As part of its collaborations with socio-economic institutions, bbrand is enrolled in the European Commission programme “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs”, which aims to foster networking between entrepreneurs from different backgrounds, giving young talents the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working alongside host companies.
In October 2020, bbrand joined the initiative to gain a closer perspective on European entrepreneurship, creating a new flow of knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit that enriched the project’s vision.
The challenge
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, while some chose to scale back, others decided to expand their horizons, adapting and responding more strongly than ever to the rapidly changing environment. This is the case of bbrand and its team members.
Giving up is not an option: this is the mindset demonstrated by the team of courageous “bbranders”, who continuously turn their actions into proof of professionalism and commitment to service.
In mid-September 2020, one of the strategic directions bbrand was pursuing—under the leadership of its CEO and founder, Benedetta Ruggeri—focused on expanding its business vision towards new marketing concepts. The project required a figure responsible for business development: an entrepreneur deeply embedded in the business world.
Through the “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” programme, bbrand met Javier Torre Saiz, a Spanish entrepreneur and CEO (as well as co-founder) of the brand Valientes, a project that applies educational technology in Spain to prevent bullying and cyberbullying in schools.
The discussion immediately highlighted a major opportunity for both parties to collaborate and share strategic development insights regarding bbrand’s future direction.
The project
From this shared vision, the concept of Etnobiz was born: a consulting software for small and medium-sized enterprises that applies Small Data and Digital Ethnography technologies to identify end-consumer preferences for client companies (both Italian and international).
At the end of October, Javier joined the company as a Business Developer, primarily focused on the Etnobiz project, while also contributing to bbrand’s day-to-day operations. These were months of intense market research and analysis, aimed at supporting the project’s development and turning it into a concrete tool for B2B companies (the company’s preferred sector). During this period, much of the bbrand team was renewed, welcoming young professionals with innovative skills. For example, Silvia Vitale joined the company in Digital Marketing, focusing particularly on clients’ social media content. At the same time, bbrand expanded its international vision by establishing a partnership with Bumeran, an important international marketing agency based in Spain. It was time for repositioning: bbrand evolved its identity and enhanced its services, carrying out a full rebranding of its website and social media channels.
The success
Following this period of significant transformation, bbrand continued to move forward with determination, maintaining strong team motivation and enabling the full development of its activities. The “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” programme allowed Javier to continue working with bbrand even after the official exchange period had ended. Today, Etnobiz is moving towards its final implementation phase, while bbrand benefits from new partners and collaborators capable of accelerating its technical development.
Looking ahead, the European Commission initiative has demonstrated the power of connecting people, countries, and ideas, resulting in a tangible partnership between bbrand and Valientes to further develop shared successful projects.
The programme remains open, offering companies the opportunity to accelerate internal processes through intercultural exchange and the value of entrepreneurial perspectives beyond national borders.