From Valtellina to Silicon Valley: Liquid Factory Emerges - A Start-up Hub to Attract Top Italian and European Talent, in Partnership with Banca Popolare di Sondrio
Spotlight on Liquid Factory: the first Start-up Studio bridging Valtellina and Silicon Valley. Founded by seasoned entrepreneur Fabrizio Capobianco, with over 20 years of experience in Silicon Valley, Liquid Factory launches in partnership with Banca Popolare di Sondrio. After reviewing 181 applications from over 20 countries, four exceptional talents have been selected to launch the start-ups in the inaugural batch of the Entrepreneurship in Residence program. An initiative that blends innovation, entrepreneurship, and local connections, providing young talents with the opportunity to develop their ideas and pitch them to top international incubators and accelerators.
With Liquid Factory, Capobianco seeks to bridge the Italian and Californian ecosystems, equipping start-ups with the tools and support needed to scale and compete globally. With our support, each start-up receives € 200,000 in funding and gains access to workspace within the historic Palazzo Lambertenghi, owned by the bank.
The next batch is due on June 30, 2025.
A Unique Opportunity for Top Innovation Talent
The 2024 application cycle closed on October 31, surpassing all expectations. With a rigorous two-month evaluation process, the acceptance rate was just 2.2%. Key insights from the applications include:
- 88% men, 12% women
- 76% from Italy
- Average age: 29 years
- A strong balance between scientific and humanistic backgrounds: 47% STEM, 53% non-STEM
“The 181 applications received from various countries clearly demonstrate the extraordinary potential of young people in presenting innovative ideas,” said Mario Alberto Pedranzini, Managing Director and CEO of Banca Popolare di Sondrio. “Our bank has always been a strong supporter of businesses and entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on new ventures and young talent - key drivers of our economic system, which is rich in excellence. Supporting Liquid Factory means championing ideas that have the potential to become global success stories, all beginning in our cherished Valtellina. This project embodies the perfect blend of innovation, talent, and global vision.”
The 4 “Entrepreneurs in Residence”
The first four selected start-ups hail from renowned fields of excellence across Italy, Spain, the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Their start-ups are named after four renowned Valtellina wines, each symbolizing the region’s rich identity and heritage.
- Lora Fahmy (29 years old, Liquid Sassella) – An Egyptian-born designer, raised in Italy and now residing in Sondrio. Her start-up develops an AI-powered interior design agent that combines augmented reality and on-line shopping to transform the furniture-buying experience
- Ludovico Federici (22 years old, Liquid Inferno) – A graduate in Computer Science, Cognitive Science, and Data Science from UC Berkeley, he has previously collaborated with industry leaders like NVIDIA and Spotify. His start-up introduces an AI-driven solution for sustainability, designed to streamline the ESG compliance process for businesses.
- Matteo Mariani (27 years old, Liquid Grumello) – Formerly with Satispay and Product Manager at the Danish unicorn Pleo in London, his concept is a stablecoin-based platform designed to simplify international payments.
- Sylwia Szymczyk (37 years old, Liquid Valgella) – Lives and works between Varese and Sondrio. She aims to create an AI-powered fashion agent that enables designers to visualise garments on virtual models and sell clothes before they are even produced.
A Bridge Between Innovation And Local Heritage
Being part of Liquid Factory means championing entrepreneurship, creating new opportunities for Valtellina, and generating a positive impact that extends beyond national borders.
Liquid Factory enables companies to operate across multiple locations. The goal is to establish businesses in California while bringing together top talent from Valtellina, where the unique balance between work and lifestyle fosters creativity and supports entrepreneurial growth.
Liquid Factory embodies a commitment to talent and the power of ideas: an initiative that nurtures innovation in a fertile and sustainable environment, where a high quality of life meets a global vision. The start-ups selected today mark the beginning of a journey that will unfold over the coming years, with a new selection cycle already scheduled for June 2025.
For updates and further information: www.theliquidfactory.com.
Liquid Valgella: The AI Revolutionising Fashion through Innovation and Sustainability
Liquid Valgella is one of the four start-ups selected by Liquid Factory, the Start-up Studio bridging Valtellina and Silicon Valley. Founded by Sylwia Szymczyk, a pioneer in fashion-tech, Valgella is revolutionising the design, production, and sale of fashion with its AI-driven platform that creates hyper-realistic digital designs through FashionINSTA.
Its system enables brands to design entire collections digitally, allowing them to test garments on virtual models before transitioning to physical production. This approach not only eliminates waste from prototypes but also creates new opportunities for customisation and on-demand sales, significantly reducing unsold inventory and the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
In recent years, the industry has started to embrace the potential of AI, with digitally generated models increasingly replacing traditional advertising campaigns. Valgella takes this innovation to the next level, enabling designers to craft bespoke garments, streamline production processes, and fast-track the journey from concept to market.
“Banca Popolare di Sondrio has always believed in the value of young talent and the importance of providing them with the tools to develop solutions that enhance processes, products, and services,” said Mario Alberto Pedranzini, Managing Director and CEO of Banca Popolare di Sondrio.
To learn more about Sylwia Szymczyk’s idea, visit: https://fashioninsta.ai/