About Alessio
Alessio began his entrepreneurial journey in his early 20s, becoming a serial entrepreneur, learning from each of his failure. After establishing various ventures, in 2014, he founded his first real company from his San Francisco apartment to empower FoodTech operators to drive transformation in the global food system through tech and entrepreneurship. This venture laid the foundation for founding Forward Fooding, the largest community of FoodTech innovators worldwide fostering collaboration across the ecosystem. Before turning a full-time entreprenuer, Alessio worked in the innovation division of a Fortune 500 beverage company and later led marketing and business development at a Bay Area tech startup accelerator. This experience solidified his mission to help tech companies create systemic change in food and agriculture. A passionate ecosystem builder, Alessio has led the Global Tech Advocates Network (FoodTech) since 2020 and has been an active member of Tech London Advocates (FoodTech) since 2016.
A global citizen, he has lived, studied, and worked in Italy, South Korea, Australia, the US, and now divides his time between the UK and Spain.
Selected (Ad)Ventures
(including some with no-so-happy ending)
Various (failed) Ventures
2012-Today
During his highschool and university days, Alessio started 'playing' with the idea of building ventures from selling t-shirts signed by famous djs (I Love My DJs) to designing and manufacturing bespoke stickers to personalise Apple products (Pimp@mela) - Through 'building' these ventures he has discovered and fostered his passion for entrepreneurship while learning to 'dream big and fail fast' and understanding why 'culture eats strategy for breakfast'.
Marketing & Innovation Manager (Fortune 500 F&B Company)
2011-2013
Straight out of Uni, Alessio joined Diageo, a multinational company operating in the spirits and wine business. While there he planned all marketing activities within the On-premise channel and managed the entire channel budget (€1,5+ M/year): POS purchase, 270 experiential marketing events (Multi-brand), luxury product portfolio tasting and training sessions. He became the lead representative for Diageo Reserve World Class Italy - an international bartending competition and worked closely with various sales teams to develope tailor-made promotional activities for key customers.
Business Developement & Marketing Manager (Startup Venture)
2013-2014
Alessio moved to Silicon Valley to join Mind The Bridge, a San-Francisco based startup accelerator and a global open innovation platform that empowers economies through entrepreneurship and innovation. While working at MTB Alessio was able to establish international partnerships for fostering entrepreneurship and cross-promoting MTB's programs in regions outside of US. He nurtured numerous business relationships with other US-based accelerators in order to identify and unlock new business opportunities with partner organizations.
Founded Crowdfooding
2013-2015
While living in San Francisco, Alessio founded Crowdfooding, the world’s first investment platform for innovative food ventures. Their mission was to create an online hub for food and beverage businesses to raise funds by engaging with a targeted audience of potential backers or investors. Despite having sucessfully launched this venture in the UK, the business model didn’t work, and after several attempts to find product-market fit with no luck they dissolved the business.
(co)Founded Forward Fooding
2015-Today
Alongside his first employee at Crowdfooding, who later became his business partner, they adapted the model to best serve the industry, leading to the creation of Forward Fooding. What began as the world's first collaborative platform for the food and beverage industry quickly evolved into building and fostering the largest network for FoodTech innovators worldwide enabling collaboration opportunities and impact among all the ecosystem actors of the global AgriFoodTech industry.
More (Ad)Ventures to be announced soon...
Personal Achievements
(selection)
Run a half-Iron Man
2023
In 2023, Alessio took a sabbatical and started his own journey into triathlons. After completing a couple of Sprints and Olympics he decided to train, alognside his brother, for a half-Ironman (1,9 km swimming; 90 km cycling; 21,1 km running) which they both completed within the 6ish-hour mark.
Lived, studied and worked in four continents
Since 2009
As a global citizen, Alessio has lived, studied, and worked in Italy, South Korea, Australia, the United States among other countries. In 2009 he won a scholarship to studay at Korea Business School in Seoul for one semester before completing his BA. During his MSC he did study at University of Western Sydney for another semester before returning to Italy to complete his academic career. After taking a short corporate sting at a Fortune 500 beverage company, Diageo, he moved to San Francisco in search for inspiration as well as leading the marketing and business development at a Bay Area tech startup accelerator. He then moved to London where he ended up establishing Forward Fooding and building London's first FoodTech Innovation hub in 2018.
Testimonials
(selection)
OWEN ENSOR
(MEATLY)
'Alessio not only has one of the greatest networks in foodtech and incredible insights, but he is also one of the kindest and most positive people I know! I worked with Alessio on consulting projects at Forward Fooding, and have been friends since then. Alessio continues to be an invaluable resource for advice, support, and guidance. I would recommend working with Alessio in any manner possible!'
MARC COLOMA
(HEURA FOODS)
'Alessio is someone at the forefront of the future of food. His curiosity allows him to have future trends in his fingers and an innate capacity to create honest and deep connections. It enables him to elevate not only his impact but also the whole food-tech ecosystem. I value his openness to contribute to any challenge and always stepping up for what's required, with a smile and positive flavour. I'm grateful for the growth we've been having together!'
SONIA HURTADO (POSEIDONA)
'Alessio has been an invaluable advisor for Poseidona since we started. He's available when needed and consistently provides suport including on personal and sensitive matters. Alessio's flexibility and honesty make him a reliable ally, ensuring that his advisory role is driven solely by a genuine desire to witness the company's success. I consider myself fortunate to have him as an advisor!'
JEEN LONG
(FBIF)
Alessio is good at cooperation with different partners around the world and we have worked together in FBIF and FoodTech 500. In 2019, he has attracted so many audiences in FBIF live during his panel speech. And he is an innovative leader who wants to better the world in FoodTech. Very pleasant to work with him!'
DAVID SERRE
(ex-NESTLE)
'We worked with Forward Fooding to organise a Discovery Mission for the Global M&A team of Nestlè. Alessio and his team provided us with a comprehensive overview of the FoodTech Innovation landscape and connected us with very relevant entrepreneurs who presented their companies and shared their journeys with us. We’d gladly re-engage with them in the future for further discovery activities.'
Previous Speaking Engagements
Food&Beverage Innovation Forum
China's Largest Food Innovation Trade Show
EIT Food
European Institute of Technology (Food)
FoodTech Matters
UK's First Premier FoodTech Conference
TLA & GTA lead
Various Events & Programs at Google's UK HQ
Mobile World Congress & 4YFN
Largest Influencial Connectivity Event in the World
Gulfood
World's Largest F&B Sourcing Event
IFE
UK's Largest and Most Successful Product Sourcing Platform
AECOC
Spain's Largest Business Association for Industry and Distribution
