ITS Prodigi
ITS Academy Prodigi is a Tuscan non-profit foundation running the region's only ITS dedicated to ICT and digital technology, delivering free two-year post-diploma programs with 800-900 hours of mandatory internships to young adults seeking ICT careers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersEmpoli (Florence), Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ITS Prodigi does
ITS Academy Prodigi (Fondazione ITS Academy Prodigi) is a non-profit foundation operating the only Istituto Tecnico Superiore (ITS) in Tuscany, Italy, dedicated exclusively to ICT and digital technology. Founded in 2022, the institution delivers free, two-year post-high-school programs (EQF Level 5 diplomas) combining 1,100 hours of classroom instruction with 800-900 hours of mandatory internships at corporate partners. Programs span software development, cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI/machine learning, and emerging technologies including VR and Agentic AI. Faculty are practicing ICT professionals from the academy's 40+ corporate partner network, which includes Dell Technologies, Canon Italia, Microsoft Italy, IBM Italy, NetApp, ABB, Zucchetti Centro Sistemi, SESA, and Savino Del Bene. The institution operates five campuses across Tuscany (Empoli headquarters, Pisa, Arezzo, Lucca, Prato) and serves a cumulative 517 trained students with a ~90% placement rate within one year of graduation.
The business model is entirely publicly funded: operating budgets flow from Regione Toscana via PR FSE+ 2021/2027 (with ~€17M allocated to 49 programs across 10 ITS foundations for 2026-2028), supplemented by PNRR funds for infrastructure and regional grants for equipment. No tuition is charged. Student living expenses are supported through a newly accessible €30,000 state-guaranteed loan (Fondo per lo Studio) administered by UniCredit and Habacus as of February 2026. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: Open Days, the Salone dello Studente fair in Florence, one-to-one orientation sessions, high-school counselor referrals, and a multi-channel digital presence (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, newsletter) drive student acquisition. Corporate partnerships — co-designed curricula, internship hosting, vendor-led testimony sessions, and graduate recruitment — anchor both demand generation and quality assurance.
The foundation is governed by founding members representing Tuscan institutions, universities, and companies, with Paola Castellacci as President. Recent strategic moves include taking the lead-entity (ente capofila) role of the new Polo Tecnico Professionale Toscana Digitale (PTP To.Di.) in October 2025, the April 2026 inauguration of an expanded Empoli campus with Experience Lab and Aula Cupertino facilities, and a July 2026 convention with the Italian State Police (Polizia di Stato) cybersecurity division. The institution holds no patents, charges no fees, and operates without equity funding — it is a public-policy instrument for ICT workforce development rather than a commercial enterprise.
ITS Prodigi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ITS Prodigi
- Legal name
- Fondazione ITS Academy Prodigi
- Website
- https://itsprodigi.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ITS Academy Prodigi is a Tuscan non-profit foundation running the region's only ITS dedicated to ICT and digital technology, delivering free two-year post-diploma programs with 800-900 hours of mandatory internships to young adults seeking ICT careers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ITS Prodigi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Education and Training
- NAICS
- Computer Training (611420), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE)
Keywords
Where ITS Prodigi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Empoli (Florence)
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
ITS Prodigi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Funding (FSE+/PNRR): ITS Academy Prodigi's courses are entirely funded by public European and national funds — specifically the PR Toscana FSE+ 2021/2027 and PNRR (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza). Courses are free for students. The institution does not charge tuition fees. Additional funding comes from Regione Toscana for infrastructure and equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free 2-year ICT courses (no tuition) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
ITS Prodigi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ITS Prodigi is a non-profit higher technical institute (ITS) in Tuscany that delivers free, two-year post-diploma vocational programs in ICT and digital technologies. Each program combines approximately 1,100 hours of theory with 800–900 hours of mandatory internship at partner companies, awarding an EQF Level 5 diploma recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education. Courses are fully funded by EU FSE+ and PNRR public funds and span software development, cybersecurity, cloud, AI/machine learning, VR, and Agentic AI tracks.
