In this dynamic interview, Marcello Ascani sits down with Pierluigi Zappacosta, co-founder of Logitech, to trace his extraordinary journey from Rome to Silicon Valley, and from a young engineer to a pioneer in personal computing. Zappacosta recounts how a challenging stint at Bobst Graphics, paired with a serendipitous discovery involving a Xerox printer and Bill Joy’s message about a new mouse, sparked the founding of Logitech with co-founder Daniel Borel.

What began as a shift from consultancy to product design quickly transformed into a full-fledged technology company. Key to Logitech’s early success was the decision to internalize production, hire engineering talent from Lausanne, and strategically expand into Taiwan and China—decades ahead of the curve.

Zappacosta doesn’t shy away from the complexities of leadership. He reflects on the psychological weight of transitioning Logitech into a public company, the intense competition with Microsoft, and the 1992 crisis that prompted his move from CEO to president. Yet even after leaving Logitech in 1998, his commitment to innovation continued through ventures in biotech and nanotech.

Beyond business, Zappacosta shares how global events, particularly the 2008 financial crisis, reshaped his political beliefs and deepened his interest in libertarianism. His story reveals not only the unpredictable path of building a global tech firm but also the lasting importance of resilience, personal growth, and visionary risk-taking.