with a taste of the entrepreneurial world early on in their careers. To earn the Certificate students will have to satisfactorily complete the following:
JCU hosts one Startup Weekend a year, an opportunity to generate ideas and turn them into action in 54 exciting hours. This year we will focus on the Art, Beauty and Culture (ABC) sector, and participants will work with other technologists, artists, entrepreneurs, designers, mobile developers and product experts to build real solutions to the art world's most pressing problems, using technology and business models from other industries to innovate and disrupt the arts world.
The Institute works closely with the JCU Career Services Center to develop internships in an entrepreneurial context. These internships can be in different functional areas, from finance to marketing, in businesses that range from consumer products to recycling. Students applying to these internships should expect a highly unstructured environment, with evolving responsibilities. Regardless of the specific functions advertised, the very nature of a small business or startup will mean that the student will be exposed to all aspects of the organization.
With some advance preparation, it is possible for visiting students to benefit from such internships, even for credit. While knowledge of Italian could be a plus, many of our startups are looking for marketing, communications and web content skills to help them internationalize.
Italy Starts is a peer-to-peer entrepreneurship mentoring program where university students who have a bit of business and pitching background guide high school students through the process of designing and presenting a business model; in our Summer I 2018 pilot test, 24 university students are coaching over 50 Italian high-schools students, in weekly meetings over a 5-week period. By encouraging and supporting younger students, mentors will develop valuable life skills, advancing their leadership, problem-solving, networking and general communications skills.
Depending on the courses selected, students will be further exposed to entrepreneurial activities, such as:
JCU also promotes faculty-led programs in the summer sessions, which can be specifically tailored for an entrepreneurial slant.
Competitions play an important role in the entrepreneurial learning process. Participants hone the skills they acquire in an academic setting, familiarize themselves with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and are encouraged to pursue their ideas effectively.
John Cabot University designs competitive formats and partners with other organizations to offer students and alumni a variety of opportunities to grow personally and professionally.
An Elevator Pitch is a quick way of putting across the fundamental elements of a project, a business idea, a social cause or even one's professional qualifications and capturing the other person's attention to prompt him/her to action. The JCU Elevator Pitch Competition is a vehicle to help students develop this specific skill and test it in a competitive environment. In our contest, the pitch takes the form of a one-minute, no visuals presentation. Intimidating as it might seem, the Elevator Pitch is an opportunity for students to become better speakers and consolidate one of John Cabot graduates' watermark characteristic: poise and an ability to interact with the outside world in a professional manner. The competition is embedded in several courses as part of the overall assessment, to guarantee appropriate training.
Participants can choose among these three categories:
The winners in each of the three categories will receive a certificate and prize of either a €100 Amazon voucher or a donation of €100 in their name to a charity of choice.
Learn tools for an impactful pitch and compete for a prize!
Tuesday, 18 March
10:00am, in class BUS 305 or 11:30am, in class FIN 335
Students not enrolled in one of these classes should write to [email protected] to secure a place.
To submit your pitch, fill out the Elevator Pitch Competition Form. Dates for workshops, deadlines for submission and other relevant information provided in the Form.
Monday, 24 March - 11:59 pm
Deadline to submit your pitch, Spring 2025
Costanza Fausti
Social Innovation/Advocacy
Costanza presented her company, which offers women a “safely home” service, ensuring protection from assaults, especially in the date night hours.
Cheyenne Creati
Business idea
Cheyenne presented Travel Hub, a business idea that aims at optimizing the travel organization process.
John Cabot University is proud to partner with Enactus, a global organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and sustainable development among university students. Enactus provides a platform for students to develop innovative solutions to social, environmental, and economic challenges, transforming their ideas into real-world impact.
Enactus is an international non-profit organization operating in over 30 countries, bringing together students, academic leaders, and business professionals to address the world’s most pressing issues. Through entrepreneurial action, students engaged in the Enactus teams work on projects that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to create a better, more sustainable future for all, while developing new skills and acquiring consciousness about their own talent and future professional perspectives.
