Luca Prosperi (Co-founder & CEO M0)
Welcome back to Endeavor Talks With…!
This time we’re sitting down with Luca Prosperi, Co-founder & CEO of M^0, the company redefining the stablecoin landscape through an open, composable, and truly decentralized financial infrastructure.
M^0 is the universal stablecoin platform that enables builders and businesses to create their own digital dollars — customizing everything from branding and compliance behaviors to yield distribution mechanics. By doing so, it gives organizations full control over their “money tech stack,” without the burden of complex operations.
Unlike traditional models, M^0 introduces a multi-issuer, interoperable framework that allows stablecoin creators to evolve into independent issuers, fostering a transparent, accessible, and resilient ecosystem for the next generation of digital finance.
Happy reading!
1) First, tell us about yourself – who are you?
I don’t think a résumé really defines a person, so I’ll start by saying what I am: a disruptor and an eternal outsider. Or maybe just someone who’s willing to take risks.
I grew up in a very traditional environment. My parents are doctors, and not big city doctors, amazing professionals and people with strong values, but that upbringing made it harder for me to break away from the conventional path.
I followed the classic route: Bocconi, consulting, a top MBA abroad, investment banking. But it’s only recently that I feel like I’ve truly embraced myself.
2) What made you decide to take the leap and go all-in on this new venture?
Cancer.
The first week of the Covid lockdown, I was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma. Because of social distancing, my now-wife and I were isolated for six months while I went through chemo. That’s when I started to seriously dive into what was happening in distributed finance, crypto, and the new wave of financial innovation.
A disease like cancer opens a window into the deepest corners of your soul, and you never now what you will find inside. I survived, and what I saw in myself, and in my wife, during that time… I liked. I realized I was done living someone else’s life. I owe it to the friends I lost along the journey.
3) You’re definitely not the stereotype of the young engineer or hacker diving into crypto. Do you think this has been a strength for you?
Absolutely. Traditional finance isn’t built by pioneers, but the skill set is very transferable, and it gave me a real advantage in understanding financial systems from different angles.
There’s a real power in doing things exactly your way, whether you do this successfully or not from a financial perspective.
4) So no second thoughts?
Not at all. I’d never go back to my old job, even though it was a solid career.
I know amazing professionals who thrive in that world, and I respect them. But it wasn’t right for me.
There’s a real power in doing things exactly your way, whether you do this successfully or not from a financial perspective. I saw that when I created my newsletter, Dirt Roads, which is now considered a go-to resource in the space. I just did it because I loved writing and shaping other people’s views with my ideas.
I want to build something that reflects who I am.
Also, let’s be honest, international finance has changed a lot. Even if I went back, it wouldn’t be the same job it was ten years ago.
5) In your view, what defines a successful entrepreneur today?
I’d start by saying: a lot of young people think they want to be entrepreneurs… but they don’t, really.
Let me explain – right now, being a founder is seen as the coolest job, the way investment banking was in the ’80s. But it’s not for everyone. You have to like pain.
6) What do you mean by that?
Being an entrepreneur is one of the loneliest jobs in the world.
You don’t have peers — no one in the company really relates to you naturally — and the pressure is constant.
I think the core trait of a successful entrepreneur is having a strange relationship with pain.
As Jensen Huang, founder of NVIDIA, once said: “I wish hardship on you”.
You need to like the pain or at least understand that adversity is part of the deal, and choose to go through it anyway.
7) Until the exit?
There is no exit.
People who aren’t entrepreneurs always ask when you’ll exit so you can retire. But a real entrepreneur doesn’t retire. If they win one game, the prize is playing the game they’re already thinking about next.
8) What kind of mistakes do you see young founders make most often?
Blindly imitating others.
I see this a lot — especially in Italy. There is some sort of second class citizen syndrome in Italy that is limiting young minds.
I’ve always done things my own way. We’ve closed three very large funding rounds and I’ve never had a pitch deck. Not once.
At any business school, they’d tell you that’s insane — but if you’re truly aligned with your vision and know what you’re doing, dedicate time to things you think are truly impacting the success of your project, staying intellectually honest with who you are pays off.
9) Another mistake?
Only showing up outside the office when you’re raising money. It doesn’t work like that.
You have to build relationships well in advance. Creating company is all about attracting resources around a powerful vision. You should be creating deep relationships with investors five years before asking them for money.
Endeavor struck me as genuinely human-centered, sincerely focused on building real, meaningful connections between innovators.
10) What’s your experience with Endeavor been like so far?
I joined recently, but I’ve been truly impressed by the team’s professionalism and the way they took the time to understand both my business and who I am as a person.
I’m allergic to self-referential networks — I think they’re a waste of time.
But Endeavor struck me as genuinely human-centered, sincerely focused on building real, meaningful connections between innovators. I hope I can give to the network as much as I can receive. That’s what is all about in life, at the end.