Thiene: Kolver’s American Conquest with Colerti’s Californian Style
Kolver Navigates Global Market with California Flair
THIENE, Italy – Kolver, a small too medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in teh Upper Vicenza area, exemplifies a unique case of generational transition.The company, specializing in the design and production of industrial electric screwdrivers, sees its future shaped by a blend of Italian heritage and Californian innovation.
Raffaello and Edoardo Colarti, sons of Thiene entrepreneur Giovanni Colese, who founded Kolver in 1989, are at the forefront of this evolution.Thier maternal grandfather is Federico Faggin, a physicist and entrepreneur renowned in the field of microprocessors and a long-time resident of Silicon Valley.
Brothers Bridge Continents for Family Business
Both Colarti brothers hold key managerial positions within Kolver, a company that has carved out a significant international presence in the niche market of electric screwdrivers. Approximately 80% of Kolver’s products are exported to Europe, North America, and Asia.
Raffaello serves as CEO in Italy, focusing on strategic product development. Edoardo,based in the United States,is the technical director and sales manager for the West Coast. Both brothers returned to the family business after pursuing studies and gaining managerial experience in California,albeit in sectors far removed from Kolver’s electromechanical focus.
Raffaello’s background is in digital software, while Edoardo’s experience lies in the “vegetable meat” food industry. Despite these divergent paths,they now contribute to kolver’s continued success in the industrial technology sector.
CEO Reflects on Transatlantic Experience
Raffaello colarti recently discussed his experiences in the Californian digital industry and his return to lead the family business. He emphasized the value of his mathematical training at the Corradini scientific high school in Thiene and the practical, business-oriented approach he encountered at an American university.
He also highlighted the importance of technological innovation for maintaining competitiveness and acknowledged the potential impact of increasing international trade barriers on industrial investments and exports.
Returning to Roots: A Personal and Professional Choice
Raffaello Colarti, 40, explained his decision to return to Thiene after more than two decades in the United States. “Professionally, I wanted to return to a small business context, where you know everyone and, as a manager, I can dedicate the right attention to each person,” he said. “Kolver is perfect for me, as we are thirty in the Thiene headquarters and fifteen in the US one in New Hampshire.”
He added, “In addition, I wanted to raise my four children in Italy, who are two to eight years old today, near their grandparents, and with an Italian school imprint, which is more rigorous on the theoretical bases than the American one.”
Education: A Comparative outlook
When asked about the differences between Italian and American education, Colarti noted, “US education has a more practical orientation, for example, in the different fields of applied engineering that I like very much. It also prepares better in the business field, leads more to get involved and have more propensity for business risk.”
However, he emphasized the importance of his early education in Thiene. “I emphasize that so much of the working success I had in the United States I owe it to the education of the Corradini of Thiene.The excellent high school mathematical preparation helped me a lot in my university path in America.”
Silicon Valley Beginnings
Colarti recounted his initial exposure to Silicon Valley. In 2000, after his first three years at Corradini, his uncle, Federico Faggin, invited him to spend the summer at his home near San Francisco. He stayed to complete his senior year at the Sacred Heart Prep High School in Atherton, then earned a master’s degree in computer engineering at UC Santa Barbara. He remained in Santa Barbara, working in digital technologies, until his return to Italy in late 2023.
Early Career in Digital Technology
Colarti’s first job in California’s tech sector was with Gotomeeting, a web videoconferencing company founded by UC Santa Barbara PhD students.”Within two years I was headed by the development project of an Apple Mac software,” he said, noting the resurgence of mac products at the time.He also developed an iPhone app specializing in weather forecasts for surfing, a personal passion.
startup Experience and Lessons Learned
Colarti later joined a startup, Interactive Touch Inc., which developed software for creating interactive children’s books for the iPad. Despite reaching 80,000 monthly users, the venture ultimately failed. “However, it was a very useful experience, also because in the US business culture, bankruptcy is not considered a fault,” Colarti said.
Procore Technologies: A Billion-Dollar Success Story
In 2013, Colarti joined Procore Technologies Inc., a construction site management software startup. “When I entered it in 2013 it was a software startup… Today it is indeed listed on the bag and invoice more than a billion dollars,” he stated. He led the mobile software development team and later directed the visual experience interface. He left in 2020, preferring the early stages of business development.”For the type of managerial management I do,I feel good as long as you stay within 200-300 people,” he explained.
