From €50K to Formula 1: how he made Nanotech cool
Description
What do Formula 1 and nanotechnology have in common? Andrea Giovannelli.
At 23, while Italy’s startup scene was barely on the map, Andrea launched Nanotech — betting on the smallest materials to solve the biggest engineering challenges. Fast forward: today, his company is powering faster F1 cars, safer airplanes, and the future of advanced materials.
We dive into the early days of building from scratch, landing €50K in business plan competitions, convincing partners when deeptech wasn’t “cool” yet, and why real innovation doesn’t chase trends — it creates them.
If you've ever dreamed about building something hard, this episode is for you.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Nanotech and Its Vision
00:05:03 The Journey of Co-founding Nanotech
00:09:51 The Role of Sports in Entrepreneurship
00:15:02 Transitioning from Consulting to Entrepreneurship
00:19:56 Understanding Nanotechnology and Its Applications
00:24:53 Breaking into Formula One and Early Success
00:25:37 Entering the World of Formula One
00:29:14 Navigating Challenges and Innovations
00:31:02 Overcoming Early Struggles
00:38:35 The Courage to Start
00:42:47 Vision for the Future
00:46:11 Finding Momentum and Motivation
United States