Product overview
ITS Academy Prodigi is a higher technical education institution (Istituto Tecnico Superiore) in Tuscany, Italy, exclusively dedicated to IT and digital technologies. The institution operates as a unified platform offering multiple specialized two-year educational programs that combine theory with extensive practical training (900+ hours of company internships). Programs cover software development, cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI/machine learning, and emerging technologies like VR and Agentic AI. All courses are free of charge, funded by PR Toscana FSE+ 2021/2027, and award EQF Level 5 diplomas. The programs are designed collaboratively with partner companies and taught by industry professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cloud & AI Security Engineer Two-year technical training program preparing students to design and manage ICT infrastructures, cloud environments, networks, and data centers while ensuring performance, reliability, and data protection. Covers Kubernetes, DevSecOps, SOC/SIEM, incident response, digital forensics, and AI-powered threat detection.
- Coding & AI Specialist Two-year program training software developers to integrate AI solutions into software architectures, covering IoT, Blockchain, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI, prompt engineering, Copilot, LLM, NLP, and autonomous agent development.
- AI Security Developer Two-year course training developers to write secure code by integrating software development, cybersecurity, data engineering, and AI. Students learn Security by Design, Secure Coding, DevSecOps, anomaly detection, and AI-powered continuous monitoring.
- Agentic AI Full-Stack Developer Two-year program training developers to build complete applications from frontend to backend, mobile, cloud, and AI integration. Focuses on Agentic AI systems capable of autonomous action, connecting to external services, and supporting advanced digital workflows.
- Agentic AI System & Cyber Security Expert Two-year program training cybersecurity professionals to secure systems, networks, and data using AI and Machine Learning tools. Covers penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, SOC, incident response, AI offensive and defensive security, and threat intelligence automation.
- Web VR Software & AI Developer Two-year program training software developers to build frontend and backend applications, cloud solutions, and immersive VR experiences. Covers object-oriented programming, microservices, cloud computing, VR development, React, Angular, Python, Java, and DevOps.
- System Administrator Two-year program training professionals to design, develop, and manage software for digitalization needs and business process integration across any economic sector. Covers ICT component administration, hardware/software installation, maintenance, and cloud technologies.
- Network, Cloud & Cyber Specialist Specialized program focused on protecting data, networks, and infrastructures from cyber threats, covering network security, cloud security, and cybersecurity operations.
- Full Stack Developer & AI Specialist Program training developers to integrate Artificial Intelligence into software, covering full-stack development and AI implementation for modern technology solutions.
- Software Developer for Web Application Program focused on designing, developing, and maintaining modern, scalable, and fast web applications using Java and Java Enterprise Edition (J2EE) architectures.
- Edge Developer Program training developers to design intelligent solutions for real-time data management and Industry 4.0 applications at the edge computing level.
- System Cyber Security Program training cybersecurity specialists to protect digital infrastructures and manage cyber threats, covering operating systems, computer networks, and security implementation.
- Cloud Security Specialist Program training specialists in cybersecurity with cloud infrastructure expertise, covering penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and cloud security across different hyperscalers.
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) Specialist Program training technicians to develop, manage, and implement advanced AI-based software solutions, covering machine learning, process automation, and AI-driven digital transformation.
Quantifiable outcome
- ~90% employment rate within one year of graduation
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ITS Prodigi
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ITS Prodigi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
ITS Prodigi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Polizia di Stato – Centro Operativo per la Sicurezza Cibernetica per la ToscanacoreConvention signed July 9, 2026 between Fondazione ITS Prodigi and the Centro Operativo per la Sicurezza Cibernetica per la Toscana della Polizia di Stato. Objective: build concrete synergies between cybersecurity education and cybercrime prevention. Includes shared training, student-professional dialogue sessions, and ongoing collaboration between educators and law enforcement.
- Sistema ITS Regione ToscanacoreITS Academy Prodigi participates as part of the Tuscany ITS network, coordinating with 9 other ITS foundations in the region. Presented at the TechSkills Forum in Cairo, Egypt (June 5-6, 2026), organized by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIM) and Egyptian Ministry of Education.
