Piano C

What Piano C does

Piano C (Associazione Piano C) is a Milan-based nonprofit association founded in 2012 that delivers professional redesign, career relaunch, and empowerment programs targeted at women in Italy. Its portfolio spans free EU-funded programs (Piano C Factory, Data Interpreter), paid structured programs (Piano C per la tua Carriera at €680+VAT; Piano C per la tua Impresa at €1,120+VAT), modular one-on-one consulting (CV review, interview prep, LinkedIn, storytelling, time management, emotional intelligence, workplace happiness priced €183–€458), €35 self-paced video courses, and corporate DEI training. The platform runs on a WordPress-based e-learning system with video content, downloadable materials, and Zoom-delivered consulting; all content is anchored to Piano C's proprietary "Work Design" methodology combining design thinking, storytelling, and empowerment techniques.

The organization monetizes through a hybrid model combining individual B2C service fees, corporate training contracts, and grant/foundation funding from entities such as Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale, ActionAid International Italia, Fondazione Realizza il Cambiamento, and Fondazione Cariplo. Distribution is multi-channel: direct online via pianoc.it, in-person events across Italy, B2B corporate training (clients include Chicco, QVC, Sephora, Bosch, Cisco, Philip Morris, Groupon, Invisalign), and participation in EU consortiums (STAR Girls across 5 countries, Digital EmpowHer, Migramoms). A small core team of 7 plus external collaborators operates the association with marketing driven by community word-of-mouth, a Substack-published #Chiara monthly newsletter, social channels (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter), blog content, podcast appearances, and earned media in Forbes and Italian press.

Piano C is governed as an Italian Associazione (nonprofit), holds GDPR compliance, and was recognized as Best Social Innovation Project in Europe by the European Investment Bank in 2012. Leadership comprises President Sofia Borri and Director General Vanesa Pelizza, with functional heads covering training (Cristina Coppellotti), European project design (Silvia Pinto), entrepreneurship consulting (Giorgia Carloni), digital communication (Valeria Barani), copy/content (Fabiola Noris), and graphics (Laura Chiarakul). The organization reports no parent, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and no disclosed financials.

Name

Piano C

Legal name

Associazione Piano C

Website

https://pianoc.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Piano C is a Milan-based Italian nonprofit founded in 2012 that delivers women's professional redesign programs, career coaching, and corporate DEI training via its proprietary Work Design methodology, e-learning platform, and EU-funded projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Professional Development and Career Coaching Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAGAKAC

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Instructional Design & Content Development Services

Keywords

• Women career coaching
• Professional redesign services
• Corporate diversity training
• Online consulting courses
• Empowerment methodology

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Consulting Services: One-on-one consulting sessions delivered online covering CV optimization, interview preparation, LinkedIn marketing, storytelling, time management, emotional intelligence, and workplace happiness. Sold as individual sessions or packages at prices ranging from €183 to €458.
2. Structured Career Programs: Multi-session career redesign programs including Piano C per la tua Carriera (4 meetings, €680 + VAT) and Piano C per la tua Impresa (consultation + 4 modules, €1,120 + VAT). Delivered online with mentorship between sessions.
3. On-Demand Courses: Self-paced video courses on topics like job interviews, CV writing, and public speaking available for purchase on the platform. Courses include video lessons, downloadable materials, and live Q&A sessions. Priced at €35 per course.
4. Corporate Training: Customized training programs for companies on gender equality, stereotype breaking, female empowerment, work-life balance, and organizational wellbeing. Includes consulting interventions, workshops, and tailored programs.
5. Free Programs (Piano C Factory): Free professional redesign programs funded by corporate partners and foundations. Piano C Factory offers 10 sessions over 3 months with video content and mentorship, entirely free for participants thanks to partner support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Piano C delivers women's professional empowerment programs through paid individual consulting, structured multi-session career redesign programs, on-demand video courses, and B2B corporate training on gender equality. All offerings are built on a proprietary Work Design methodology that combines design thinking, storytelling, and empowerment techniques, and are delivered both online (e-learning platform, Zoom) and in-person across Italy.

