Francesco Vitali, strateg z več kot tridesetletnimi izkušnjami v svetu medijev in podjetništva, danes kot soustanovitelj platforme Rent A Cyber Friend usmerja svojo vizijo v tehnologijo in poudarja: človeški čas je valuta prihodnosti. Zato smo ga izbrali za moškega z nove digitalne naslovnice GRAZIA Men.
Francesco Vitali je mednarodno priznani strateg, producent in podjetnik, ki že več kot tri desetletja deluje kot nevidna sila za slavne osebnosti, podjetnike in globalne blagovne znamke. Sodeloval je pri prestižnih projektih v založništvu, filmu, svetovanju in medijih, zdaj pa svojo vizijo usmerja v tehnologijo kot soustanovitelj platforme Rent A Cyber Friend, ki je s 2,6 milijona uporabnikov postala globalno gibanje človeške povezanosti.
Poznan je po svojem prepričanju, da tehnologija ne nadomešča ljudi – temveč nas opominja, zakaj smo pomembni. Njegov pristop združuje poslovno strategijo, humanizem in komunikacijo, zaradi česar ga mnogi opisujejo kot arhitekta novega digitalnega gospodarstva, kjer ima človeška prisotnost ponovno vrednost.
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»Tehnologija brez človeškosti je samo koda. Šele ko vanjo vnesemo namen, postane platforma.«
Platforma, ki jo je razvil skupaj z dolgoletnim sodelavcem Chrisom Siametisom, ne temelji na algoritmih, všečkih ali vsebini, temveč na pogovoru in prisotnosti. Vitali poudarja, da uporabniki ne prodajajo sebe, temveč delijo čas, empatijo in pozornost – dobrine, ki jih digitalna doba pogosto spregleda. Prav zato Rent A Cyber Friend ni še ena socialna aplikacija, temveč digitalno okolje, kjer je človeška povezanost ponovno ovrednotena.
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»Uspeh ni v številkah, temveč v zgodbah ljudi, ki pravijo: zaradi tega se počutim živ.«
Posebno pozornost namenja boju proti sodobni osamljenosti. Po njegovih besedah osamljenost ne pomeni biti sam, temveč biti neopažen. Platforma omogoča ljudem, da so slišani – tudi če le za nekaj minut – in prav ta občutek videnosti ustvarja resničen vpliv. Številni uporabniki poročajo, da jim je pogovor na platformi dobesedno izboljšal dan.
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»Ne ustvarjamo uporabnikov. Ustvarjamo trenutke, v katerih se nekdo počuti viden.«
Naslednji strateški korak je Cyber Friend PRO, nadgradnja, ki strokovnjakom iz različnih področij omogoča, da svoje znanje in storitve ponudijo neposredno znotraj aplikacije – v živo, v nekaj sekundah. Od svetovalcev do psihologov in ustvarjalcev – PRO ne nadomešča človeške izkušnje, temveč jo razširja. Vitali ta koncept imenuje »Gospodarstvo človeške povezanosti«, kjer pozornost ni izdelek, temveč nagrada za pristno prisotnost.
Uvrstitev med izbrane startupe na TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 v San Franciscu vidi kot priložnost, da globalni tehnološki skupnosti predstavi drugačen pogled – tehnologijo, ki ne tekmuje s človečnostjo, temveč jo poudarja. V svetu, kjer vse merimo s klikom, Vitali vrača pomen nečemu, kar ni mogoče izmeriti – pristnemu stiku med ljudmi.
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For more than three decades, Francesco Vitali has been the strategist behind the spotlight — the quiet force trusted by celebrities, entrepreneurs, and brands to turn visibility into legacy. From publishing and entertainment to global consulting, his work has always centered on one thing: giving meaning to human presence in a world obsessed with image.
Today, he’s bringing that philosophy into technology as CEO and Co-Founder of Rent A Cyber Friend, Inc. a fast-rising platform redefining how people connect online. With over 2.6 million users worldwide and zero acquisition cost, it’s become a global movement built on one radical idea — that human time has value.
Vitali didn’t build this alone. Alongside his longtime partner and collaborator Chris Siametis, the original founder of Rent A Cyber Friend and his creative ally for more than twenty years, he has turned a simple concept into a new kind of digital economy — one based not on clicks or content, but on conversation.
Now, as the company prepares to take the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco — one of only 200 startups selected from thousands worldwide — Francesco Vitali talks to Grazia about friendship, technology, and why humanity still has the final word.
GRAZIA: You’ve spent decades in the public eye — from publishing and entertainment to your recent book Message for Success. What made you move from advising others to building your own tech platform?
FRANCESCO VITALI: I’ve always loved the spotlight — but only when it serves a message. Whether it was through my media work, my productions, or my book, Message for Success, my purpose was never fame — it was communication. I wanted to help people express themselves, find clarity, and connect through words. Rent A Cyber Friend is the natural evolution of that mission. It takes what I’ve always believed — that every voice matters — and gives it a digital home. Technology became the next language for human connection.
GRAZIA: The name itself — “Rent A Cyber Friend” — sounds provocative. What’s behind it?
