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Fonzaso (BL), June 9, 2026

As MVC Group celebrates its 80th anniversary, the company is looking to the future with the launch of the “Olindo & Irma Cremonese” Scholarship for the Master in Sport Business Strategies (SBS), promoted by Verde Sport under the Scientific Direction of Ca' Foscari University.

Named after Olindo and Irma Cremonese – who founded the wool mill that would eventually evolve into today’s MVC Group in 1946 – the scholarship will cover the full tuition fee for one student and includes a curricular internship at the Group’s headquarters in Fonzaso, Italy.

"Eighty years ago, Olindo and Irma Cremonese laid the foundations of our Group starting from a small spinning mill and great belief in the future. Today, that same spirit drives us to invest in the young people who will help shape the sports industry in the decades ahead" - said Alessio Cremonese, Executive Chairman of MVC Group. "With this scholarship we are turning an anniversary into a tangible opportunity to support those who dream of building a career in this industry and share our passion for sport, our commitment to innovation and our ambition to combine both in a sustainable way."

The scholarship has been created to support talented young people who aspire to a professional future in the sports industry, enhancing, in particular, experiences related to cycling, the world of mountains and endurance – areas in which the Group operates through the Castelli, Sportful, Karpos and Zoot brands. MVC Group will also give special consideration to applicants whose academic or professional projects focus on topics expected to play a key role in the future of the sports industry, including artificial intelligence, sustainability, sports marketing, territorial development and outdoor tourism.

The Group has chosen to finance the SBS Master for its ability to combine high academic training, prestigious business experience and a strong connection with the world of professional sport. Organised by Verde Sport – the sports division of Edizione, the Benetton family holding company –the programme leverages a network of more than 170 partners, and prepares students for careers across the sports industry, particularly in marketing. Since 2012 it has constantly been included in the prestigious ranking of the top 50 masters in the world drawn up by Sport Business.

Following the classroom phase, the winner of the scholarship will carry out a curricular internship at the MVC Group Headquarters gaining direct experience within an international sportswear company and further developing the skills needed to build a successful career in the industry.

The internship is part of the Master's course: every year, 35 students attend six-month classroom-based learning at the La Ghirada campus in Treviso, followed by a six-month placement with a partner organisation. To date, nearly 90% of the more than 700 graduates of the programme have gone on to work in the sports industry, both in Italy and internationally.

The 22^nd edition of the Master will start on October 6 and application will close on July 1.

An online presentation of the SBS Master will take place on 10 June from 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm.

For information on the programme and the application process for the scholarship, which covers the full tuition fee of 11,400 euros, please visit: SBS Master Scolarship

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80 years of MVC Group

Founded in 1946 by Olindo and Irma Cremonese, Manifattura Valcismon has evolved over time, from a wool mill to a manufacturer of premium underwear. The turning point came in 1972 when Giordano Cremonese, who had taken over the family business, decided to participate in one of the first editions of the Marcialonga - the main cross-country skiing competition in Italy - and had an intuition that would change the history of the company. To compete, he decides to replace the traditional wool clothing with an acrylic suit, achieving a freedom of movement never imagined before. His intuition led to the creation of Sportful, which in 1973 began to produce and selling cross-country skiing apparel before expanding into cycling in 1985.

In the 90s the company experienced significant international growth and in the 2000s evolved into a platform of brands of excellence.

In 2003 MVC acquired Castelli, the historic cycling apparel brand that celebrates its 150th anniversary this year and in 2007 launched Karpos, dedicated to technical mountain apparel.

In 2013 the Group opened its first international subsidiary in Germany, followed by Austria, Spain, Canada, the United States, China and Japan.

In 2019 Equinox became a strategic partner through the acquisition of a minority stake in MVC Group supporting the company’s further growth, including through acquisitions: in 2023 MVC acquired a 70% stake in Zoot Sports, the U.S. company leader in triathlon apparel and accessories. In 2025 Zoot Sport acquires Tailwind Brands GmbH, its distributor in Europe, to accelerate growth across the continent. In 2026, the Group acquired Wolvenberg, the long-standing Benelux distributor of Castelli and Sportful, leading to the creation of MVC Benelux, the Group’s ninth international subsidiary.

Today MVC Group operates in 75 countries through 10 companies, employs more than 500 people and generates consolidated revenues of over €113 million. The Group continues to grow while remaining deeply connected to the territory and the sporting culture that inspired its beginnings eighty years ago.

For further information:
Press Office MVC Group: Sara Balzarotti
Mob: +39 3351415584, sara@balzarottistudio.it