What Generation Italy does

Generation Italy (Fondazione Generation Italy ETS) is a non-profit vocational training foundation headquartered in Milan, established in 2018 as the Italian affiliate of Generation: You Employed, Inc., a global non-profit founded by McKinsey & Company in 2014. The organization addresses structural youth unemployment in Italy by offering free, intensive, short-duration (3–14 weeks) training programs to job seekers aged 18–29, particularly NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Programs span four professional areas — Digital/Tech, Sales, Manufacturing, and Green jobs — with curricula co-designed with hiring employers and built on McKinsey's consulting methodology. Delivery is fully online via the proprietary Learner Portal, supplemented by third-party platforms including Cisco Networking Academy (CCNA curriculum), AWS, Microsoft, Salesforce, SHL assessments, and Hotjar analytics. Every graduate is guaranteed at least one job interview with a partner employer.

The organization operates as a foundation (ETS) funded entirely by grants and donations from corporate and institutional partners, with no tuition or fees charged to participants. Major funders include Intesa Sanpaolo (over €50M committed through the Giovani e Lavoro program), Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione Adecco, the Italian Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (PNRR resources), and the Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale. Other corporate philanthropy partners include BlackRock, Bank of America, PIMCO Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Snam, and Zurich Italia. Generation Italy runs a dual go-to-market: candidates are recruited through organic digital channels, social media, and partner referrals into the Learner Portal, while an employer relations team actively recruits companies to co-design curricula and hire graduates. Sub-brands include Giovani e Lavoro, Generation4Universities, DigitHer, Cod(H)er, SkillUp, Green Skills Academy, Generation4Zurich, iTalent, and Tech Your Future.

Since 2018, Generation Italy has enrolled over 12,200 people in classroom training across 20 Italian regions and 34 cities, meeting employer demand through a network of 1,870 hiring companies. The organization reports 80%+ employment within the program cycle, 91% retention at three years, and a median net monthly salary of €1,100 for first post-program employment, with cumulative graduate net salaries of €76 million. The most significant scale initiative is the 2025 launch of Giovani e Lavoro per ZeroNeet with Fondazione Cariplo and Intesa Sanpaolo — a €50M four-year endowment to train and place 10,000 NEET youth in Lombardy and Piedmont provinces.

Name

Generation Italy

Legal name

Fondazione Generation Italy

Website

https://italy.generation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Generation Italy is a non-profit foundation in Milan offering free, employer-aligned vocational training to Italian NEET youth (18–29) across Digital/Tech, Sales, Manufacturing, and Green sectors, with every graduate guaranteed a job interview and funded by corporate and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development / Vocational Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)

Keywords

• Free vocational training
• Youth employment programs
• Workforce development
• Digital skills training
• Career placement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations from Corporate and Institutional Partners: Generation Italy operates as a nonprofit (Fondazione / ETS) funded entirely by grants, donations, and program financing from corporate partners, foundations, and government institutions. No tuition or fees are charged to participants. Revenue is used exclusively to fund program delivery, operations, and student support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Generation Italy provides free, intensive, experiential vocational training programs for unemployed and underemployed youth (aged 18-29, NEETs) across four professional areas: Digital/Tech, Sales, Manufacturing, and Green Jobs. Programs are 3-18 weeks long, delivered fully online, and each graduate is guaranteed at least one job interview with a partner employer. The organization is funded by corporate and institutional grants and operates a network of 1,870+ hiring companies.

Product overview

Generation Italy (Fondazione Generation Italy ETS) is a non-profit educational foundation founded by McKinsey & Company that provides free professional training programs designed to bridge the skills gap and youth unemployment. The organization operates across four professional areas: Digital/Tech, Sales/Retail, Manufacturing, and Green/Green Jobs. The core offering consists of intensive, experiential short courses with tutoring support, built around labor market needs, guaranteeing at least one job interview upon completion. Key programs include Generation4Universities (career acceleration for university students), SkillUp (digital professions for NEET youth), Cod(H)er (digital training for young women in Southern Italy), DigitHer (digital careers for women), Giovani e Lavoro per ZeroNeet (large-scale NEET placement program), Green Skills Academy (energy transition training), and Generation4Zurich (digital academies with Zurich). With operations since 2018, the organization has trained over 12,200 people across 20 regions and 34 Italian cities, achieving an 80% employment rate with a network of 1,870 hiring companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Giovani e Lavoro: A national free vocational training and employment placement program for youth aged 18-29, developed by Intesa Sanpaolo and Generation Italy, covering sectors including Hi-Tech, precision mechanical industry, sales, hospitality, and renewable energy.
• Generation4Universities
• DigitHer
• Cod(H)er
• SkillUp
• Green Skills Academy
• Tech Your Future
• Generation4Zurich
• ITalent