Product overview

Piano C is a women-focused professional development organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs built around its proprietary Work Design methodology. The core offerings include Piano C Factory (free career redesign course), Piano C per la tua Carriera (coaching program), and Piano C per la tua Impresa (business consulting), all utilizing design thinking, storytelling, and empowerment techniques. Additional services include seven personalized consulting modules covering CV optimization, job interview preparation, LinkedIn marketing, professional storytelling, time management, emotional intelligence, and workplace happiness. The portfolio extends to on-demand courses, corporate training programs, and the #Chiara monthly newsletter. The company also runs European-funded projects including STAR Girls (renewable energy mentoring), DEA Montagna (violence prevention), Data Interpreter (data skills training), and Migramoms (digital integration for migrant women), creating a multi-pronged approach to female professional empowerment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Piano C Factory: Free professional redesign program for women seeking to find the right job, combining Work Design methodology
• Piano C per la tua Carriera
• Piano C per la tua Impresa
• #Chiara

Products and services

• Piano C Factory Free professional redesign course combining the Work Design methodology with design thinking, storytelling, and empowerment techniques for women seeking employment or career re-entry, delivered in 10 three-hour sessions over 3 months plus 33 on-demand videos and mentorship.
• Piano C per la tua Carriera Paid four-session career redesign coaching program led by the Training Manager using the Work Design / design thinking methodology to help women professionals define and achieve new career goals, including mentorship between sessions.
• Piano C per la tua Impresa Paid customized business consulting program using Lean Startup and Design Thinking methodology, helping women develop and validate business ideas through four modules (initial consultation + 4 modules, with a single-meeting option).
• Formazione per aziende (Corporate Training) B2B corporate training programs for companies on gender equality, stereotype breaking, female leadership, work-life balance, and organizational wellbeing, including consulting interventions, workshops, and tailored programs delivered on-site or blended.
• Check Curriculum Vitae Paid one-on-one individual CV analysis and optimization consulting with a 1.5-hour session plus final review, designed for women who need to articulate their professional value on paper.
• Cosa dire al colloquio di lavoro (Job Interview Preparation) Paid two-session job interview preparation coaching with simulation, feedback, and practical tools, designed for women who need to build confidence and handle common and challenging interview questions.
• LinkedIn Marketing Paid LinkedIn profile optimization and strategic networking consulting delivered via two two-hour meetings, with optional content creation, profile review, and one-month follow-up.
• Storytelling per libere professioniste Paid professional storytelling consultation for self-employed women, combining design thinking and empowerment techniques to build sustainable brand communication and a strategy that attracts the right clients.
• Time Management Paid personalized time planning and management consulting to help identify priorities and create quarterly planning aligned with individual rhythms, delivered in three one-hour meetings over five weeks plus follow-up.
• Intelligenza emotiva per crescere professionalmente (Emotional Intelligence) Paid emotional intelligence development consulting using the Six Seconds SEI Assessment to transform emotions into strategic tools for professional growth and leadership, with optional follow-up or a 3-session development path.
• La Felicità al lavoro (Workplace Happiness Counseling) Paid workplace happiness counseling using Transactional Analysis to help professionals find fulfillment and manage stress in their careers.
• Il colloquio di lavoro: come prepararti al meglio (On-demand Job Interview Course) Self-paced on-demand video course (45 minutes) with four video lessons, downloadable materials, five toolkits, and group Q&A covering job interview preparation, handling difficult questions, and body language management.
• Data Interpreter Free 180-hour professional training program on data analysis, interpretation, and AI skills for women aged 34-50 seeking career re-entry, supported by Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale and delivered in partnership with MEET, Formaper, Altroconsumo, and Dataninja.
• Work Design methodology Proprietary registered methodology combining design thinking, storytelling, and empowerment techniques — developed and proven over 13+ years — that underpins all Piano C programs and helps women redesign their professional paths starting from self-awareness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of women return to work after completing a Piano C program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• MEET Digital Culture CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MEET Digital Culture Center is Piano C's key partner for the Data Interpreter project. MEET provides classroom facilities at Viale Vittorio Veneto 2, Milan, for in-person training sessions. The center, supported by Fondazione Cariplo and recognized by Regione Lombardia, focuses on reducing Italy's digital divide.
• Formaper (Camera di Commercio di Milano Monza e Lodi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Formaper, active for over 30 years in orientation, business creation, training, and work, is a key consortium partner in the Data Interpreter project. Their expertise in entrepreneurship and business development complements Piano C's career redesign services.
• AltroconsumocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItaly's largest consumer organization, Altroconsumo participates as a consortium partner in the Data Interpreter project, bringing their communication expertise and consumer-focused perspective to the initiative.
• DataninjacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDataninja is a company specializing in data-based learning programs, serving as the technical partner in the Data Interpreter project for delivering data analysis and AI skills training.
• La Diosa (Associazione La Diosa ONLUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Diosa, based in Sulmona and active for years in the L'Aquila province, is the project proposer for DEA Montagna. They lead the emergency shelter network creation while Piano C provides empowerment and professional redesign support.
• GSSI Gran Sasso Science InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSSI contributes to DEA Montagna through their Political Sciences department, providing academic expertise for the awareness campaign on gender-based violence, particularly in digital violence research.
• Università degli Studi di TeramosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Teramo's Political Sciences Department, led by Professor Fiammetta Ricci, supports the DEA Montagna awareness campaign with research on digital violence and gender issues in internal areas.
• Festival delle LetterecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPiano C collaborated with the Festival delle Lettere for the 19th edition themed 'Lettera a una donna.' The partnership included a special competition category for letters combating gender stereotypes, reading events, and two workshops on storytelling and sisterhood.
• STAR Girls ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTAR Girls - Sustainable Transition And Role models for GIRLS is a European project involving 5 countries (Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy) and 12 partners. Piano C is an Italian partner working on mentoring, role models, and strategies to inspire girls in vocational training toward renewable energy careers.
• Digital EmpowHer ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital EmpowHer Erasmus+ project brought together Piano C Factory with European partners for digital empowerment. The project produced training platforms and methodologies for women's professional inclusion across Europe.
• Migramoms Consortium (MOMDIG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMigramoms in a digital world was an Erasmus+ project focused on digital integration for women with migrant backgrounds. Piano C contributed modules on soft skills and work/career development, with the platform now available in 6 languages.
• Chicco (Artsana)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerChicco partnered with Piano C for the 'Together We Can' initiative, supporting the Piano C Factory program and maternity return-to-work programs. The partnership demonstrates CSR commitment to women's professional empowerment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Valore D: Italian association promoting gender equality and women's inclusion in the workplace, with corporate member companies. Highly comparable to Piano C in mission (women's professional empowerment), geography (Italy), and B2B training offering, though larger and more corporate-network focused.
• Fondazione Libellula: Italian foundation focused on preventing violence against women and promoting gender equality through corporate partnerships and education. Comparable as an Italian non-profit working on women's empowerment with corporate CSR partners and awareness campaigns, similar to Piano C's DEA Montagna project.
• Womenalia: Spain-origin professional networking and career development platform for women, offering training programs, events, and corporate services. Comparable in target audience (women professionals), content offerings (career development), and corporate training model, though more digitally scaled than Piano C.

