Marco Nannini's Incubator Gives Space to Valuable Ideas

Marco Nannini came across the issue of environmental sustainability while working in the telecommunication industry. «It's one of the most polluting industries in the world», he says. «Telecommunications networks are designed to handle the peaks and so on any day of the year they provide the same energy needs of December 31, when millions of people send greeting messages». Since that day Nannini, who graduated in Economics at Bocconi University, has put his twenty years experience as a consultant in companies such as Boston Consulting Group and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants at the service of the idea of high-impact social and environmental innovation. He was a business angel when he stumbled upon the Impact Hub Milano startup, a network devoted to innovation and social entrepreneurship. He's now the President and CEO. «Impact Hub is a network of more than 80 spaces around the world. Impact Hub Milan is a certified incubator, a coworking space, a community where you can exchange views with your peers. Sharing fosters growth». Focusing on making a positive impact doesn't mean settling for lower returns.

To prove it, Nannini mentions Generation Investment Management, a firm co-founded by Al Gore that claims to have an investment rate higher than the average of English venture capital. «Even in Italy we are finally realizing that making profit and making impact are not two conflicting ideas and that having a sustainable business model is better than having a philanthropist who pays for everything. It is time to promote social values for the benefit of both the employees and the larger community». One of his upcoming projects is the launch of an Impact Investing fund with a venture capital approach. «I'm 50 and still having the chance to work in a stimulating environment, full of ideas, surrounded by curious people willing to prove themselves. No, it does not happen in traditional companies».