At JCU, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders and change-makers. Our partnership with Enactus reflects this commitment, providing our students with unique opportunities to:
Every year, Enactus students from every corner of Italy compete in the Enactus National Competition, presenting their projects to professional juries and accessing networking opportunities with representatives of partner companies.
A delegation of students can also access the Enactus World Cup, where Enactors, academics, and corporate partners from around the world gather to celebrate the best innovative solutions developed by the students, and offer a unique international experience to the entire network.
We encourage all proactive and passionate students at JCU to explore the opportunities offered by Enactus. Whether you are interested in entrepreneurship, sustainability, or simply want to make a difference, the Enactus Impact Entrepreneurship Program is an excellent platform to develop your skills and contribute to meaningful change.
For more information on how to join the Enactus team at JCU, please visit Enactus Italy or contact the referent Faculty Advisors:
Riccardo Maiolini: [email protected]
Maria Jell-Ojobor: [email protected]
Discover the inspiring stories of JCU students who have participated in the Enactus program and made significant contributions to their communities and beyond.
This is a two-tiered event that culminates in a two-minute pitch aiming to develop creative processes that inspire action on sustainability. Participants in the pitch will first benefit from four Prep Sessions aimed at developing their understanding of two selected SDGs that change every semester and at honing their communications skills.
The International Space Apps Challenge is a global hackathon promoted by NASA and focused on space technology and its terrestrial applications. It’s held each October over the course of two days. The I.S.A.C. is part of the Open Government Initiative launched by former US President Barack Obama.
Italy Starts is a Peer-to-Peer Entrepreneurship Mentoring Program in English. Participating JCU/partner university students (Mentors) volunteer to work with Italian High School Students (Mentees) to solve real business problems or develop business models for their business or social venture idea. Mentees will be required to deliver (via video recording) a short PowerPoint presentation at the end of the program. This program is aimed at third and fourth-year students enrolled in Italian high schools as part of the Percorsi per le Competenze Trasversali e per l'Orientamento program (40 hours).
Italy Pitches is a national English-language pitching competition for Italian high-school students. Participating students will select an Italian organization with a strong corporate social responsibility and will create an advocacy video that will effectively promote the values the organization stands for. The project is articulated as a self-administered program that will cover the following topics: the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals; Corporate Social Responsibility, Impact Investing and the Triple Bottom Line; the Essentials of Video-Making. The winners will receive a € 500 prize to be divided among the members of the team. This activity offers 30 hours for Percorsi per le Competenze Trasversali e per l'Orientamento (PCTO).
"A new breed of innovative leaders who can transform cutting-edge research into practical applications is required to tackle the challenges of our rapidly evolving world. The Institute for Entrepreneurship, part of the Frank J. Guarini School of Business, offers comprehensive programs that equip students with the skills and mindset necessary to drive innovation in businesses that leverage specialized knowledge to create lasting impact. If you envision a society prepared for meaningful transformation, it starts with you.
As the Institute's new director, I want to begin by acknowledging the invaluable work of my predecessors in shaping the foundation of the Institute’s vision, which continues to integrate academic, empirical, and research-driven initiatives.
The Institute has always been committed to fostering multidisciplinary teams that address societal challenges, drive technology-based economic growth, and mobilize the diverse resources required to navigate today’s most complex issues. However, the entrepreneurial landscape is evolving rapidly, with digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability at its core. Today’s entrepreneurs must be prepared to operate in an environment where automation and data-driven decision-making intersect with human creativity and ethical considerations.
Our vision is to develop a new class of leaders equipped with the knowledge, agility, and resilience required to shape the future of innovation. Studying entrepreneurship today means gaining a deep understanding of emerging technologies, adopting a responsible approach to sustainable business, and cultivating the empathy and critical thinking necessary to design solutions that create real value.
