Stefano, can you describe your professional background for us?
My professional adventure began in 1989 when, as the same time as working as Sales Account, I began to work as Key Account in the debt collection sector operating in the regions of Piedmont, Liguria and Val d’Aosta, until, during 1990, I became Piedmont Area Chief on behalf of a well-known company based in Milan specializing in debt collection. 1998 marked an important chapter in my career: obtaining my PS 115 tub license marked the start of my entrepreneurial activity, which has evolved over the years to about 60 employees and 200 agents. 2011 was a crucial year when I acquired 40% of Candia, which became CS UNION in 2016, a union between Sting and Candia, then sold my shares to Axactor, a Norwegian servicer that thus started operation in Italy as well. My path in Axactor Spa continued with key roles until 2019.
In parallel, in 2020 I founded Flyconpower, a company specializing in isoinertial equipment (derived from the isoinertial methodology, which is widely used in sports and also aims to improve athletes’ performance and post-injury recovery), followed in 2021 by the launch of Beybe, dedicated to events, e-bike tours and food and wine experiences, all passions that I have always cultivated.
Currently, I hold the position of President at IPV Investing SpA, a new stage in my entrepreneurial journey in the NPL sector.
Where did this project called IPV come from?
In 2020 Carlo Palla, my partner, introduced me to the idea of investing in the secondary NPL market by pooling out networks, industry knowledge and passion to develop synergies and new opportunities. After our experience together in Team Evolution, which enabled us to acquire an important track and a series of acquisitions, in late 2022 we felt the need to create our own company by involving a financial partner with a minority stake. The founding of IPV Investing in 2023 was the natural development of this path and allowed us to put our vision and our mission at the basis of our activities, turning them into our strength.
What were the moments that you remember most fondly in your professional experience?
The most exciting moments of my career are related to my employees and the recognition and esteem they have shown me over the years. This is because I believe that the heart of a company consists of people who work within it. A good entrepreneur, in order to be a leader, must be able to not only manage but also care for the people who work alongside him, providing them peace of mind and promoting a mutually supportive work environment.
Believing and supporting each other has always brought me great satisfaction, making people I work with happy and gaining their esteem are some of the most significant achievements for me
How do you mature the will to be an entrepreneur?
My desire to be an entrepreneur came from a very strong need to no longer want to depend on anyone and to be the master of my own destiny. The urge in me matured through an economic financial crisis of one of my employers that led me to swear to myself that I would no longer depend on anyone and that my fortune, or misfortune, would depend solely and exclusively on me.
What are the difficulties?
Difficulties do not exist, or rather they exist only in our heads…obviously this is a joke. Difficulties do exist, but it always depends on us and how we deal with them. Surely passion for what you do helps you deal with it and turns difficulties into lessons from which you can draw inspiration and grit to face new obstacles and new adventures. When you then succeed in overcoming obstacles, your self-esteem grows and you become more and more aware of your abilities and limitations.
What are the things you don’t compromise on? And the ones that make you happy instead?
Disrespect. A given word is worth as much as a handshake or, even better, as much as a signed contract. Instead, it makes me happy to make my employees happy and see satisfaction in their eyes.
What are your passions?
My greatest passion is sports. Over the years I have gone from athletics to motocross grinding out miles and achieving levels of excellence in both disciplines. This passion of sports has not waned after I stopped with the professional world, in fact it has remained alive at the amateur level. I have participated in endurance races in Europe and completed three half Ironman and two Ironman in Klagenfurt. About 20 years ago I got into cycling and since that day it has become one of my greatest passions in all its forms: road, MTB, gavel, downhill.
Do you have a dream you wish to realize?
More than one. Riding my bike and the world solo. Renovate a mountain hamlet using local recycled materials and open a luxury B&B, with spa, pool and tree house.
But there is still time for that.
As of today, there is one particular and no less important thing that occupies my day: realizing the working dream of IPV together with my friend and partner Carlo.