Advisory Board

Competences
behind people

PLAI's Competence Board is a powerhouse of visionaries determined to spotlight and propel the most promising startups to new heights. Our collective goal is to harness the transformative potential of generative AI, ensuring that disruptive innovations receive the recognition and nurturing they need to thrive.
Spanning deep technical knowledge in AI to sophisticated global marketing strategies, our board's expertise is as broad as it is deep. This wealth of experience ensures that our startups are adeptly guided through every challenge and opportunity, from ideation to global market penetration.

Get to know the people behind PLAI

Sergio Amati

General Manager IAB Italy

General Manager of the Italian Chapter of IAB Interactive Advertising Bureau, #1 global Association for the digital marketing ecosystem.

Alessandra Antonelli

Country Leader Italy at Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Leader of the business transformations for customers in commercial sectors and the go-to-market strategy, to enhance the country's digital economy through cloud computing, enabling organizations to redesign business models and accelerate innovation.

Luigi Bianchi

Business Advisor, Manager of Innovation & Digital Transformation - Fastweb

Over 25 years of experience in Telecommunication with a strong focus on customer experience, products development, innovation. Currently leading the Fastweb Venture Building Program, held roles in Vodafone and ePlanet.

Paola Bonomo

Non-executive Director, advisor, business angel

Serves on the Investment Committee of VC fund Neva First. She is a Vice Chair at IAG, Italy’s leading business angel group.

Marco Bressani

Senior Advisor - PricewaterhouseCoopers Business Services

Founder of PwC Acceleration Center, member of AI Strategy Group (MISE), Advisory Board at RoboIT, founder IO Surgical Research for AI in surgery.

Luciano Catoni

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur with experience (including several near-misses) in healthcare, supply chain, fashion, retail, and corporate services.

Giampaolo Colletti

StartupItalia Director

Giampaolo is a professional journalist who writes about marketing and innovation for Il Sole24Ore. He is the Director of StartupItalia.

Paola Colombo

General Manager Adtech & Business Development Publitalia ’80

Paola Colombo is General Manager of Publitalia ’80, Mediaset Italy saleshouse, where she is leading the Adtech and Business development unit focussing on new business strategies, partnerships, and technology driven innovation.

Guido Di Fraia

Founder&President - IULM AI Lab

Pro-Rector at IULM University, Milan, specializing in AI and Innovation; creator and coordinator of the new Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Business and Society.

Matteo Flora

Entrepreneur, communicator & Professor AI e SI security – ESE

Professor of AI Safety Fundamentals and Superintelligences (ESE), Corporate Reputation and Crisis Management (Pavia), and Data-Driven Strategies (Bicocca). Founder of The Fool, the leading Italian company in Customer Insight.

Luca La Mesa

SingularityU, Investor, Social Media Strategist

After working in marketing at Unilever and Procter & Gamble, he specialized in advanced social media marketing strategies and technological innovations.

Marco Magnaghi

Managing Director - GroupM Nexus

Digital enthusiast, worked in consulting on business transformation, strategic marketing for consumer goods, and enhancing digital experiences at GroupM.

Paolo Merialdo

Ordinary Professor

Teaches ``Data Engineering`` and ``Digital Entrepreneurship`` at Roma Tre University, focuses on explainable AI, co-founder of InnovAction Lab, advisor to three AI startups.

Paola Mogliotti

Director - I3P

Graduated at Politecnico di Torino, has worked in innovation and entrepreneurship since 2005, supporting innovative startups. Since 2018, Director of I3P.

Giangiacomo Olivi

Partner - Studio legale Dentons

Europe Co-head of the Intellectual Property, Data, and Technology department. Expert lawyer in contract law across various industrial sectors, digitization, privacy and artificial intelligence.

Federico Rampolla

Advisor, board member, mentor

Federico is one of the pioneers of the internet in Italy. Since 1996, he has held significant managerial positions in the digital and European market, working at Matrix/Virgilio, Fullsix, WPP, Accenture Digital and Mondadori.

Giulio Ranucci

Head of Innovation, Digital & CVC- Aeroporti di Roma

Over 15 years in marketing & innovation, held roles at Princess Cruises, Italo - NTV, and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.

Alceo Rapagna

Equity Partner & CEO Startupbootcamp Italia and Innoleaps

Equity Partner and CEO of Italy at Startupbootcamp and Innoleaps - a leading global platform in startup acceleration and venture building with major companies - where he also served as Group CEO until 2023.

Maurizio Romandini

VP M&A, BD & Partnership – Multiversity

Previusly Strategy & Business Development Director at Loro Piana, LVMH Group. Former Principal at Bain & Company. Started at Lazard. Bocconi graduate.

Chiara Russo

Founder & executive president - Codemotion

Dedicated tech leader and co-founder of Codemotion, she has guided significant VC-funded growth and actively champions gender equality in technology.

Massimo Sideri

Italian journalist and teacher

Italian journalist and teacher. He is adjunct professor in socio-economic history of innovation and communication of science.

Franco Spicciariello

AWS Director of Public Policy for EU MED

Franco Spicciariello is the Director of Public Policy for EU MED (Mediterranean Europe) at AWS.

Davide Tesoro-Tess

Advisor, Investor, Board Member

20+ years’ experience at building great businesses and great teams. Ex-Sky, ex-Value Partners. He launched Sky Ventures in Italy.