---
title: "MicroBooster"
description: "MicroBooster (CRIF, 2021/22): Banks suggest growth moves to micro-entrepreneurs from data they already hold"
url: "https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/microbooster-2021-22/"
lang: "en"
---

# MicroBooster

**Banks suggest growth moves to micro-entrepreneurs from data they already hold**

_Boost your growth. Improve your firm._

- **Corporate partner:** [CRIF](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/partners/crif/) (https://www.crif.com/)
- **Cohort:** [2021/22](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/cohort/2021-22/)
- **Theme:** [Finance & insurance](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/themes/finance-insurance/)
- **Type:** Digital service
- **Universities:** [University of Bologna · Almacube](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/universities/unibo/), [ISDI School of Design & Innovation](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/universities/isdi/)
- **Team:** 8 master students
- **Disciplines:** Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, Innovation and Design, International Management, Law and Economics

## Challenge

CRIF asked how to improve its offering for micro-enterprises, with banks as the channel. Most Italian firms are micro-enterprises; the team targeted firms with under 20 employees.

## What they built

MicroBooster is a bank service powered by CRIF's predictive analysis. Entrepreneurs answer surveys; the tool spots growth-hindering risks and suggests solutions on location, pricing, partnerships, sustainability and digitalisation. They act alone or with the bank's help.

## Impact

Banks deepen their relationship with micro-entrepreneurs through proactive, regular analysis, and entrepreneurs gain strategic connections through the bank's network.

## Full project text

Microbooster identifies and suggests personalised growth opportunities for small business entrepreneurs, through a sophisticated predictive analysis which leverages the data capabilities of banks.

### Challenge

How might CRIF improve its offering by focusing on Micro Enterprises' target?

In this challenge, the bank plays an essential role, which must be the channel for the BtoBtoC offering provided by CRIF. In our target, we have considered companies with turnover below 10 million and less than 20 employees. It is regarded as a relevant challenge since Italian firms are represented mainly by micro-enterprises.

### Solution

MicroBooster is a comprehensive service offered by banks to micro-entrepreneurs. It is centered on a predictive analysis tool powered by CRIF and is able to identify and suggest personalized growth opportunities for small businesses. To do this, MicroBooster leverages banks’ data capabilities and business clients' networks, but also data of both qualitative and quantitative nature provided by the entrepreneurs themselves.

Entrepreneurs are also provided with solutions to implement these opportunities, with the possibility to act autonomously or choose the bank as a holistic partner during the process.

### Impact

MicroBooster will benefit both banks and users. In fact, the first ones enhance the relationship with micro-entrepreneurs and the second ones can take action, having strategic connections through banks’ networks. The central values that differentiate this service are:

- Proactiveness. Banks reach users’ needs in advance thanks to a proactive approach;

- Integration. Several solutions related to strategic and economic aspects of the company in one single platform;

- Immediacy. Banks already have many types of data, so the process is smoother and less time-consuming than traditional consultants;

- Continuity. Long-run relationship between firms and banks with periodical analysis.

## Who built it.

- Giuseppe Sidoti, Law and Economics (University of Bologna · Almacube)
- Akshita Shah, Innovation & Design (ISDI School of Design & Innovation)
- Marco Bertazzoli, Business and Administration (University of Bologna · Almacube)
- Sakshi Joshi, Innovation & Design (ISDI School of Design & Innovation)
- Lucia La Forgia, Artificial Intelligence (University of Bologna · Almacube)
- Shagun Gupta, Innovation & Design (ISDI School of Design & Innovation)
- Yuliia Chentukova, International Management (University of Bologna · Almacube)
- Ankit Kaul, Innovation & Design (ISDI School of Design & Innovation)

## Video

- EXPO 2022 - Team CRIF by University of Bologna and ISDI-Mumbai teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsOgatG0lE8

## Sources

Summarised by the SUGAR editorial team from the team’s project page and SUGAR Expo booklet.

Open the 2021/22 booklet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gaylrIaKwqlepYmZJTx7JXi7XBTw56Kd/view?usp=sharing