What PizzAut does

PizzAut is an Italian non-profit foundation (Fondazione PizzAut ETS, fiscal code 91142230159) headquartered in Milan that operates an autism-inclusive hospitality and social-impact ecosystem founded in 2017 by parents of autistic children, including founder Nico Acampora. Its core product is two sit-down pizza restaurants — the first in Cassina de' Pecchi opened in 2021 and the second in Monza opened in 2023, the latter inaugurated by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella — both staffed entirely by autistic youth with neurotypical support staff.

The organization supplements its restaurants with three adjacent programs: AutAcademy, a vocational training academy offering 200 hours of classroom instruction, 100 hours of on-the-job training, and a 6-month internship for autistic youth aged 18–29; PizzAutobus, two mobile food trucks that deliver pizza and awareness messaging at corporate events and public spaces; and CasAUTentica, a 2025-launched housing autonomy project developing apartments ('Palestre di Autonomia Abitativa') where autistic youth can practice independent living. The technology underpinning the model is a customized training methodology tailored to each individual's pace and capabilities, rather than a software platform.

The business model blends commercial and philanthropic revenue: transaction-fee revenue from restaurant sales and corporate catering (the 'Un assaggio di PizzAut' format targeting D&I-focused companies), together with tax-deductible individual donations, 5x1000 taxpayer allocations, and corporate sponsorship from partners including Danone Italia, Edison, Autogrill, and Coop Italia. The foundation is registered with Italy's RUNTS third-sector registry, which confers tax-deductible donation status, and is governed by an unpaid board of directors led by President Domenico Acampora.

Name

PizzAut

Legal name

Fondazione PizzAut ETS

Website

https://pizzaut.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PizzAut is an Italian non-profit foundation operating pizza restaurants and a food truck staffed entirely by autistic youth. It pairs employment with AutAcademy vocational training and the CasAUTentica housing initiative, funded by sales, catering, donations, and 5x1000 contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Enterprise / Non-profit Social Inclusion Services

NAICS

Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Caterers (722320), Mobile Food Services (722330)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Pizza Fast Casual (THAFABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Catering & Events Food Service (EDALADAC)

Keywords

• Social inclusion services
• Vocational training programs
• Autism employment
• Restaurant operations
• Corporate catering events

Headquarters

HQ city

Cassina De' Pecchi, Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Operations: PizzAut operates two restaurants (Cassina de' Pecchi opened 2021, Monza opened 2023) and food trucks that serve pizza to customers. Revenue comes from food and beverage sales at these locations.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: PizzAut receives donations from individuals and organizations. As an ETS (Ente del Terzo Settore) registered with RUNTS, donations are tax-deductible (10% of total income) or tax-deductible (30% up to 30,000 EUR) for individuals.
3. Catering Services: PizzAutObus food trucks provide catering for corporate events and special occasions through the 'Un assaggio di PizzAut' format designed for companies with Diversity & Inclusion policies.
4. 5x1000 Donations: PizzAut receives 5x1000 donations from taxpayers who choose to allocate a portion of their taxes to support the organization.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PizzAut is an Italian non-profit social enterprise that operates a multi-component autism inclusion ecosystem. Its core offerings are two pizza restaurants (Cassina de' Pecchi and Monza) managed entirely by autistic youth, supported by the AutAcademy vocational training program, the PizzAutobus mobile food truck for catering and events, and the CasAUTentica housing autonomy apartments project. The organization sells pizza to the public, provides D&I-focused corporate catering, and funds its mission through donations and the 5x1000 tax allocation.

Product overview

PizzAut is an Italian social inclusion organization that operates a multi-component ecosystem for autistic employment and autonomy. The core offering consists of pizza restaurants (PizzAut Restaurants) in Cassina de' Pecchi (opened 2021) and Monza (opened 2023), both managed entirely by autistic youth. Supporting this are AutAcademy, a professional training academy providing 300+ hours of training plus 6-month internships for 18-29 year olds; PizzAutobus, mobile food trucks bringing inclusive pizza catering to events and public spaces; and CasAUTentica, housing autonomy apartments ('Palestre di Autonomia Abitativa') for independent living practice. The organization also conducts advocacy and educational programs in schools and companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AutAcademy: Professional training academy for autistic youth aged 18-29 in the restaurant and hospitality sector, offering 200 hours of classroom training, 100 hours of on-the-job training, and 6-month internships.
• CasAUTentica
• PizzAutObus

