With a focus on how technology plays a critical role in entrepreneurial reinvention, Prof. Nazareno Mario Ciccarello shares key insights from his personal and professional journey, offering a roadmap for navigating evolving markets and building resilient, tech-driven businesses.
Key Highlights of the Masterclass:
1. The Foundations of Resilience Through Leadership:
Prof. Nazareno Mario Ciccarello reflects on his early career as a second lieutenant in the Italian military police, where he honed discipline, adaptability, and leadership skills that later shaped his approach to entrepreneurship and technology adoption.
2. Creating Opportunities Through Innovation:
In 2013, Prof. Nazareno Mario Ciccarello founded Functional Gums, a company specializing in functional chewing gums, showcasing how innovation and market insight can disrupt traditional industries.
3. Pivoting with Purpose in Times of Crisis:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Nazareno Mario Ciccarello leveraged agility and strategic thinking to pivot his business, creating Functional Company, a provider of CE-certified surgical masks. This technological shift not only ensured business continuity but also solidified its position as a leader in disposable material innovation.
4. Scaling Through AI-Driven Solutions:
By 2024, Prof. Nazareno Mario Ciccarello founded SOOURCE (www.soource.com), an AI-powered B2B platform optimizing procurement processes. He highlights the transformative potential of AI in addressing business inefficiencies and shares his experience in securing €1.5 million in pre-seed funding from venture capital firms.
5. Lessons in Fundraising and Tech-Enabled Growth:
Prof. Nazareno Mario Ciccarello offers actionable advice on raising capital, cultivating investor relationships, and scaling businesses through strategic use of technology. Real-life examples illustrate how digital transformation drives long-term growth.
Who Should Attend?
This masterclass is designed for:
- Entrepreneurs and business leaders eager to integrate technology into their growth strategies.
- Professionals seeking actionable insights into pivoting and scaling businesses.
- Innovators ready to adopt AI-driven solutions to create sustainable, long-term success.
Why Attend?
By attending this masterclass, you’ll leave with:
✔ A clear roadmap to navigate setbacks and embrace reinvention.
✔ Tech-enabled strategies to disrupt markets and unlock efficiencies.
✔ Insights from real-world case studies to help you lead with confidence in evolving markets.
Biography
Nazareno Mario Ciccarello, Italian, holds an MBA from IE Business School (2008) and a degree in Political Science from LUISS University in Rome, Italy.
His career began at the age of 19 in the Italian military police (Carabinieri) as a second lieutenant, where he trained military platoons for peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Albania.
After working for several multinational companies (J&J, Angelini Pharmaceuticals, BFF Bank) in roles spanning human resources, marketing, and international business development within the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical devices, and banking sectors—and traveling to over 70 countries worldwide — he has:
• In 2013, founded Functional Gums, a company specializing in the development, marketing, and distribution of high-value-added functional chewing gums.
• In 2020, pivoted Functional Gums into Functional Company ( www.functionalcompany.com )due to the COVID-19 pandemic, positioning it at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 by establishing a production facility for CE-certified surgical masks. The company raised €1.5 million and is now specialized in supplying disposable materials across various industries.
• In 2024, completed the spin-off of Functional Company’s technology platform and launched SOOURCE ( www.soource.com ), a B2B AI-driven platform that helps companies improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their procurement processes. The company successfully raised €1.5 million in a pre-seed round with prominent venture capital funds like 360 Capital, Exor VC, Vesper, Club degli Investitori, and Be Heroes.
He is an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at IE Business School (Madrid, Spain) and LUISS Business School (Rome, Italy) and has been a keynote speaker in the field of soft skills, with a specific focus on “Networking,” in Italy, France, Turkey, India, the USA, Mexico, Serbia, Albania, Slovenia, and Croatia, representing IE Business School and participating in numerous corporate events.
Currently, he volunteers for “MAKE A WISH,” a global organization that fulfills the wishes of children with severe illnesses.
In parallel with his professional career, he has been a professional athlete (Olympic diving) for over 20 years and has also volunteered as a diving coach for autistic children.