FRANCESCO VITALI: It shocks people at first, which I love. Because it forces a question: What’s friendship worth in 2025? We rent everything — homes, cars, clouds. But time and empathy? Those have become priceless. On our platform, people aren’t selling themselves; they’re sharing presence. A Cyber Friend can listen, talk, advise, or simply keep someone company online. It’s not romance, not therapy — just real human time, revalued.
GRAZIA: They call you “the man who turned friendship into cash.” How do you feel about that statement?
FRANCESCO VITALI: (laughs) I’ve heard that one before — and I actually love it. Because friendship has always had value, just not a price tag. What we’ve done is make that value visible again. We didn’t monetize emotion; we dignified it. People pay for entertainment, for therapy, for attention — why not for genuine time and presence? The truth is, I didn’t turn friendship into money. I turned loneliness into opportunity — for connection, purpose, and income.
GRAZIA: Loneliness seems to be the invisible epidemic of our generation. Do you think platforms like yours can truly change that?
FRANCESCO VITALI: Absolutely — and not in a superficial way. We see it every day. People log in just to talk, to be heard, to share a moment. Many of them tell us, “You saved my day.” That’s not a slogan — it’s reality. Loneliness is not about being alone; it’s about feeling unseen. Rent A Cyber Friend gives people visibility again — not through filters, but through presence. And when someone feels seen, even for ten minutes, everything changes. That’s what impact looks like.
GRAZIA: You mentioned purpose and inclusion — and now you’re launching Cyber Friend PRO. What makes this next phase so important?
FRANCESCO VITALI: Cyber Friend PRO is the evolution of what our Founder, Chris Siametis, first imagined — a space where anyone could instantly connect through an encrypted video call, without waiting or scheduling. That’s already what makes Rent A Cyber Friend unique. But now, with Cyber Friend PRO, we’re taking it further: professionals from every field will be able to offer their services inside the same app — live, in real time, from anywhere.
Imagine opening the app and instantly finding a consultant, a designer, an architect, a psychologist, or even an astrologist — and connecting face-to-face within seconds. It’s seamless, human, and immediate.
It’s a natural progression from friendship to functionality. Our “friends” opened the door to connection; our professionals now open it to opportunity. And that’s what makes PRO revolutionary — it doesn’t replace the human element; it expands it.
GRAZIA: You call this “The Human Connection Economy.” How would you describe it to someone hearing it for the first time?
FRANCESCO VITALI: For decades, tech companies made money from attention — clicks, likes, data. We flipped that. Here, attention belongs to the person who gives it. You can earn simply by being present, by talking, by caring. It sounds radical, but it’s actually ancient. Before money, before social media, connection was currency. We’re just bringing that back — with respect, fairness, and technology that finally serves humans, not the other way around.
GRAZIA: And you’re taking this message to TechCrunch Disrupt — the “Oscars of Startups.” Nervous?
FRANCESCO VITALI: (smiles) Not at all. Disrupt isn’t a battlefield for me; it’s a mirror. You see the best of what humanity can build. To stand there and say, “Let’s not forget why we build” — that’s the real honor. If one investor or one engineer walks away thinking, connection has value, then we’ve already won.
GRAZIA: TechCrunch Disrupt is famous for discovering the next big thing. What has impressed you most about being part of it this year?
FRANCESCO VITALI: Honestly, the organization is extraordinary. Michael Schick, Isabelle Johannessen, and the entire Startup Battlefield team treat every founder — not just the finalists — with genuine care and respect. You can feel that they believe in innovation, not just the hype around it. The structure, the mentoring, the access to investors — it’s all world-class. For us, it’s not only a chance to present Rent A Cyber Friend, it’s a reminder that human connection still matters even in the heart of Silicon Valley.
GRAZIA: Your career has moved through publishing, film, and now tech. What connects them all?
FRANCESCO VITALI: Storytelling. Whether you’re editing a magazine, producing a film, or building an app — it’s always about telling a story that touches someone. The medium changes; the mission doesn’t.
GRAZIA: You worked closely with Ivana Trump for many years. What did she teach you that still shapes your leadership today?
FRANCESCO VITALI: Ivana had an unbreakable sense of elegance — not just in fashion, but in discipline. She never arrived late, never broke a deal. She believed image means nothing without integrity. I carry that with me in every decision. In tech, you can move fast and still move with grace.
GRAZIA: How do you balance the glamour of your past with the precision of the tech world?
FRANCESCO VITALI: Glamour and code aren’t opposites. Both are about design — how something makes you feel. A beautiful brand or a smooth algorithm both aim for harmony. I try to bring humanity to both. Maybe that’s my secret: I don’t see worlds. I see bridges.
GRAZIA: Many people say that Rent A Cyber Friend is quietly changing lives. Is it truly impacting people’s lives in the way they describe?
FRANCESCO VITALI: It means everything. We built a platform, but what emerged was a community — one where people feel seen, valuable, and connected again. We’ve watched single parents earn without leaving their children, graduates discover confidence through communication, and seniors feel alive in conversations that matter. It’s not about creating another app; it’s about restoring dignity.
And now, with our new Premium Cyber Friend Pro profile launching soon, that opportunity expands even more. From the comfort of their couch, people will be able to connect, earn, and belong — without needing to fit any mold. Rent A Cyber Friend is not technology replacing people; its technology remembering them always.
For HUMAN First.
To learn more: www.RentACyberFriend.com
