Festival of Finance for the Real Economy

The role of finance in supporting business growth

EQUITA took part in the first edition of the Festival of Finance for the Real Economy, promoted by LIUC – Università Cattaneo together with AIFI and Confindustria Varese. The initiative aims to strengthen the dialogue between financial markets, companies and institutions.

Over the two-day event – featuring a plenary session in Castellanza and six thematic roundtables across Milan – discussions focused on the main financial tools supporting business growth, including private equity, venture capital, private debt, asset management, as well as M&A and IPO processes. The Festival brought together financial operators, academics and entrepreneurs to exchange views on the key challenges facing the real economy.

A clear message emerged from the discussions: finance is no longer just a supporting function, but a strategic driver of growth. In an economic system still largely bank-oriented, strengthening capital markets and alternative financing solutions is essential to support innovation, scale-up processes and generational transitions, particularly for Italian SMEs

EQUITA’s contribution

EQUITA actively contributed to the Festival through the participation of two senior professionals, sharing insights on key topics for the development of Italian companies.

Filippo Guicciardi, CEO of EQUITA Mid Cap Advisory, took part in the opening roundtable focused on the role of finance in the real economy, providing an advisory perspective on capital access and strategic transactions.

Marcello Daverio joined the panel on M&A and IPOs, hosted at EQUITA’s offices in Milan. The discussion highlighted how mergers and acquisitions and capital markets access represent key tools not only for raising capital, but also for enhancing competitiveness, governance and long-term growth. In particular, the debate underlined the need to overcome cultural barriers that still limit Italian SMEs in opening their capital to external investors.

Through its participation, EQUITA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting companies in their growth journey, leveraging its expertise to facilitate the connection between capital and entrepreneurship.

About the Festival of Finance for the Real Economy

The Festival of Finance for the Real Economy was created with the aim of becoming a key platform for dialogue between finance, industry and academia.

Organised by LIUC – Università Cattaneo in collaboration with AIFI, Confindustria Varese and Investire, the Festival features a hybrid format combining academic discussion with practical insights from market participants, through sessions hosted both at the university campus and across leading financial institutions in Milan.

The initiative seeks to make finance more accessible and better aligned with the needs of the real economy, fostering stronger integration between capital and the productive system. At its core is the ambition to promote a more effective financial ecosystem capable of supporting innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Festival ultimately aims to act as a bridge between education and markets, contributing to the development of a more advanced and growth-oriented financial culture.