HEY, NICE TO MEET YOU!

I’m Renè Zanella, an entrepreneur who builds businesses guided by discipline, self‑mastery, and a life beyond money. You’re in the right place if you share those values!
…and who knows? The next project might be with you!

1996 – Early Roots

I was born in Bassano del Grappa, and from an early age I showed entrepreneurial spirit, selling toothpicks and handmade bracelets.

Teen Years – Events & Refereeing

I started out as a PR in the events world, eventually creating and managing my own music formats and clubs. At the same time, I refereed football matches, which taught me leadership and the ability to make quick decisions.

University – Communication & Marketing

While studying Communication, I worked as a Student Brand Manager for Red Bull. There, I developed guerrilla marketing campaigns and learned how to build brand presence from scratch in a new city. I also gained experience coordinating event activations.

2018 – MIA Music Days

I organized a four-day music festival, handling logistics, volunteers, sponsors, and marketing. Despite financial losses caused by bad weather, that experience taught me valuable lessons about planning and risk management.

2020 – Pivot & Personal Brand

Even before the pandemic, I was freelancing for local businesses and traveling to Las Vegas to attend CES, where I worked on live marketing projects. When Covid hit, I shifted to digital marketing and launched a YouTube channel, which helped me grow as a storyteller and build my personal brand.

2021 – Hopstays

Later, I co-founded Hopstays with partners I met in Portugal and a childhood friend. Together, we scaled the vacation-rental company to 45 properties across Portugal and Italy before I exited in late 2024.

2022 – NonnaAnna Studio

I launched NonnaAnna Studio, which grew from a solo project into a team of 15. With the agency, I help Italian companies connect with global markets, blending Italian roots with an international outlook.

Present & Vision

Now I divide my time between Italy and Asia, championing discipline, self-mastery, and a life beyond money. I value work-life balance and see my team as partners in future ventures, always turning obstacles into opportunities.

My Projects:

NonnaAnna Studio

A fresh, young and innovative marketing and design studio with a strong company culture. We’re rooted in our local heritage, yet our experience and vision are truly international.

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YouTube

Join me on the road as I share the best things to do in the places I visit, through the eyes of a traveler and digital nomad. It’s not a tourist’s view, but the perspective of someone who lives and works on the move.

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I'm René Zanella, an Italian entrepreneur under 30, creating brands and building teams across Europe and Asia. I share my journey—the challenges, triumphs, and everything in between—to inspire and motivate the next generation of innovators.

Next?

I’m already working on new ventures, but who knows? The next project could be with you. If you have an idea or a project you want to tell me about, I’m here! Let’s connect.

My Mission

My mission is to inspire and empower a new generation of entrepreneurs to start from zero, cultivate discipline, master themselves, and create businesses that make a positive impact while enjoying life.

I believe that success comes from sharing the journey with the right people and building a community that supports and encourages each other.