Innovating Growth: Silvia Prati’s SMe System Srl is Redefining Strategic Consulting for SMEs and Non-Profits across Europe and beyond

In the heart of Rome, nestled on Via Fabio Numerio, SMe System Srl is doing something rare in the consulting world: making structural growth accessible to small businesses, start-ups, non-profits, and freelancers by transforming European funding from a bureaucratic maze into a powerful engine for innovation and sustainability. Founded in 2016 by Silvia Prati, this boutique firm is proving that smart strategy, sustainable development, and human-centered design can coexist at the core of business consultancy.

Today, SMe System is not just a consulting company. It is a launchpad for organizations that need more than advice — they need transformation. With an elite client list that includes Wolters Kluwer Italia, Comune di Parma, Università di Palermo, and a growing network of international partners across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, SMe System has grown from a passionate idea into a trusted brand for institutions pursuing excellence through innovation.

From Vision to Reality

Silvia Prati, a driven and insightful strategist, founded SMe System with a clear mission: to guide SMEs and non-profits through the complex world of public and private funding, and help them use those resources not just to survive, but to thrive.

“We wanted to offer a different kind of consulting,” says Prati. “Something that doesn’t just tick boxes for funding applications, but builds real, long-lasting value for the organizations we support.”

SMe System was created around a simple but powerful belief — funding should not be seen as a one-off win, but as part of a continuous strategy of organizational empowerment. The firm’s model is based on four pillars: identifying tailored financing opportunities, providing full-spectrum market support, facilitating entry into strategic partnerships, and developing high-quality, fundable projects.

The firm’s success lies in its ability to turn this philosophy into action. It delivers not only strategic consulting, but also advanced tools and methodologies designed specifically for the unique challenges faced by SMEs and Third Sector organizations.

A Toolkit for Real-World Growth

Unlike traditional consulting firms that operate on static models, SMe System has developed a suite of innovative services that reimagine the way consultancy works in practice.

Central to this is the EU

Viability Rating — an original

tool that assesses a company’s readiness to access various financing channels. It provides an overview of the company’s financial health, its ranking from the perspective of financiers, and a strategic action plan to improve that ranking.

Then there’s the Advanced Innovation Check, a robust assessment platform aimed at start-ups and tech-oriented firms. It evaluates business ideas through the lens of key themes such as sustainability, social inclusion, and competitiveness, and creates financeability matrices that map ideas against available European and national funding programs. It’s a holistic system, blending insight with impact.

And because sustainability is

no longer a buzzword but a regulatory necessity, SMe

System also offers dedicated ESG support. From sustainability reporting to benefit corporation transformation, the company ensures that its clients are future-ready in an increasingly values-driven economy.

Mastering the Maze of European Funding

One of the most daunting aspects for any small or growing business in Europe is the labyrinthine nature of funding opportunities — from Horizon Europe and the ESF to national and regional programs. SMe System not only simplifies this complexity, it turns it into a competitive advantage.

Its Fundability Matrix is a prime example. By aligning the short and long-term funding needs of a company with European Commission strategies and specific program calls, this tool gives clients a clear roadmap to success. From the conception of an idea to the execution of a winning bid, SMe System stays involved every step of the way — helping build budgets, write EU projects, and manage them post-approval.

Beyond Italy, SMe System’s network stretches globally, from India to Ivory Coast, Ukraine to Brazil. It is this global reach — combined with a hyper-personalized local touch — that allows the firm to identify and leverage cross-border funding and partnership opportunities for its clients.

Designing Capability from the Inside Out

Training and capacity-building is another hallmark of SMe System’s approach. Recognizing the skills gap in European project design, Prati spearheaded the c

reation of the Immersive Experience System (IES^©) — a groundbreaking learning model that blends theory with practice in an industry where real-world experience is often overlooked.

“The problem with most training in this sector,” Prati explains, “is that it is theoretical. Trainers talk about how things should work, but they rarely have experience in actually winning or managing funded projects. We wanted to change that.”

The IES^© model does just that. It focuses on four key areas:

SKILLS’ MASTERY – In-person or online sessions with immediate application in market-facing environments, taught by trainers with real-world success.

CLIPS – Simple, actionable guides that break down complex processes into four-step instructions.

EAV.POINT – A digital platform that provides in-depth resources, industry insights, and peer interaction.

IMMERSIVE LABS – On-site “learning by doing” sessions in live business environments, supported by expert tutors, or online specialized tutoring.

This model isn’t just for students. It also supports professionals across legal, financial, and strategic sectors who serve SMEs — creating a ripple effect that elevates the entire support ecosystem.

Innovation Rooted in Diversity and Inclusion

Another defining characteristic of SMe System is its commitment to inclusive innovation. As the technical partner of N-DSA-N, the world’s largest network dedicated to participatory design in neurodiversity and mental health, the company is at the forefront of combining social innovation with deep technological integration.

Its expertise spans emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Telemedicine, Machine Learning, and Quantum Computing — all areas with vast funding potential in the EU’s long-term strategic plans.

The company’s extensive database of 1,500 international partners acts as a powerful engine, connecting like-minded institutions for collaborative ventures that cut across

 geography and sector.

What’s Next for SMe System?

The future is decidedly global. SMe System is preparing to roll out its IES^© model and training materials in English, opening the door to organizations outside Italy that want to tap into European funds and build sustainable, scalable futures.

Set for release in autumn 2025, a new suite of asynchronous seminars will dive deep into topics such as “Financing Artificial Intelligence with European Funds” and “Telemedicine and AI in Europe.” These programs reflect the company’s continued commitment to staying ahead of the curve — and ensuring its clients do too.

At a time when agility, sustainability, and innovation are more than just advantages — they are survival strategies — SMe System offers something profound: a

 tailored path for those who dream of growing, contributing, and thriving in a complex global economy.

A Model That Matters

SMe System is more than a consultancy. It is a movement toward better business, grounded in real opportunity and lasting impact. Its work empowers the overlooked, supports the innovative, and challenges the status quo of what strategic consulting can and should be.

In a world increasingly shaped by disruption and uncertainty, Silvia Prati and her team have built a company that is not only relevant but essential. By offering clarity in complexity and strategy rooted in empathy, SMe System Srl stands as a beacon for the next generation of business consulting.

It’s not just about accessing funds. It’s about unlocking potential. And with every project, every partnership, and every plan, SMe System is helping organizations turn possibility into reality.

“Empathy, competence, concrete support, creativity, ability to bring innovation and added value, ability to expand the partnership, are characteristics that you will find in the SMe System team!”