Rome, 18 January 2021 - A plan worth over nine million euro that further strengthens Talent Garden at the European level and that aims at the digital transformation of the South of Italy by accelerating entrepreneurship linked to innovation and technology, aiding the so-called South Working and promoting training on digital issues through the Talent Garden Innovation School.
This is the objective of the partnership created by Talent Garden, a leading platform in Europe for networking and training in the field of digital innovation, with CDP Venture Capital SGR - Fondo Nazionale Innovazione and GAMA, the Marzotto Family Office, to create three new innovation campuses in Campania, Apulia and Sicily, which will bridge the digital gap with the Northern regions, based on the model of excellence provided by Talent Garden.

The Talent Garden campuses are work and training spaces built to encourage the exchange of ideas and new collaborations within the largest European community of innovators. With 21 campuses in 7 countries, Talent Garden hosts over 4,500 innovators including startups, agencies, corporates, freelancers, investors, media and students, all sharing the same passion for digital innovation, becoming a reference point for the innovation ecosystem at the European level. 

The three regions chosen by Talent Garden rank in the top ten in Italy in terms of the presence of startups according to the data of the quarterly monitoring from the Ministry of Economic Development (September 2020): 4.11% of startups are located in Apulia (496 startups), 4.79% in Sicily (578) and 8.15% in Campania (983). 
“The South of Italy is a territory rich in talents that must be enhanced with a view to the country's growth.

This project brought us back to our roots, to the first reason why Talent Garden was established: to prevent young people looking for opportunities, connections and professional training from leaving our cities.

"We wish to offer innovators from southern Italy the opportunity to meet investors and large companies, liaise with institutions, access talent, build a network and opportunities throughout Italy and Europe”, declares Davide Dattoli, co-founder and CEO of Talent Garden. “This is in addition to a partnership already in place with Cassa depositi e prestiti and its network of companies aimed at connecting the Italian community of innovators with the largest companies in the country."

CDP Venture Capital SGR and the Marzotto family join the current major Talent Garden investors led by TIP - Tamburi Investment Partner, historic partner of the company, including Indaco, Social Capital, Endeavor and some of the most important Italian and European family offices, thus bringing the company’s fundraising to 65 million euro since its foundation. 

"We strongly believe in the mission and business model of Talent Garden and we are thrilled to support this project aiming to give new impetus to the digital and technological transformation of the South of Italy”, comments Enrico Resmini, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of CDP Venture Capital SGR - Fondo Nazionale Innovazione. "The need to respond to the demand for shared work and training spaces, for networking, interaction and synergy places is now more relevant than ever, especially in some regions of the South, where the currently existing substrate of innovative entrepreneurship must be supported and boosted within a more far-reaching and higher potential system.”

"Since 2010 we have represented the Italian innovation system, a phenomenon present not only in Milan but indeed widespread throughout the country, with a strong presence in the South. Thanks to our awards and our ability to attract investments over the years we have promoted the development of many projects conceived in the South, and with this partnership we add a new and important piece to the path taken: a physical place that will allow many young people to realise their own entrepreneurial and innovative potential”, comments Gaetano Marzotto, GAMA Director.