October 02, 2024

"The perfect storm almost killed us" - Alberto Cartasegna, MISCUSI

58 minutes

Today, we have Alberto Cartasegna, Founder & CEO of Miscusi, a smart casual restaurant chain centered around pasta, which he started in 2017. Now, Miscusi has 18 restaurants across 7 Italian cities, serving over 1 million guests per year, employing 300 people, and generating €20 million in sales. With top investors on board, they have raised over €25 million in equity, achieved B-Corp certification, and created a place even Italian grandmothers love to dine.

In this episode, Alberto shares how he faced resistance to the idea of building a restaurant chain in Italy. Frustrated that no Italian had successfully exported their cuisine globally, while brands like Starbucks and Vapiano had, he set out to change that. He also discusses why creating a well-organized restaurant chain in Italy is still rare, and how love and passion can thrive not only in a single restaurant but across a chain.

Alberto opens up about the personal cost of his dedication and focus on work—how it led to suffering, strained relationships, panic attacks, and hitting rock bottom. He shares how he overcame these challenges and describes the perfect storm that almost destroyed them but ultimately made them stronger.

Our key takeaways from the conversation are:

Italy is the challenge.

There is a cultural bias that a chain serves worse food than a mom-and-pop restaurant.

Focus on simple quality. Preserve simplicity.

Nothing is more depressing than an empty restaurant.

It’s a harsh awakening when the cash runs out.

Crises are life lessons that help you understand your roots and your “why.”

The search for your inner reasons is the way out of any crisis.

You have to follow through, no matter what.

Listen to inspiring entrepreneurs.

Understand that the relationships around you are what really matter in life.

Build and invest in good-quality relationships and a strong safety net around you.

Your “why” cannot be money.

Keep asking until you find the answer to your “why.”

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Recorded on 30th July 2024 via Zoom in Milano (Alberto) – Mirissa, Sri Lanka (Mario C. Bauer) – Hamburg, Deutschland (Florian Schneider).

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