Marica Castaldi

Marica Castaldi is a PhD student in Social Sciences and Statistics at the University of Naples Federico II, Department of Social Sciences in Italy. She is a visiting PhD Student at the House of Innovation and the Center for Philosophies of Markets at The Stockholm School of Economics during 2026.

Her research explores the imagery developed around the so-called Gulf of Innovation, situated in the former industrial area of San Giovanni a Teduccio in Eastern Naples (Italy). Her research draws on participant observation and semi-structured interviews at a startup incubator to understand the perspectives of young entrepreneurs who decide to start startups in Naples, considering both structural obstacles and future opportunities.