The Luiss graduate, Lorenzo Castelli is among Forbes Italia’s Top Under 30 Young Entreprenrus, specifically in the "Venture Capital" category. Lorenzo shared his experience at Luiss and his career.
Lorenzo recalled his experience at Luiss: “I attended the Master’s in Project Management, led by the Business School. I chose this Master’s Degree Course based on the top-class quality and professionalism of the teaching staff, a real added value”. He cited Professor Ernesto La Rosa and Professor Paolo Cecchini as having the greatest impact on his educational development and supporting his preparation towards the internationally-recognized IPMA Certification.
Before joining Luiss, Lorenzo had already benefitted from valuable learning experiences abroad. He stated: “I lived in New York, where I worked at Ralph Lauren as the Deputy President’s Assistant for the men's clothing department. I then co-founded a start-up in the food retail sector in Miami and, as soon as I became economically independent, I began my journey as an Analyst in a project financing boutique based in Rome, Milan and London. I always wanted to merge my entrepreneurial spirit together with my managerial training”.
The years living in the United States directed Lorenzo towards a different career. “Living in the United States changed my career plans, allowing me to fast-track different stages. It opened my mind on different levels. When I returned to Italy, I felt more prepared in being able to approach and manage situations, especially in the workplace. My experiences abroad made me realize the importance of understanding different contexts”.
Lorenzo reported to think globally is key to best understand the world of venture capital. He recommends fellow students interested in a similar career pathway “to train abroad, because it is essential to understand the dynamics of well-established venture capital markets (such as the United States, United Kingdom or Israel), in order to replicate the successful schemes in Italy, creating value in the country”.
Regarding the career path that allowed him to be shortlisted by Forbes, alongside Paolo Barletta, Lorenzo co-founded Alchimia Investments, a “company active in the venture capital sector that has already made 19 investments in Italy, France, Iceland , Dubai, the United States, Israel and the United Kingdom”. In a short time span, Alchimia Investments is playing a leading role in the Italian and international venture capital market. Lorenzo reported: “after three years working hard between Italy and the rest of the world, the company now attracts the attention of top-tier investors. In fact, in 2019, the Bulgari family entered Alchimia, investing more than 10 million euros through Annabel Holding”.
According to Lorenzo, Alchimia Investments’s success is the result of a mix of well-balanced elements. “The factor that allowed us to get this far is the combination of a highly entrepreneurial approach and the managerial management. We have implemented rigorous internal portfolio analysis and management, just like an investment fund, however we leverage the flexibility of a private investment vehicle that allows us to grasp the best opportunities with improved responsiveness compared to a fund or an asset management