A CONSULTANT AND EXECUTIVE WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN CORPORATE FINANCE TRANSACTIONS AND A PARTICULAR VOCATION FOR MADE IN ITALY, INCLUDING THE RESCUE OF THE HISTORIC BORSALINO BRAND, FRANCESCO SAVERIO CANEPA IS COMMITTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION OF MADE IN ITALY AND THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR COUNTRY.
Saverio, tell us about yourself.
I would start by saying that I have been involved in extraordinary finance for over 20 years. Over the course of my career, I have developed a particular passion for Made in Italy, and the rescue of the Borsalino brand was a very significant moment for me, as it made me realise even more the importance of supporting the Italian companies most representative of our manufacturing tradition. In recent years I have helped several foreign institutional investors to find investment opportunities in Italy, and it was thanks to these experiences that I decided to found Coopera Venture Capital, a company that aims to support the most innovative and successful Italian companies. I am passionate about the world of innovation and entrepreneurship, and I firmly believe that these are the driving forces behind the economic growth of our country. I therefore hope to continue to contribute to the promotion of Made in Italy at an international level and to the economic growth of our country through my projects and my commitment.
How and why was Coopera founded?
Coopera Venture Capital was founded by the most influential Italian incubators with the aim of promoting innovative and successful Italian companies by creating a ‘hub’ capable of attracting Italian and foreign investors. Coopera’s mission is, therefore, to support Italian companies that aim to excel in quality, creativity and innovation, promoting Made in Italy in the world and contributing to the economic success of our country. As founder of Coopera I recognised the need to implement a system solution that would support Italian companies with a long-term approach and a vision of international development, involving all the most authoritative Italian incubators.
On patents, our country does better than France and Germany and has an important capacity for innovation both in knowledge-intensive sectors and in those typical of Italian style.
Exactly! Data on Italian patents in Europe show that our country has an important capacity for innovation. In particular, Italy stands out in innovation on bioplastics, where it ranks third in Europe, and in recycling technologies, where it ranks fourth. This shows that Italy has a strong tradition in innovation, both in advanced technology and in craftsmanship and design. The combination of tradition and innovation seems to be the key to success for Italian companies, and this is what Coopera Venture Capital aims to support by promoting investments in innovative and successful companies.
What does ‘Made in Italy’ mean to you?
Made in Italy represents excellence in quality, creativity and tradition in the production of goods and services that are recognised for their style and unique craftsmanship and can be applied to a wide range of products and services, from clothing to furniture, from food to art and culture. In general, it is synonymous with excellence and prestige on an international level. Coopera Venture Capital, the company that I founded and represent, encourages investment in successful innovative Italian companies, highlighting precisely the importance of Made in Italy and incorporating it into its mission. Coopera wants to be a real example of the promotion of Made in Italy value in the Italian economy and of Italian entrepreneurship, in particular as far as youth is concerned.
