Pietro Pittini Foundation: 9 new projects to rethink business in Italy's internal areas

Imprese Spericolate officially starts, a training and support program that represents the second phase of Percorsi Spericolati , a bridge between training and social enterprise, between project and action. Promoted by Fondazione Pietro Pittini in collaboration with meraki – desideri culturali and Magma srl ​​impresa sociale, the program is dedicated to already established organizations and informal groups that want to develop projects with a social impact in the internal areas of Italy.

After a national selection, 9 entrepreneurial projects from mountain and rural contexts throughout Italy were chosen, with a strong presence of female entrepreneurship . Among the themes: sustainable tourism, village regeneration, new narratives, territorial welfare, training and networks for entrepreneurship in internal areas.

"This journey has been, for me, a turning point. It has allowed me to see business with new eyes, going beyond the technical aspects and touching on something deeper: the internal dynamics, the relationships, the meaning of what we do. From complete strangers to true traveling companions: this is worth a lot and fills me with gratitude."

This is what one of the participants said at the end of the first training module, held in Ovaro, in the heart of Carnia (Friuli-Venezia Giulia). A symbolic choice, which aims to put back at the center territories often considered marginal and to promote a different approach to the enterprise that comes from the mountains, from small villages and from those who choose to stay and build new prospects.

Inland areas experiment with new development models: the selected projects

In Bobbio, in the province of Piacenza, two sisters are reopening the historic Locanda dei Cacciatori, transforming it into a sustainable accommodation facility. Rooms, a restaurant, a vegetable garden and cultural spaces will be the elements of a tourist offer designed to enhance the territory, generate employment and activate local synergies.

In Sardinia, in Desulo, Futuro (è) Locale addresses the issue of depopulation in mountain areas. The project promotes a Mountain Business School and a series of workshops and events involving young people and local businesses, with the aim of rethinking internal areas as places of social innovation.

Stavoli Island , in the province of Udine, aims to revitalize the mountain village of Stavoli, accessible only on foot, with a sustainable and cultural hospitality model. Among the actions: eco-lodgings, equipped kitchen, festivals and artistic residences, with the goal of permanently inhabiting the village all year round.

Prospettive Interne combines architecture, urban planning, landscape and social innovation, with the aim of regenerating the rural and mountainous areas of Northern Italy. Through participatory interventions, the group aims to enhance local heritage and involve communities – especially young people – in processes of co-design and territorial development.

The Narrazioni Vive project proposes a new communication approach to internal areas. Through editorial content, field experiences and a digital platform, it intends to overcome stereotypes and build a more realistic narrative of those who live, return or arrive in these territories.

Tipsy Bear was born in Carnia, a platform that promotes responsible alcohol consumption in bars. The idea is to reward safe behavior through the use of cryptocurrencies and incentives, with the aim of reducing accidents related to drunk driving.

Also in Carnia, between the municipalities of Comeglians and Prato Carnico (UD), a model of participatory regeneration is being tested. Former abandoned mountain structures are being reactivated through mapping, self-construction sites and artistic residences, directly involving the citizens.

In Longarone, the Dolomiti Marketing Hub aims to be a point of reference for small businesses in the Belluno Dolomites that intend to strengthen their skills in communication and digital marketing. The project offers training and consultancy to tourism operators, artisans and professionals in the area.

Finally, in the province of Latina, Discover Agropontino aims to enhance an area little explored by organized tourism. Through a digital platform and a system of integrated experiences, it connects local producers, accommodation facilities, guides and artisans, proposing itineraries that range from cycling to food and wine, to public art and community stories.

The projects are now followed by a personalized mentorship path , which accompanies them until the final moment of the program scheduled for Saturday 18 October 2025 , with a public event and a collective restitution of the projects and the assignment of the 15,000 euro grant.

Imprese Spericolate is not just an incubator, but a path designed for those who see business as a tool for regenerating and caring for the territory. It combines strategy, sustainability and human relations, with the aim of creating shared value, even before profit. It is the natural evolution of Percorsi Spericolati, an initiative that is now preparing for its fifth edition and that in these four years has involved hundreds of young people, administrations and local entities. Some of the new entrepreneurs come from there, a sign of a concrete and time-rooted continuity, carried forward by Fondazione Pietro Pittini and its partners with care.

The project, organized and co-designed by the Pietro Pittini Foundation, by meraki – desideri culturali and by Magma srl ​​social enterprise, is also growing thanks to the contribution of the Friuli Foundation , Confcooperative Alpe Adria , BCC CrediFriuli , Legacoop FVG , and thanks to the collaboration with Avanzi – Sostenibilità per Azioni , the University of Udine and Rete Rifai .

The training course is curated by meraki – desideri culturali, Magma srl ​​impresa sociale, SocialFare, Francesco Schettini, Itinerari Paralleli, Sergio Saracino (Studio Cadore26) and Confcooperative. They are supported, as mentors, by Nicolò Bini of BASE Milano and Avanzi – Sostenibilità per Azioni.