Growing with Stendhapp at the heart of the digital revolution
Reducing the gender gap in technological skills is not only a challenge, but a collective responsibility. This awareness gave rise to the project Female Intelligence in AI: Skills for Female Entrepreneurs and Professionals, funded by the Centre for Public Impact as part of the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund and promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale. In a national context that sees Italy ranked 87th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, the programme strengthens the skills of 400 female entrepreneurs and professionals, making them aware protagonists of the transformation brought about by artificial intelligence. Among them is Francesca De Finis, who participated in the in-person sessions on 21 and 25 November at the Milan, Monza Brianza and Lodi Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Punto Impresa Digitale (PID). In the classroom, sixty women shared their experiences, visions and questions, confirming that AI is a concrete tool for innovation and growth [see the news item Growing with AI in Milan].
From an international career to the birth of Stendhapp
An entrepreneur in the cultural, artistic and recreational sector, Francesca brings with her managerial experience gained at The Coca-Cola Company, where she was involved in innovation and marketing at an international level.
Her entrepreneurial adventure took shape with the birth of Stendhapp srl, an innovative company that combines a reference to the writer Stendhal with the word “app”. The idea was born in 2015, during Expo, from a seemingly simple but revealing episode: a visitor recognised an architectural style but confused the Villa Reale in Monza with the Hermitage in St Petersburg. ‘At that moment, I thought: “But it's twenty kilometres from here, just go and see it”. From there, a whole series of reflections began: something had to be done, Italians travel all over the world, but they don't know their own country’.
This insight gave rise to Stendhapp's goal: to promote Italy's artistic and cultural heritage, especially the lesser-known aspects, through technology. Launched in 2021, the app locates the user and shows them the beautiful and significant sights in their vicinity. Francesca personally curates the digital history and content and has gradually integrated advanced tools such as machine learning and image recognition.
Use of AI before and after training: from experimentation to awareness
Before entering the classroom, Francesca and her partner Elena were already using generative artificial intelligence tools, but in an unstructured way. ‘We were already doing something, but we weren't aware of how to set up a dialogue with these tools, nor of the real limits of artificial intelligence.’
The training course, organised by Massimo Marzocco and Francesco Lazzarotto of Quadmark, was not only an opportunity for technical learning, but also a valuable professional exchange experience. ‘It was also very useful to meet professionals working in sectors similar to ours. In my opinion, there are real possibilities for future collaborations, and it was really very positive. The attitude of the people in the classroom was extremely constructive and the level was high. This allowed us to explore certain aspects in greater depth.’
Concrete tools and immediate value
The impact of the training was rapid and measurable. For Francesca, AI began to generate ‘added value’ right away, entering company processes in a structured way.
Among the tools adopted:
- NotebookLM, to organise company knowledge, obtain summaries and concept maps;
- Gemini, which has become a daily tool for communication and content production.
Graphic design work also benefited: ‘I had to change an image on our website and, while I was taking the online course, I gave Gemini the instructions. In a few moments, it generated an image that is now on our website, at no additional cost.’
The “AI licence”: a skill for the present
To explain how essential these skills have become, Francesca uses an effective metaphor: “It's like getting a driving licence: artificial intelligence is a tool and you need to know how to use it”.
In her view, AI will not replace people, but will make work more sustainable: 'Artificial intelligence will become an indispensable tool for working in a less tiring way. A bit like a car: it simplifies life."
The value of training did not stop at the company: Francesca also shared what she had learned with her family, organising a small informal course. With a scientific and technical background and a strong interest in innovation, she now hopes to access an advanced course to continue her growth.
