Founder at Project Equis - Build with Founders Factory Italy
Milan
Founders Factory Milan – Studio /
Hybrid
Founders Factory builds and funds startups together with exceptional entrepreneurs and the world’s leading companies. Created by IPO-exited founders, we offer founders capital, operational support from a team of hands-on experts, and unrivalled access to a coalition of industry-leading corporate partners. Since 2015, our 300+ portfolio companies have raised $800mm follow-on funding from the leading investors in technology.
Our Studio partners with entrepreneurs at day one, developing new ideas, technologies and business models into high growth companies. We’re now building a new venture in partnership with Italy’s leading investment bank and are looking for an experienced operator with entrepreneurial ambitions to lead as Founder & CEO with our investment and the full backing of Founders Factory.
Project Equis: Supporting the Growth of Italian SMEs
European micro and small enterprises are about to face an existential crisis. As the overall age of the European population increases, micro and small businesses will struggle with succession planning. Retiring owners often don’t have relatives to pass on their small family business to, and exit opportunities to third parties are rare. As a consequence, many of them will have to be shut down, endangering thousands of jobs.
The statistics paint a clear picture: Every year more than 400,000 small businesses are passed down from one generation to the next, though approximately one-third of these businesses lack a well-defined succession plan.
So we are building Equis, a tech-enabled employee ownership platform that will help these companies transition from one generation to the next. We buy out micro businesses from retiring owners, match the acquired business with pre-screened new managers, hold our shares for ±10 years (collecting profits along the way) and eventually retire our shares in the business in favour of the employees, creating a new generation of employee-owned businesses.
Our offer
- Co-found a company with Founders Factory’s team of IPO-exited founders and entrepreneurs to develop a new venture at the forefront of fintech
- Unlock €700k investment in cash and services to help you build your venture
- Access to an expert team and specialist support through our Venture Studio and 6 month accelerator programme
- A validated concept and intellectual property
- A dedicated studio budget (including the founder stipend, specialist resource and infrastructure budget)
What we're looking for
- Experienced founder, builder or operator, capable of operating from zero to one
- Unique market insight, top 1% skills or other advantage that makes you a suitable and compelling Fintech founder
- Proven ability to build a world-class team, attract customers and investors
- Evidence of thriving in ambiguous environments and a high aptitude for calculated risks
- A clear vision for the opportunity (including product direction) - with the drive and expertise to execute on it
- High IQ and EQ - strong opinions loosely held
- Italian language skills and market knowledge is a must
- Understanding of M&A, deal structuring and/or experience buying and operating companies is a plus
- Ability to raise significant capital from capital markets (venture, venture debt, private credit etc.)
Note - We are reviewing applications on an ongoing basis. If your background and application meets our criteria, we will be in touch to schedule a call.