Products and services

• Generation Italy Training Programs Free professional training programs across four areas: Digital/Tech, Sales, Manufacturing, and Green Jobs. Short-duration (3-14 weeks), experiential, with tutoring support, designed based on labor market needs. All courses guarantee at least one job interview upon completion. Target audience: unemployed, underemployed, or NEET youth aged 18-29.
• Generation4Universities A 3-month career acceleration program for talented university students and recent graduates, promoted by Fondazione Generation Italy and McKinsey & Company with support from Intesa Sanpaolo. Includes 10 days of online training, individual mentorship, professionalizing seminars, and job interview opportunities with partner companies.
• SkillUp A project promoted by Generation Italy in partnership with Fondazione Adecco, financed by the Ministry of Labor. Forms and places 550 unemployed or NEET youth aged 18-29 in digital professions including Data Engineer, Java Developer, Cloud Specialist, System and Cybersecurity Analyst, Salesforce Developer, and Dot Net Developer. Fully online, 14-week full-time courses with guaranteed job interviews.
• Cod(H)er A project by Generation Italy in partnership with Invitalia, part of the Female Entrepreneurship Program funded by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy with PNRR resources. Trains and places 50 young women aged 18-29 in Southern Italy (Mezzogiorno) in digital professions (Data Engineer and Java Developer).
• DigitHer A project in partnership with Valore D and selected by Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale, training and placing 150 women aged 18-34 in digital professions (Data Engineer and Java Developer) through inclusive, experiential, and intensive training.
• Giovani e Lavoro per ZeroNeet A program supported by Fondazione Cariplo and Intesa Sanpaolo, realized with Generation Italy, aiming to train and place 10,000 youth aged 18-29 from Lombardy and Piedmont provinces over four years in professions requested by companies.
• Green Skills Academy An initiative by Fondazione Snam ETS in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo and Fondazione Generation Italy ETS, offering technical-specialist training and job opportunities in the energy transition sector to 40 NEET youth aged 18-29 in Catania and Brindisi.
• Generation4Zurich A collaboration between Zurich Italia and Generation Italy providing free digital training academies (Data Analyst) for youth aged 18-29 to facilitate employment in the digital sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80%+ of program graduates are employed by the end of the course.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• McKinsey & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018McKinsey & Company founded Generation globally in 2014 and is the strategic architect of Generation Italy (Fondazione Generation Italy), established in 2018. McKinsey co-designs curricula, provides senior leadership (Massimo Giordano is Senior Partner and President of Generation Italy), and contributes operational expertise.
• Fondazione AdeccocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of the SkillUp project, which trains 550 young unemployed/NEET people in digital professions across Italy, funded by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies.
• Valore DcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneration Italy's partner in the DigitHer project, which trains 150 women aged 18–34 as Data Engineers and Java Developers, selected by Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale — Impresa sociale.
• Cisco Networking AcademycoreTechnology or IntegrationGeneration Italy is a member of the Cisco Networking Academy network. The System and Cybersecurity Analyst program incorporates Cisco CCNA curriculum, providing students with industry-standard networking and security training and certifications.
• SalesforcecoreTechnology or IntegrationGeneration Italy is an official Salesforce Workforce Partner. The Salesforce Developer program trains students in the Salesforce ecosystem and connects graduates with career opportunities within the Salesforce partner network.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationAWS is listed as a partner supporting Generation Italy's digital training programs, likely providing cloud computing training content and infrastructure support.
• MicrosoftsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft is listed as a partner providing technology training support for Generation Italy's digital programs, including the Microsoft Developer curriculum track.
• SHLsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for the Generation4Universities program, providing online aptitude and behavioral assessments (via SHL's Talent Central platform) as part of the candidate selection process.
• Mentors4UcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization specializing in mentoring that serves as the strategic partner for Generation4Universities, providing volunteer mentors from its professional network to guide university students through their career transition.
• Zurich ItaliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Generation4Zurich Digital Factory program, now in its third edition, offering an 18-week free training program to become a Data Analyst for youth aged 18–29.
• A2AsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company collaborating with Generation Italy on the Giovani e Lavoro per ZeroNeet program, offering training in green professions such as solar panel installation in the Caivano area.
• ANCI (Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of Italian municipalities collaborating with Generation Italy on the SkillUp project and other initiatives to reach young people through local government channels.
• Anitec-AssinformsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian ICT industry association collaborating with Generation Italy on the SkillUp project and other digital skills initiatives.
• Save the ChildrensecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational nonprofit collaborating with Generation Italy on the SkillUp project, contributing to youth employment outreach and support.
• Fondazione per l'Educazione Finanziaria (FEduF/ABI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian financial literacy foundation collaborating on the SkillUp project with Generation Italy.
• Confindustria AlberghicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian hotel industry association partnering with Intesa Sanpaolo and Generation Italy on a new Giovani e Lavoro track specifically for hospitality and food service, addressing the significant shortage of qualified personnel in Italy's tourism sector.
• Conferenza dei Rettori delle Università Italiane (CRUI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe conference of Italian university rectors provides patronage to the Generation4Universities program, lending academic credibility and facilitating outreach to university career services.
• Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and Gruppo San DonatosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and healthcare partners in the COVID-19 e-Learning project, which trained over 100,000 healthcare workers in COVID-19 treatment and care, in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo, Sky Italia, FNOPI, and FNOMCeO.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT): International nonprofit that trains youth in digital and entrepreneurship skills in emerging markets. Comparable in its youth-focused, employer-aligned digital training methodology and global nonprofit funding model.
• Salesforce Workforce Development Programs: Salesforce's global workforce development arm (Salesforce.org) which has a Workforce Partner program with Generation Italy. Trains job seekers in Salesforce ecosystem skills for free, with parallel certification and employer matching.

