The Shell LiveWIRE Italy programme celebrated the graduation of its 2018 cohort and kicked off the 2019 programme with an event that included launching new startups and learning from more advanced businesses.

“It is a source of great pride for us to be able to see first-hand that our work contributes to making people’s lives better in the communities where we work,” said Marco Brun, CEO of Shell Italia, during his opening remarks. “Investing in young people means investing in the future of those who, even when hydrocarbons are finished, will continue to live and work in their own land.”

Fourteen entrepreneurs graduated from the 2018 programme while three new businesses launched thanks to training and support from Shell InventaGIOVANI.

“We are very happy to present three startups from young entrepreneurs,” said Brun. “They join the thirteen businesses already started over the past years, which thanks to Shell InventaGIOVANI have been able to crown their dream.”

The three businesses launched in 2018 include:

• Terre di Basilicata: an e-commerce company of Lucan products.
• Emporio Arcobaleno: a party goods supplier.
• Casa Easy: a contracting business that specializes in green buildings.

Shell InventaGIOVANI not only celebrated these successes but also looked to the year ahead, formally launching the 2019 cohort. The 2019 programme will focus on helping young entrepreneurs develop and refine their business ideas, giving them the skills and knowledge they need to kickstart a business.

Shell InventaGIOVANI programme manager Ivan Baggi said he’s proud of how the programme has evolved over the last decade.

“Shell LiveWIRE started 10 years ago in the Basilicata Region in south Italy, and today it’s the most important programme for young entrepreneurs in Basilicata and is well known to our local stakeholders,” said Baggi. “Shell LiveWIRE is a milestone project in the Shell Italy Social Investment strategy, and our idea for the future is to expand the project to the Taranto area.”

Please visit Shell InventaGIOVANI’s website to learn more.