If I had to describe the first half of my Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs in London with just one word, it would be acceleration. Not just for the project I’m building, but for myself. Before leaving Italy, I had an idea, a digital blueprint, and a lot of hopes. Landing in London, however, was like being projected light-years ahead in terms of mindset, personality, and approach to life.
The first part of my stay abroad has been a whirlwind of adaptation. Coming from the Italian system, the contrast hit me immediately: the rhythm here is completely different. It’s faster, more direct, and incredibly meritocratic. There is no time to overthink; you just have to do. This environment forces you to step out of your comfort zone from day one, reshaping your confidence and your way of interacting with the world.
From an operational standpoint, we are really laying the foundations of something solid. My days are split into two parallel worlds: creating and connecting. On one hand, I have completely designed and built our social media infrastructure from scratch, and I’m currently deep into the development of the official website. On the other hand, there’s the human side, which has been the most challenging yet exciting part. I spend hours on calls, pitching our vision, looking for clients, and searching for collaborators.
In the beginning, picking up the phone to pitch in a foreign language to people in a hyper-competitive market felt intimidating. But that’s where the magic happened. Every call, every rejection, and every small win transformed my communication skills and gave me a resilience I didn’t know I had.
Are the objectives of the program being met? Absolutely, and in ways I didn’t expect. I’m not just learning how to manage a business; I’m learning who I am as an entrepreneur.
As I look ahead to the second half of my exchange, the strategy is going to shift. Now that the digital assets—the website and the social channels—are almost ready, I want to pivot from “setup mode” to “conversion mode.” The goal for the remaining weeks is to streamline the outreach process, focusing on higher-quality leads and turning those initial connections into concrete, long-term partnerships.
If I could share one insight with future participants, it’s this: don’t be afraid of the initial shock. The different system, the fast pace, and the endless calls might feel overwhelming at first. But a great digital product is only half the battle; real growth happens when you push through that discomfort. London is teaching me that consistency and human connection are the real drivers of success, and I can’t wait to see where this energy takes me in the final stretch.