Re-engagement with kolver
Colarti’s involvement with Kolver deepened in 2015 with the acquisition of its US distributor in new Hampshire.He saw potential for growth, especially in high-precision, electronically controlled products. “Being a computer engineer Software Designer with years of experience in Visual Experience, I was happy to draw a very intuitive user interface for high -end screws,” he said.
Kolver’s American Clientele
Kolver’s American customers span various sectors,including aerospace (SpaceX),electronics (Apple’s Asian factories),medical technology,and automotive components (batteries,lights,dashboards,and seats). “North America today represents a third of our exports, and we will also open a seat in Mexico.The United States are the market with greater added value,” Colarti noted.
Navigating Trade Challenges
When asked about the potential impact of tariffs, colarti said, “We will continue to produce in Italy. But we will probably distinguish the software component at a better technical-check level, which today is not subjected to duties.” He acknowledged the uncertainty created by trade policies but expressed confidence in Kolver’s ability to compete. “We can still count on the fact that they have the high -end product that American customers are looking for,” he said.
Investing in innovation and Employees
Colarti emphasized the importance of technological innovation for staying ahead of competitors. He reported a 10-15% increase in total turnover for 2024 compared to 13.5 million euros in 2023, with an EBITDA margin exceeding 40%.
He also highlighted Kolver’s commitment to its employees. “We have a very low turn-over, most those who work with us stay with us,” he said. “In Kolver we give a lot of autonomy to collaborators…we must let people take out their ideas, make mistakes, learn from them.” He cited good corporate welfare, work-life balance initiatives, and productivity-based bonuses as contributing factors to employee satisfaction.
Colarti also praised the quality of Italian education, noting that many of Kolver’s production workers are electronic experts from the Itis Chilesotti of Thiene, a school with which kolver has a long-standing collaboration.
Future Investments in Thiene
Kolver is investing in a new headquarters in the industrial area of Thiene,designed with low environmental impact in mind,featuring heat pumps and a photovoltaic system for electricity generation.
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Kolver Navigates Global Market with California Flair
THIENE,Italy – Kolver,a small too medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in teh Upper Vicenza area,exemplifies a unique case of generational transition.the company, specializing in the design and production of industrial electric screwdrivers, sees its future shaped by a blend of Italian heritage and Californian innovation.
Raffaello and Edoardo Colarti, sons of Thiene entrepreneur Giovanni Colese, who founded Kolver in 1989, are at the forefront of this evolution.Thier maternal grandfather is Federico Faggin, a physicist and entrepreneur renowned in the field of microprocessors and a long-time resident of Silicon Valley.
Brothers Bridge Continents for Family Business
Both Colarti brothers hold key managerial positions within Kolver, a company that has carved out a notable international presence in the niche market of electric screwdrivers. Approximately 80% of Kolver’s products are exported to Europe, North America, and Asia.
Raffaello serves as CEO in Italy, focusing on strategic product advancement. Edoardo,based in the United States,is the technical director and sales manager for the West Coast. Both brothers returned to the family business after pursuing studies and gaining managerial experience in California,albeit in sectors far removed from Kolver’s electromechanical focus.
Raffaello’s background is in digital software, while Edoardo’s experience lies in the “vegetable meat” food industry. Despite these divergent paths,they now contribute to kolver’s continued success in the industrial technology sector.
CEO Reflects on transatlantic Experience
Raffaello colarti recently discussed his experiences in the Californian digital industry and his return to lead the family business. He emphasized the value of his mathematical training at the Corradini scientific high school in Thiene and the practical, business-oriented approach he encountered at an American university.
He also highlighted the importance of technological innovation for maintaining competitiveness and acknowledged the potential impact of increasing international trade barriers on industrial investments and exports.
Returning to Roots: A Personal and Professional Choice
Raffaello Colarti, 40, explained his decision to return to Thiene after more than two decades in the United States. ”Professionally, I wanted to return to a small business context, where you know everyone and, as a manager, I can dedicate the right attention to each person,” he said. “Kolver is perfect for me, as we are thirty in the Thiene headquarters and fifteen in the US one in New Hampshire.”
He added,”In addition, I wanted to raise my four children in Italy,who are two to eight years old today,near their grandparents,and with an Italian school imprint,which is more rigorous on the theoretical bases than the American one.”
Education: A Comparative outlook
When asked about the differences between Italian and American education, Colarti noted, “US education has a more practical orientation, such as, in the different fields of applied engineering that I like vrey much. It also prepares better in the business field, leads more to get involved and have more propensity