And so we applied to the Resto al Sud call for Gabriele's mother. And we won.
The story of Bandit begins here, the platform for professionals created to automate the entire application process for subsidized finance practices. An intuition that started from a concrete case and became, over time, an entrepreneurial project with the aim of simplifying one of the most complex sectors for companies, consultants and accountants.
Federico and Gabriele, the first from Milan and the second from Palermo, they symbolically represent two extremes of the country that meet around a common problem: make subsidized finance more accessible, less bureaucratic and more efficient. For many businesses, Indeed, others, contributions and benefits often remain a pipe dream: interesting opportunities, but difficult to locate, understand and manage.
Bandit was created precisely to break down this barrier. The name combines "bandi in Italia" and "bandito", with an ironic reference to the figure of Robin Hood: the idea is to give back time and opportunities to those who work with documents every day, deadlines, requirements and reporting. Innovative startup with benefit traction, Bandit helps consultants and accountants reduce manual tasks throughout the process: from the collection of customer details to the search for the most suitable tender, from filling out the application to reporting expenses.
Talking to Federico, a precise choice on the business model also emerges: Bandit does not work with a traditional subscription, but with a credit system.
“We know our user well: does not always have practices to implement, and the volume of work can change a lot from one month to the next”, says Federico. “This is why we have chosen not to offer a fixed subscription. Bandit works on credits: each credit includes everything you need, without hidden costs, and is only used when there is a practice to fill out.”
Before that moment, the platform remains available free of charge. A choice that, according to the founders, reflects how Bandit wants to build relationships with its customers: not simply selling software, but accompanying consultants and accountants in their daily work.
“We really believe in shared investment with the customer”, continues Federico. “If the platform generates value, the customer will naturally be inclined to use it. However, if this does not happen, for us it is essential to understand where the problem is and solve it as soon as possible.”The model, Therefore, overturns the classic logic of subscription software: Bandit only makes money when the customer actually uses the platform to carry out a case. And it is precisely this alignment of interests that represents one of the distinctive elements of the project. "Support is central", concludes Federico. “If we don't help the customer solve the problem, we don't even make money."
And like any good bandit like Robin Hood, in the end they are the good ones. The advice, especially for those who work in the sector, is to go and take a look.
Edited by Riccardo Bellato
