After arriving in Italy from Persia when he was twelve, Ehsan Esteki set up a company in Bologna that specialises in the upgrading of IT structures. From Emilia to India, Eetech helps companies transition towards cloud systems thanks to a philosophy borrowed from rugby - no one can win on their own. For FARE INSIEME, Giampaolo Colletti interviews Ehsan Esteki, founder and CEO at Eetech
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
There is a word that has been accompanying Ehsan Esteki ever since he was born - his name, which means “kind” in Persian. A simple word, almost endearing, which however is truly evocative of the journey of this entrepreneur who arrived in Italy as a boy and went on to become the founder of a company that works with sophisticated technology, cloud infrastructure and complex IT systems every day. Because, in the end, people can always be found behind all digital architectures. His story began far away from Bologna. He was born in Persia, and arrived in Italy at the age of twelve. First in Ancona, then in Emilia Romagna. The first few years were not easy - he had to learn a new language, build new relationships and find his own place in the world. “For many years, I was on my own. Then we managed to bring the whole family over,” recalls Esteki. He is now 42 with three children and a story that combines migration, study, sports and entrepreneurship. After graduating in Aerospace Engineering, he immediately got a job in the IT and cybersecurity sector. It was a world that was changing quickly, and one where companies began realising that technology was no longer an operational support, but rather a strategic infrastructure. Ehsan observed this first-hand by working for large organisations, until he developed his own precise conviction, i.e. that many of the ideas he believed to be useful and feasible would have never found space inside structures that were too rigid.
Company profile. We find ourselves in via Ugo Bassi, in the heart of Bologna. This is the headquarters of a young business established in 2021 and that now provides special consultations for cloud engineering, the upgrading of IT infrastructure and AI applied to business processes. The turnover has reached 1.3 million euro and keeps growing. The team boasts 10 to 20 professionals in Italy and India. Even the name reflects a family story. “EETech includes the initials of my second son, because I came up with the idea of the company right from when he was born. In a certain sense, this company has become my fourth child,” explains Esteki. The core of the business is helping companies upgrade infrastructure that is often obsolete, making it more efficient, flexible and secure. It is not a merely technical activity, but a job that requires listening to and understanding the actual needs of the organisations. “Before proposing a solution, we try to understand the client, their processes and their needs. Only afterwards do we come up with the most suitable technological solution,” explains Esteki. Eetech is a certified partner of the main global cloud providers: Google Cloud, Oracle, AWS and Microsoft Azure. A multi-cloud knowledge that enables the company to identify the most effective solution without predefined boundaries. The value is not in just selling a specific technology, but understanding which technology is really needed.
The business. Between Bologna and the clouds. It may seem like a slogan, but it perfectly describes the work carried out by the company. On the one hand, it is deeply rooted in the Emilian territory; on the other, it manages cloud infrastructure. “We find ourselves among the clouds, but one cannot always feel safe there. Our job is to act as a beacon.” Emilia Romagna represents much more than a geographic location, it is an industrial ecosystem that contributed to defining the company's identity. Motor Valley, packaging, industrial automation, mechatronics - here, technology is not just a theory, it is a tool to improve the actual production processes. “Bologna is located at the centre of a very wealthy region, especially from the point of view of people. Companies have a very strong culture of doing and pay great attention to high-quality.” But maybe the biggest influence comes from another experience - sport. For years, Ehsan played rugby reaching high-level competition. It is an experience that keeps guiding the way in which he does business. “You learn something of essential importance playing rugby: no one can progress on their own. Every inch conquered is the result of the hard work done by the whole team.” This philosophy can be found in Eetech. New engineers are introduced through structured on-boarding, ongoing training and constant support. Technical skills are important, but they are not enough. “I want people to feel part of something. I’m not only looking for skilled professionals, I’m looking for people who can work together,” explains Esteki.
The evolution. Looking ahead to the future, the company is increasingly investing in AI and on the construction of customised models for the management of infrastructure and business processes, yet without chasing fads. “There are four directions that drive our growth: listening, flexibility, knowledge and reliability,” says Esteki. These are the lessons learnt from this entrepreneurial story. Technologies change rapidly. Platforms evolve. Systems become increasingly sophisticated. But companies that last continue to be based on the same elements: trust, competence, team spirit and the ability to listen. Even when you work in the clouds.
https://podcast.confindustriaemilia.it/
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