Bill Barber is an Innovation Ecosystems Architect at Intesa Sanpaolo with over 30 years of experience in international technology innovation and startup ecosystems. He has advised more than 3,500 executives, from early-stage founders to Fortune 500 leaders. A serial entrepreneur, investor and executive advisor, Bill has extensive experience founding, funding and scaling technology ventures. He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from SDA Bocconi in Milan and is passionate about accelerating innovation, strengthening investment ecosystems and helping companies scale globally.

Emanuele Manzotti is the Founder and CEO of Rocket Dreams, a Milan-based company focused on digital innovation, business development and supporting startups. A serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in sales, marketing and technology, he helps startups and established companies turn innovative ideas into business opportunities. He also founded Innovation Match, a platform connecting startups and technology providers with corporations seeking innovative solutions. Through his work, Emanuele is dedicated to strengthening Italy’s innovation ecosystem, fostering collaboration and helping businesses grow and scale.

Eric Mathews helps founders and leaders build the future they intend. He is the co-founder and CEO of Start Co., a venture development organization supporting founders from across the United States and around the world. For more than 20 years, he has built companies, founders and entrepreneurial systems. He has advised, invested in or helped build more than 300 businesses and is a co-owner of two manufacturing companies. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and adjunct professor at Rhodes College. His work spans entrepreneurship, investment, technology and manufacturing. He brings systems thinking to company building, investing and coaching. His early work in cognitive science, intelligent tutoring systems and natural-language dialogue contributed to 11 publications. Eric is the author of three books. He speaks about entrepreneurship, leadership, Thinking From Zero and the Life Operating System he built. His core belief is simple: when your future gets bigger, your present gets better.

With nearly 15 years of experience in marketing, communications and innovation, Emilia Pezzini is the founder of Eleventh, a micro-agency providing marketing and communications services to startups and scaleups, launched in 2024. Previously, she worked in communications and open innovation at LVenture Group (now Zest) and served as Brand and Communication Lead for Italy at Qonto, a leading European fintech, where she also served as Co-Chair of the Women@Qonto ERG and created StrongHer, a training programme designed to support women entrepreneurs. She holds a degree in Oriental Studies from Sapienza University of Rome and furthered her education with a master’s degree from SOAS University of London and an Executive Programme in Media Relations at LUISS Business School.

Jessica Viganò is an Italian lawyer and IP strategy advisor with over 25 years of experience in Intellectual Property. She is the Founder and Managing Director of VLF IP, an IP consultancy based in Milan, where she advises companies, entrepreneurs and innovative businesses on protecting and leveraging intellectual assets to support growth and competitiveness. Her expertise spans trademarks, patents, designs, copyright, know-how, digital assets and IP portfolio management, with a particular focus on aligning IP protection with business strategy. Throughout her career, she has worked with companies across different sectors, including industrial design, technology and consumer markets, and has developed extensive experience in IP education and professional training. Combining legal expertise with an entrepreneurial and business-oriented perspective, she helps founders identify, protect and maximise the value of their intellectual property to support innovation, market development and long-term business growth.