- Sistema Museale del Territorio MuDEV / Comune di EmpoliminorITS Academy Prodigi is a promoting subject (soggetto promotore) of the 'Giovani professionisti crescono nei musei' project, providing 132 hours of training and 1,200 hours of internships at 6 museums across Tuscany (Castelfiorentino, Certaldo, Empoli, Montelupo Fiorentino, Vinci). Funded by PR FSE+ Toscana 2021/27.
- PTP To.Di. – Polo Tecnico Professionale Toscana DigitalecoreITS Academy Prodigi serves as the lead entity (ente capofila) of PTP To.Di., the new professional technical pole for ICT in Tuscany. The Polo includes ITIS Galileo Galilei, ISIS Leonardo Da Vinci, ITI Margrini, Base, Computer Care, Uno Informatica, Fondazione Sistema Toscana, ASEV, Assoservizi, and Copernico. Coordinator: Cristiano Mariani (Confindustria Toscana Centro e Costa). Objective: strengthen links between ICT education and industry.
- Regione ToscanacorePrimary institutional partner providing co-funding for all courses (PR Toscana FSE+ 2021/2027, PNRR). Regione Toscana also organizes regional events promoting ITS education (ITS Toscani, School Hackathon AI). The President Eugenio Giani and Assessora Alessandra Nardini actively support the academy.
- Dell TechnologiesminorVP Sales & Managing Director Marco Fanizzi conducted an interactive training session for students at Empoli campus, organized in collaboration with Computer Gross. Dell Technologies provided industry perspective on careers in a multinational American company.
- NetAppminorWorld leader in storage and data management. Country Manager Davide Marini, Channel Manager Massimo Mondiani, and Distribution Manager Gabriella Montecchi delivered professional testimony at the Sesa Auditorium, sharing insights on storage, data management, and career paths in enterprise ICT.
- Canon ItaliaminorCountry Director Giuseppe D'Amelio delivered a corporate testimony session with students, sharing 90 years of company history, the Kyosei philosophy (living and working for the common good), R&D investment (8% of revenue, ~2,623 patents/year), and career guidance insights. Computer Gross facilitated the partnership.
- Microsoft ItalyminorSr Regional Director Valeria Camacho conducted an AI-focused session for students, covering Microsoft Copilot, Azure cloud architectures, and the future of AI in enterprise. Facilitated by Computer Gross, which organized the Microsoft Value Sales & Technical Academy with 90+ ICT partners.
- IBM ItalyminorDirector of Ecosystem & Select Territory Roberta Bavaro delivered testimony on IBM's 100+ year history of reinvention, current focus on AI and Quantum Computing, and the future of work. Facilitated by Computer Gross.
- Savino Del Bene ITminorCTO Jacopo Di Clemente shared 20+ years of international career experience, discussing cybersecurity and AI applications in global logistics (337 offices in 60 countries). Part of the 'Eccellenze del territorio' testimonial series.
- Università di Firenze (UNIFI)minorUniversity of Florence is a founding partner, providing academic credibility and recognition of CFU (university credits). Students can receive up to 12 CFU recognized toward UNIFI degrees.
- Università di Pisa (UNIPI)minorUniversity of Pisa is a founding partner, providing academic credibility and CFU recognition. Students can receive up to 12 CFU recognized toward UNIPI degrees.
- Università di Siena (UNISI)minorUniversity of Siena is a founding partner. Students of Cloud Security Specialist course can receive up to 6 CFU recognized toward UNISI degrees.
- Computer GrosscoreKey ICT distributor and strategic partner facilitating access to technology vendors (Dell, Canon, Microsoft, IBM) and organizing joint training events. As a founding partner, Computer Gross supports curriculum co-design and hosts company testimonial sessions with major vendors at ITS Prodigi campuses.
- Città Metropolitana di FirenzeminorMetropolitan City of Florence became a participating member of the Fondazione in 2022 and was represented at the 2023-2025 diploma ceremony. Supports institutional relations and regional coordination.