Products and services

• PizzAut Restaurants Pizza restaurants entirely managed by autistic youth, offering dine-in experiences with quality, short-supply-chain products in an inclusive environment where pace is adapted to individual capabilities. The first restaurant opened in Cassina de' Pecchi in 2021, the second in Monza in 2023. Customers visit for a quality pizza dining experience that supports autism inclusion.
• AutAcademy Training Program Professional vocational training program for autistic youth aged 18-29 promoting job inclusion in the restaurant and hospitality sector. Combines 200 hours of classroom training with educational support, 100 hours of on-the-job training, and a 6-month internship in roles such as Kitchen Assistant, Pizzaiolo, and Waiter. Delivered in partnership with Fondazione Mazzini and Città Metropolitana di Milano.
• PizzAutobus Food Truck Catering Mobile food truck service operated by autistic youth that brings pizza and the inclusion message to corporate events, public squares, streets, and private functions across Italy. Offers catering services including the 'Un assaggio di PizzAut' corporate format designed for companies with Diversity & Inclusion policies.
• CasAUTentica Housing Autonomy Project Housing autonomy program consisting of 'Palestre di Autonomia Abitativa' (Housing Autonomy Gyms) - apartments where autistic young people can experiment with independent living skills including self-care, household management, cooking, and social cohabitation, with support from educators. Located near the Cassina de' Pecchi restaurant.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600,000+ autistic people in Italy without employment
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Danette (Danone Italia)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Danette, a brand of Danone Italia, partnered with PizzAut on the 'Troppo Buona' (Too Good) campaign, launching a sensitization campaign with a new jingle video featuring Elio and Germano Lanzoni to support the opening of the Monza restaurant.
• Fondazione MazzinicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Fondazione Mazzini of Cinisello Balsamo partnered with PizzAut for AutAcademy training program. This partnership has enabled multiple editions of the professional training course for autistic youth since 2020.
• Studio di Architettura OrlandicoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStudio di Architettura Orlandi is collaborating with PizzAut on the CasAUTentica project to develop renovation plans for six apartments in Cassina de' Pecchi, creating autonomous housing units with common spaces designed for autistic young people.
• Città Metropolitana di MilanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCittà Metropolitana di Milano collaborates with AutAcademy, providing institutional support for the training program that prepares autistic youth for employment in restaurant operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Autogrill: Italian motorway and travel-food operator; existing PizzAut financial supporter via CasAUTentica. Comparable only as adjacent infrastructure in Italian food service; not a direct product competitor.
• Caputo (Antico Molino Caputo): Leading Italian pizza-flour brand supplying much of the Italian pizzeria ecosystem. Indirect peer through shared supply chain and category influence rather than direct competition.

Broad incumbents

• La Piadineria: Italian fast-casual restaurant chain with multi-location presence. Useful broad incumbent comparison for unit-economics and footprint scaling of an Italian casual dining concept.
• Spizzico: Pizza and Italian fast-food chain operated by Autogrill. Notable as a corporate partner of PizzAut for CasAUTentica; comparable in product and Italian quick-service category.
• Alice Pizza: Italian pizza-by-the-slice chain with broad domestic footprint. Comparable product and channel mix (fast-casual Italian pizza), broader scale and more standardised operating model.

Direct peers

• Mod Pizza: US fast-casual pizza chain built around the mission 'making pizza so we can make people,' employing individuals with barriers to employment. Closest conceptual analogue to PizzAut outside Italy.
• Rossopomodoro: Established Italian pizza-restaurant chain with nationwide presence. Direct competitor in product category, useful for benchmarking Italian pizza unit economics and growth patterns.
• Berberè: Italian craft-pizza chain with a strong sustainability and community-values positioning. Comparable in product category, quality positioning, and values-led brand — though not social-employment focused.
• Jamie's Italian / Fifteen: Jamie Oliver's social-enterprise restaurant training disadvantaged young people in hospitality. Comparable as a chef-driven, mission-led training kitchen, although UK-based and not pizza-focused.

Emerging players

• &pizza: US mission-driven pizza chain with a strong community and 'tribe' identity. Comparable as a values-led, fast-casual pizza concept, although operating model and scale differ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/pizzaut
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pizzaut

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 PizzAut