Our team is the beating heart of the company, a group of talents united by a passion for innovation. We are a dynamic and diverse squad, with complementary skills that enable us to tackle complex challenges and embrace progress with enthusiasm. We share a common vision of excellence and collaborate tirelessly to deliver quality solutions.
Matteo kickstarted his professional journey immediately after graduating from high school, gaining valuable experience in the sales department of METRO/MAKRO, a German multinational B2B food and non-food distributor. He dedicated nearly a decade to his tenure at METRO/MAKRO, with five years in the role of Local Responsible for the Dry and Non-food categories. In 2021, Matteo transitioned to a new chapter in his career, becoming a valuable member of the Functional team as he embarked on his role within the purchasing department.
In 2015, Alexa earned her Diploma in Accounting and immediately commenced her career as a Secretary and Accounting Manager at a local accounting firm. Over the next seven years, she meticulously cultivated her expertise in this field before making the transition to Functional. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Alexa is a certified National Referee appointed by the Italian Basketball Federation, officiating in the Women's Serie A basketball league.
Arianna holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Management, which she partially pursued abroad at London Metropolitan University. She started her career at RAI, the Italian public broadcasting service, as an Editorial and Directing Assistant for 3 years. Later, she transitioned to the Healthcare Industry as a Project Leader, managing institutional and scientific communications, industry-related events, partnerships, and relations with Medical Scientific Associations. Since 2020, Arianna has been contributing as a Sales Manager at Functional.
Andrea attended a Classical Lyceum with a linguistic orientation, achieving a proficient C2 level in English and basic proficiency in German and French. He also volunteered and refereed football on weekends. His professional journey includes a year at the UCI Cinema reception desk, a year-long role in the bicycle workshop and logistics at Decathlon, and a remarkable five-year tenure in the logistics field at METRO/MAKRO. For nearly two years, Andrea has been contributing his skills and expertise to Functional as a Warehouse Junior Manager.
Nazareno spent over 20 years of his career in the healthcare sector successfully leading international business development teams and covering HR, marketing and finance for various multinational companies (biotech, pharma & medical devices). His expertise, strategic mindset and market knowledge, have allowed him to successfully identify and create in-licensing and out-licensing opportunities within different therapeutic areas, that had a major impact on companies’ revenues. He has built and maintained an extensive international network thanks to his fluency in 5 different languages, his business travels in over 70 countries worldwide and his continuous soft skills improvement.Before founding Functional, Nazareno was founder of FunctionalGums together with Maicol Verzotto.Nazareno is also Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship of IE Business School in Madrid and Luiss Business School in Rome.
Matteo began coding his initial websites at the age of 15. By 19, he had launched his first startup, FlashBeing (a SaaS project management tool), successfully securing a €250K seed round. In 2020, he established CodeWorks, a software development company. Leveraging over 12 years of web development and team management experience, he currently aids businesses in crafting their digital products and structuring their tech teams.
After earning a degree in Law and gaining experience in an innovative startup, Emanuele furthered his skills by successfully completing the International MBA program at IE Business School in Madrid. He then continued his professional journey within the Santex Rimar Group, eventually rising to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Over the years, Emanuele has built a solid expertise in establishing a global and efficient supply chain, navigating uncertainty, and responding creatively and dynamically to market challenges. His strong international background, coupled with proficiency in four languages, has led him to negotiate in every corner of the globe.
...bio is coming soon!
Giulio holds two bachelor's degrees, one in Graphic Design and another in Multimedia and Digital Communication. With over 12 years of experience, he's been involved in digital product design, branding, advertising, visual design, and packaging. His career journey has seen him assume the role of a Design Director across multiple agencies, where he crafted compelling designs to align with client requirements and elevate user experiences. In 2022, he successfully completed an Intensive Master's program in UX Design at Talent Garden Innovation School.
After several professional experiences as a team leader and after obtaining a Master's in Management and Marketing from Luiss Business School, Silvia continued her professional journey as a project manager, designing and overseeing the university's master programs. Subsequently, she chose Meeters, an Italian startup, where she specialized in event management and later assumed the position of Marketing Project Manager. Throughout her career, she has worked for numerous clients in various fields, developing skills in public relations management, content marketing, and copywriting.
At the age of 16, Maicol established a small enterprise specializing in acquiring surplus stock from renowned fashion brands and reselling it online. From 2011 to 2022, he served as a professional diver in the Fiamme Oro military corps, achieving a bronze medal at the Kazan World Championships in 2015 and participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2013, he co-founded FunctionalGums and successfully launched DRIVEgum and NaturGum. In 2020, the onset of the Covid pandemic prompted him and his co-founder to transition the business towards sourcing and distributing PPE and Medical Devices, while retaining the Functional name. This shift catalyzed the development of software designed to expedite, optimize, and automate procurement processes – thus, Soource was born.
Massimiliano graduated in Economics and Business, completing one of the four years of study at Universidad San Pablo CEU in Madrid. Always on the move, he has managed clients and sales teams across 4 continents. Among his experiences are managing a commercial branch in India and opening a subsidiary in China for a chemical group, restructuring an international office network for a consulting firm, and starting his own business with three other partners. Meeting people from different cultures and engaging with new horizons are the elements that give him the most energy, along with his sporting passions related to water and wind.
After earning a Diploma as an Electrotechnical Expert at the Industrial Technical Institute Galileo Galilei in Bolzano, Alessio began his career at Trony, an Italian retail chain specializing in consumer electronics, computer products, and telecommunications. With over two years as a Department Manager, he transitioned to METRO/MAKRO, a German multinational B2B distributor. There, he swiftly rose to become a 3rd level assistant, gaining expertise across all store departments. In 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Alessio joined Functional as a Warehouse Junior Manager.
Ayse completed her Master's Degree in Global Marketing at Marmara University in Istanbul in 2022. In the same year, she enroled in a second Master's Degree program in Entrepreneurship & Innovation in Italy. While attending the university, she also gained valuable experience in Marketing and Sales through various roles at companies like Migros (in the food distribution industry) and Grand Hyatt (in the hotel industry), both in Turkey and the USA. Additionally, Ayse served as an Export Specialist at Eksen Pharma for one year before departing Turkey to pursue her studies in Italy.