Others

• ActionAid Italia: Italian branch of international NGO working on women's rights and economic empowerment, including the NORA against GBV project co-funding Piano C's DEA Montagna. Comparable as an Italian non-profit addressing women's economic empowerment and gender-based violence, with whom Piano C has direct partnership.

Regional players

• AIDDA (Associazione Italiana Donne Dirigenti d'Azienda): Italian association of women business executives, providing networking, mentoring, and professional development. Comparable as an Italy-based women's professional organization with mentoring and training programs, though focused on senior executives rather than career re-entry like Piano C.
• Mylia (Fondazione Clerici Formazione): Italian training and workforce development provider focused on women re-entry and inclusion programs. Comparable in Italy-specific women's professional re-entry focus and funded-program model, though larger institutional training provider rather than community-led nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• Catalyst: Global nonprofit advancing women in the workplace through research, consulting, and corporate training on inclusion. Comparable in DEI training offerings and corporate B2B model, though much larger and globally focused versus Piano C's Italy-focused, women-re-entry niche.
• Gi Group Italy: Major Italian HR services company offering workforce development, training, and outplacement services. Comparable as an Italy-based provider of career transition and professional training services to individuals and corporate clients, though operating at much larger scale and broader workforce scope.
• Lean In Foundation: Global nonprofit founded by Sheryl Sandberg supporting women through circles, education, and corporate partnerships. Comparable in mission (women's professional empowerment) and community-led model, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach than Piano C.
• Hult EF Corporate Education: Global corporate education provider offering custom training programs in leadership, DEI, and professional skills. Comparable in corporate B2B training delivery and custom program design, though a much larger global incumbent rather than a women-focused nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PianoC_Mi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCteCXTGhKbVgGZMYL7CX0OA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PianoC.Milano
• Instagraminstagram.com/pianoc_mi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associazione-piano-c

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Piano C