Others

• Fondazione Cariplo: Italian philanthropic foundation that co-funds Generation Italy's ZeroNeet program (€50M endowment). As a major institutional grant maker for youth employment and social inclusion in Italy, it is a key strategic partner and comperable nonprofit intermediary operating in the same funding ecosystem.

Direct peers

• ELIS (Consorzio ELIS): Italian nonprofit consortium founded by leading employers offering free vocational training and career pathways for Italian youth, with a strong focus on digital and emerging skills. Operates a similar employer-aligned, no-cost training model targeting NEETs and underemployed youth.
• Generation (Generation: You Employed, Inc.): Global parent organization of Generation Italy, founded by McKinsey & Company in 2014. Operates the same free vocational training + employer placement model across 17+ countries, making it the most direct structurally identical peer.
• ITS (Istituti Tecnici Superiori): Italy's network of higher technical institutes delivering 2-year post-secondary vocational training aligned with local employer demand. Comparable in mission (employer-driven technical training for youth) but longer-duration and publicly funded, providing a structural alternative to Generation's short-cycle model.
• Generation United Kingdom: UK affiliate of Generation network, delivering the same free, employer-aligned vocational training programs (tech, sales, green) with placement guarantee. Sister country operation with identical methodology and partner ecosystem (McKinsey, Salesforce, AWS).
• Generation Spain: Spanish affiliate of Generation, running the same model targeting unemployed youth in tech and digital professions. Closest regional peer operating under identical brand, methodology, and McKinsey provenance.
• Fondazione Adecco: Italian nonprofit foundation of the Adecco Group dedicated to youth employment and workforce inclusion. Frequently co-implements programs with Generation Italy (e.g., SkillUp, Cod(H)er) and serves the same NEET and unemployed youth segment with employer-aligned training.

Broad incumbents

• ManpowerGroup Foundation: Global staffing and workforce solutions company whose nonprofit foundation runs youth employability and digital skills programs. Competes for the same corporate and institutional grant pool and addresses the same Italian NEET-to-employment problem via a similar employer-aligned training philosophy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvjgvR_bW41n6a1f3zVJ1Ig
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/generationitaly

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Generation Italy