Above all, in a world increasingly shaped by technological advancements and systemic shifts, our students are challenged to think boldly and act decisively. Through our programs, we provide the tools to assess the long-term impact of technological and entrepreneurial decisions while encouraging leadership that drives transformative change.
At the heart of all our initiatives is the commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset — one that is essential for future leaders navigating uncertainty and complexity.
The success of our programs would not be possible without the support of external partners and organizations. We continuously seek to expand our network, offering students unparalleled opportunities for mentorship and collaboration.
Entrepreneurship is more than a skill; it is a mindset and a way of life. It teaches us that no challenge is insurmountable, that failure is a stepping stone to success, and that the ability to adapt, persist, and innovate is the key to shaping the future."
Luigi Nasta
Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship
[email protected]
Ali Reza Arabnia
CEO of Gecofin group, President of ISVI and Chairman of Finance Committee, Board of Trustees of John Cabot University
Ali Reza Arabnia began working for an Italian industrial group called Gecofin SpA in 1982 and then moved to Nigeria. Upon returning to Italy after few years, he started his entrepreneurial journey at a company called FAST that under his management became the leading tinting and mixing equipment producer in the world (with 62% of global market share) with a global perspective. In 2020 he become President of ISVI, an Italian Institute that promotes responsible capitalism. In 2021, while keeping his leadership positions both in Gecofin and ISVI, he became coordinator of Cavalieri del Lavoro operating in the Italian Automotive Industry.
Silvia Carnini Pulino
Director of the Frank J. Guarini School of Business at John Cabot University
Professor Silvia Pulino is the Director of the Frank J. Guarini School of Business at John Cabot University. She obtained her MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business, and has over 20 years’ experience in international business, with a focus on entrepreneurial companies and technology. At John Cabot, she acted as Chair of the Business Administration Department for five years. She also coordinated the Center for Career Services for three years and was Director of the JCU Institute for Entrepreneurship for nine years. In 2010 she was awarded a Wales University Teaching Fellowship for teaching excellence.
Enrica Cornaglia
Venture and Fellowship program manager for Ashoka Italy
Enrica Cornaglia is the Venture and Fellowship program manager for Ashoka Italy, and she coordinates several international programs for Ashoka global. She joined Ashoka in 2014, during its launch phase in Italy. She has a degree in Political Science and International Studies and a master's degree in Communications. A former board member of an NGO called International Civil Service, she implemented educational programs for children and young adults in former Yugoslavia during the post-war phase. She is co-founder of a social cooperative with which she has developed educational projects based on empathy to address intercultural issues for students and teachers.
Alberto Corti
Head of Partnership and Development at Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship
Alberto Corti has covered different managerial positions at the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship, creating and leading programs for early-stage entrepreneurs as well as entrepreneurship educators. Working at the intersection of Sweden’s leading academic institutions and Stockholm’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Alberto gained extensive knowledge in both theoretical and applied entrepreneurship. Alberto holds a M.Sc. from Uppsala University, and he completed an Exec.Ed. program at Harvard Business School.
Andrea Geremicca
Director General of the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability (EIIS)
Since January 2020, Andrea Geremicca has been the Director General of the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability (EIIS) based in Rome. Innovation has always been at the core of his entrepreneurial activity. Andrea is an adjunct professor at LUISS and LUMSA university, and he was a guest lecturer at Harvard - Kennedy School and Science Po. In 2018 Andrea attended the Harvard Business School Exec, studying how to drive innovation in large organizations. In 2016 he attended Singularity University at NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley, investigating the impacts of exponential technologies, and recently (2022) became a global faculty member as an expert in innovation and future scenarios.
Andrea Zorzetto
Managing Partner of Plug and Play Italy
Andrea Zorzetto is the Managing Partner of Plug and Play Italy, which he launched after spending 6 years between Europe, USA and China, and is responsible for the Egypt-Italy-Morocco-Switzerland region. He is also founder and president of the volunteer association Poliferie. In the past, he worked as Policy Advisory for the British Government and the City of Paris.
