L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 7 Francesca Cavallo and Timbuktu: the first iPad Magazine for children BENEDETTA CICCONI Translation by Angela Di Nardo F r a n c e s c a C a v a l l o a n d E l e n a F a v i l l i a r e t h e founders of the Timbuktu project, the first digital maga- zine in the world for young chil- dren and totally Italian. Francesca was born and grew up in Taranto, studied in Milan w h e r e s h e g o t h e r d e g r e e i n H u m a n i s t i c S c i e n c e o f Communication and also attend- ed the School of Dramatic Art, "Paolo Grassi" where she gradu- a t e d i n T h e a t e r D i r e c t i o n . Previously Paolo Rossi's assis- tant and founder of the theater company, Kilidrammi, Cavallo met her business partner Elena Favalli and decided to leave the theater and devote herself full- time to this innovative project w h i c h i n 2 0 1 2 w o n b o t h t h e "Mind the Bridge" contest, land- ing itself as the best startup, as well as the "Italian Innovation Day" in San Francisco, beating 11 competitors. After the suc- cess of the Timbuktu Magazine, the two girls launched other dig- ital products for children com- bining the creativity they that received through their Italian pedagogical education. But this i s j u s t t h e b e g i n n i n g f o r Francesca and Elena, two young pioneers who decide to leave the certain for the uncertain and start up their own business pre- cisely in California, winning world-wide recognition. Francesca, where does the concept of the Timbuktu app and its name come from? Timbuktu was founded with t h e m i s s i o n t o p r o m o t e t h e imagination as an instrument of knowledge of the world. We wanted to enhance the Italian tradition of innovative teaching methods such as Montessori, or a n e w e r m e t h o d k n o w n a s Reggio Emilia through technolo- gy. We also wanted to offer younger children an opportunity to develop their imagination which is too often confined to restricted spaces. This was how our first product originated, a magazine illustrated with the ambitious goal to explain the world to children. Our intention is always to interest young chil- d r e n i n w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g around them, encouraging them to express their own point of view and to react creatively with r e a l i t y . T h e n a m e T i m b u k t u seemed perfect to us because it evokes a place so far away that i t s e e m s a l m o s t i m a g i n a r y , despite it being a city that really does exist and is also the place where Edgar tries to send the Aristocats! Francesca, why California and what do you think the winning card for your project has been? First stop: San Francisco. Timbuktu Magazine immediate- ly grabbed the readers' attention for two reasons: the first one because it was the first maga- zine available on the iPad for children all over the world, and secondly, for the quality of its design and the artists involved. We have participated in many competitions for startups in Italy including "Mind the Bridge" which won us a "business gym" for a month in San Francisco. We immediately left Milan and headed to California with our magazine in the iPad, without even thinking twice and it was here that we found investors that allowed us to start a company in a very short time. Today we are proud to say that we have 12 applications in the App Store, we have published 6 illustrated books in collaboration with De Agostini publishers (distributed in English, French, and Italian) and have developed projects with companies and prestigious organizations. From the Golden Gate to H o l l y w o o d , w h a t t y p e o f reception did you find? I l i k e L o s A n g e l e s a l o t although I have to admit that I l i k e S a n F r a n c i s c o m o r e . Technology is an important part of my work and my life but it isn't the only aspect. In Los Angeles I found the opportunity to be exposed to many experi- ments in the world of story- telling that I found incredibly innovative. The Italian commu- nity in L.A. was very welcom- ing. All of the Italians I met in San Francisco were 'starter- uppers' or, at least, involved in that world. But here, I was able to meet orchestra conductors, entrepreneurs, designers, artists, chefs, teachers, and video mak- ers. I find that the heterogeneity of a community is important and I am glad that the Italians in L.A. express themselves in ways that are so diverse. What differences have you noticed between doing busi- ness in Italy and doing busi- ness in the U.S.? Being a start up of women what are your strengths and weaknesses? The main difference is that we tried to find financing for the project development in Italy for about a year with no tangible results. In California, it took o n l y o n e m o n t h t o f i n d o u r investor. Being two women as startup founders has opened our eyes to the roots of male chau- vinism both in Italy and in the United States, and on the impor- tance of investment on gender equality in all spheres of soci- ety. As long as men occupy 90% of the positions of power, it will be infinitely more difficult for women to advance in their posi- tions. For this reason, we have recently launched a newsletter focusing on these issues as well as on producing stories that will i n s p i r e t h e g i r l s o f t o d a y t o become the strong and the free women that the world needs. Do you have any advise for the younger generations that want to start a project of life a n d b u s i n e s s h e r e i n t h e United States? You need to have a clear goal in mind and build a network of value. Without a clear objective, it is difficult to build a network of value and without a network of value, it will be impossible to reach your goals! Projects for the future? We are working on a won- derful project for the construc- tion of three playgrounds in some "under- served" communi- ties in the Bay Area on the occa- sion of the celebrations of the Super Bowl and we have just launched our latest book, "The Nutcracker". LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli, founders of the Timbuktu project

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