- Comune di EmpoliminorCity of Empoli is a founding partner, hosting the main headquarters and actively supporting the academy's growth, including the inauguration of the new 2026 expanded campus.
- Confindustria Toscana Centro e CostacoreConfindustria Toscana Centro e Costa is a key institutional partner through its Empolese Valdelsa presidium. Coordinator Barbara Antonini actively promotes ITS Prodigi and facilitates industry connections. Also through Cosefi (Confindustria Firenze Formazione).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ITS Prodigi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fondazione ITS Steve Jobs: ITS academy in Emilia-Romagna offering 2-year post-diploma programs with strong ICT and digital focus. Operates under the same Italian ITS system as ITS Prodigi with the same public funding model, employer partnerships, and EQF Level 5 diploma structure — directly comparable regional peer.
- ITS Cuccovillo: Italian ITS academy in Bari (Puglia) operating under the same national framework with public FSE+/PNRR funding, employer co-designed 2-year curricula, and industry internship components. Directly comparable as another regional ITS serving post-diploma students with vocational technical training.
- ITS Angelo Rizzardi: Italian ITS academy in Lombardy focused on ICT and digital technologies. Operates under the same national ITS framework as ITS Prodigi, with public FSE+/PNRR funding, 2-year post-diploma programs, employer co-designed curricula, and extensive internship requirements — a near-identical model in a different Italian region.
- ITS Apulia Digital Maker: ITS academy in Puglia dedicated to digital/ICT disciplines. Comparable as a regional Italian ITS focused on digital skills, operating under the same public funding model and industry-driven curriculum approach as ITS Prodigi.
- ITS Volta: Italian ITS foundation in northern Italy offering technical higher education programs under the same national ITS framework. Directly comparable as another regional ITS operating with public funding, employer co-design, and internship-heavy 2-year programs.
Regional players
- Università di Pisa: Major public university in Pisa, Tuscany, and a founding partner of ITS Prodigi (provides CFU credit recognition). Competes with ITS Prodigi for the same regional pool of high school graduates pursuing higher education in ICT and engineering — comparable as a regional higher-education competitor.
- ITS Fondazione Umbria: ITS academy in neighboring Umbria region offering 2-year post-diploma vocational programs under the same Italian ITS framework and FSE+/PNRR funding model — comparable as a regional peer operating with identical structural and financial foundations.
- Università degli Studi di Firenze: Major public university in Florence and a founding partner of ITS Prodigi (provides CFU credit recognition). Also a direct competitor for the same Tuscan post-high school cohort pursuing higher education in computer science and engineering — comparable for student recruitment dynamics in the same region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ITS Prodigi social profiles
Digital presenceITS Prodigi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ITS Prodigi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
ITS Prodigi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ITS Prodigi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ITS Prodigi
What does ITS Prodigi do?
ITS Prodigi is a non-profit higher technical institute (ITS) in Tuscany that delivers free, two-year post-diploma vocational programs in ICT and digital technologies. Each program combines approximately 1,100 hours of theory with 800–900 hours of mandatory internship at partner companies, awarding an EQF Level 5 diploma recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education. Courses are fully funded by EU FSE+ and PNRR public funds and span software development, cybersecurity, cloud, AI/machine learning, VR, and Agentic AI tracks.
Is ITS Prodigi a public or private company?
ITS Prodigi is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ITS Prodigi founded?
ITS Prodigi was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ITS Prodigi based?
ITS Prodigi is headquartered in Empoli (Florence), Italy, in the Europe region.
How does ITS Prodigi make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Funding (FSE+/PNRR).
Who are ITS Prodigi's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fondazione ITS Steve Jobs, ITS Cuccovillo, ITS Angelo Rizzardi, ITS Apulia Digital Maker and ITS Volta. Regional players are Università di Pisa, ITS Fondazione Umbria and Università degli Studi di Firenze.
Does ITS Prodigi have an API?
No public API is recorded for ITS Prodigi.
What industry is ITS Prodigi in?
ITS Prodigi's product category is Vocational Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDANAIAE, Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL). Its NAICS code is 611420 and its SIC code is 8200.