Giacomo La Rosa with his business ventures, reflecting his passion for entrepreneurship,
innovation, and storytelling.It all began when Giacomo La Rosa was deciding where to continue his education after leaving Italy for the United States. With dreams of studying film, he and his family ultimately chose Tampa, a city that felt exciting without the overwhelming pace of larger metropolitan areas.
La Rosa first attended USF to study English while taking courses in the university's art department. And while he later earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Tampa, USF's impact stayed with him.
He launched his first business, an international business advisory and strategic consulting firm Graphitarget, in Tampa. Seeking to complement his creative background, he returned to USF to earn his Executive MBA at the Muma College of Business, a 21-month program designed for mid- to senior-level managers and entrepreneurs.
La Rosa says the MBA program drew a cohort of accomplished professionals; his classmates included leaders from companies such as Target and Tropicana who brought valuable, real-world experience into the classroom. Although he was the youngest member of the cohort, La Rosa says his classmates embraced him and became an invaluable part of his learning experience.
"A university lives beyond the degree. That's why alumni associations and networks are so powerful." Giacomo La Rosa
Nearly three decades later, La Rosa's connection to USF remains just as strong. During a recent visit to Rome on Global Learning business trip, USF World Vice President Kiki Caruson and Assistant Vice President of Global Learning Wendy Baker met with La Rosa to learn more about his entrepreneurial journey. For La Rosa, the visit reinforced the importance of maintaining relationships with the university long after graduation.
"Real connections come from spending real time together in real life," La Rosa said. "The dinner I shared with Dr. Caruson and Wendy and the conversations we had could never be replicated through 100 Zoom calls. I believe there should always be opportunities to connect in person because it's important to return to your roots."
He added: "A university lives beyond the degree. That's why alumni associations and networks are so powerful. They're not just about finding jobs or doing business; they're about sharing experiences, building lasting relationships, and remaining connected throughout your life."
Today, La Rosa is the founder of Gatch簷, an Italian-born company that has grown far beyond its 2015 beginnings. Over the past decade, it has expanded to encompass three distinct branches: Gatch簷 Books, Gatch簷 Stile, and Gatch簷 Identity.
Giacomo La Rosa presents his novel 27 Porte during an interview at the 2024 Turin
International Book Fair (Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino)."I don't think of Gatch簷 as a company," he explained. "I think of it more as an ecosystem. It is three identities that dance together."
Each branch serves a different purpose while contributing to the same mission. Gatch簷 Books is La Rosa's publishing house, where he channels his passion for storytelling through novels and, more recently, books on economics and management. Inspired by his master's degree in creative writing and English literature from Harvard University, writing became a natural extension of his love of a well-told story.
Gatch簷 Stile specializes in bespoke Italian tailoring, creating custom suits and women's garments handcrafted in Italy. Gatch簷 Identity provides strategic consulting to businesses and multigenerational families, helping them define and preserve the legacy for future generations.
When asked what advice he would give to current USF students and recent graduates hoping to start their own business, La Rosa shared:
"Do what you know and do what you like to do. If you start something that you don't fully understand, then it is very hard to convince people to buy your product or even worse, convince people to work for you to build something.
"Tampa is a standard for most American cities. For example, the average American family is very similar to what you will find in Tampa, so chances are if your idea works in Tampa, it could work elsewhere." Giacomo La Rosa
"Don't focus too much on money, he added. Money will come. If you are starting something just to make money, chances are you are going to fail.
He also believes Tampa offers a unique advantage for aspiring entrepreneurs.
"Tampa is a standard for most American cities, he said. For example, the average American family is very similar to what you will find in Tampa, so chances are if your idea works in Tampa, it could work elsewhere."
Looking ahead, La Rosa is optimistic for Gatch簷's future and the opportunities that come with an ever-changing world.
"The future could look very different three years from now," he said. "We often take things for granted, but as business owners, you have to understand that change is inevitable and you need to be excited about it. Change is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity for growth.
"What excites me about the future of Gatch簷 is that we are in a position to embrace those challenges and transform them into opportunities."