Sebastiano Peluso

Co-founder and head of international development Smartourism

Expert in innovation and development of Made in Italy in the USA. He graduated from the Milan Polytechnic University and has worked on the digitalization of companies: (CNR, Ernst & Young Consultants). In 2000, he had his first experience with start-ups (Fila Net). He moved to Boston. In 2002, he co-founded his first Italian start-up, a consulting company (Strateghia) for digital innovation (Government, Regions, Unicredit, Lottomatica, etc.). Since 2009, he has been managing innovation projects (public and pharmaceutical sector) as a freelancer. He co-founded other start-ups (Smartourism, etc.). In 2012, he launched an acceleration programme for Italian start-ups, 3040 Regeneration, supported by Brunello Cucinelli (fashion), Giovanni Rana (food) and Alpitour (tourism). In 2013, he moved to New York, where he previously co-founded Piada (2005-2018). He founded Discovery Italy (2017). He supported the entry of two Italian food start-ups into the US and was an accelerator for start-ups in the travel sector. Since 2020, he has been directing the Innovation Desk for ICE Los Angeles.