Stefano Tositti, CEO of Acquera Yachting and Acquera Group, has announced that the Group has become the sponsor of the 7th edition of The Mark Challenge (The Mark), an international business plan competition created and organised by the International University of Monaco.

“It is a real privilege for us to be able to collaborate with the International University of Monaco. We strongly believe that it is paramount to involve the next generation in helping to develop the superyacht industry. The students are all studying luxury business and are no strangers to superyachts. It is important for us as a Group to think out of the box, and see what we can do to shake the industry up in our continued strive for change and excellence,” comments Tositti.

A dedicated Yachting Corporate Challenge has been created in addition to the existing categories of The Mark and is open to students, alumni and young professionals with a desire to start luxury or premiums ventures. The challenge has been set for participants to pitch their business ideas on “how to enhance the post-purchase superyacht owner and guest experience”. All projects must demonstrate that they have a sustainable agenda or positive social impact. Guidelines are available here.

“For a number of years, the International University of Monaco, as member of the Monaco Yachting Cluster, has been actively involved in the development of initiatives that can promote Monaco as a worldwide yachting destination,” comments Dr. Annalisa Tarquini-Poli, Director of MSc in Luxury Management and Director of The Mark Challenge at the International University of Monaco. “The Acquera Group is an ideal partner for us and our collaboration represents a great opportunity to attract new and fresh ideas. I’m delighted to partner with Stefano Tositti and his team because they believe in students’ ideas, and as an educational institution we could not find a better partner!”

At The Superyacht Group, building for the next generation has formed a central part of our discourse in recent years, so much so in fact that it was the theme of The Superyacht Forum 2019. For some ‘building for the next generation’ means developing the market in order to attract the next wave of superyacht owners and charter guests, for others it means making the industry more environmentally friendly and others believe it is about fostering the next generation of talented individuals to remain in and contribute to the superyacht industry.

In truth, building for the next generation refers to every single element of the market, whether that be the development of new ownership and rental models, alternative commissioning structures for sale and purchase contracts, the generation of investment for various industry sectors and individual businesses, environmental and sustainability goals, the makeup and construction of the vessels themselves and so on. However, one hopes that engaging students, alumni and young professionals with the superyacht market at such an early age will yield some interesting results.

To enter The Mark Challenge, click here.

In The Superyacht Sustainability Report, as Cluster Yachting Monaco celebrates its fifth anniversary, we speak to some of its key players to understand its modus operandi, how it has positively impacted the yachting industry and its major goals for the future. The Superyacht Sustainability Report is out now, click here to get your copy.

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