How He Built a €1.1B Giant

Interview with Enrico Giacomelli, the Founder of Namirial In this interview, Enrico Giacomelli, Founder and Chairman of Namirial, reflects on building one of Europe’s leading Digital Transaction Management and Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) groups - from a small Italian software house founded in 1991 to a pan-European digital trust leader valued at approximately €1.1 billion. Founded in 2000 in Senigallia, Namirial now operates in 90+ countries, employs over 1,300 people, and serves enterprises, SMEs and public administrations across Europe, Latin America and Asia. In 2020, Ambienta acquired a majority stake, accelerating international expansion. In July 2025, Bain Capital acquired a majority stake. Later that year, Namirial merged with Signaturit (backed by PSG Equity), creating a leading pan-European QTSP with strong positions in Italy, Spain, France and Germany. We discuss regulation as both constraint and catalyst, what “AI-first” means in a highly regulated environment, scaling through M&A, and the future of European digital identity. Key Points: - How Enrico identified the original problem in 1991 - and why it still matters - Building a global tech leader from outside Europe’s main startup hubs - Regulation as both constraint and competitive advantage - What “AI-first” means in a trust-heavy, compliance-driven sector - Practical advice for founders making their first steps - Avoiding the AI hype cycle while building long-term value