Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Cadelano.
Hi Andrea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Sardinia, Italy, a place where creativity and resilience live side by side. Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by how things work. I used to take apart toys, radios, and anything mechanical I could find just to understand what was inside. That curiosity became the foundation of everything I have done in life.
In 2003, I founded Inventando.it, one of the first online platforms in Italy entirely dedicated to inventors. It became a space for dreamers, a community where anyone with an idea could share it, learn, and turn creativity into reality. Through this project, I was invited to collaborate with RAI and Mediaset, helping to find and feature new inventors from across Italy. It was an incredible experience to give visibility to ordinary people with extraordinary ideas.
During those years, I also created two inventions, one of which was later brought to life in a similar form by Gillette as the GilletteLabs Heated Razor. Seeing an idea I had once sketched become a real international product was both humbling and inspiring. It reminded me that even ideas born in small places can reach the world.
In 2010, when the BP oil spill disaster happened in the Gulf of Mexico, I felt a deep need to act. I proposed an oil absorption and environmental cleanup concept that combined creativity with responsibility. That experience changed how I saw invention. I realized it is not only about technology but also about protecting life.
When I moved to Miami, I carried that same vision with me. After founding Sir Clean Corp., I felt the desire to return to my roots, to curiosity, imagination, and the joy of creation. That is why I started The Inventions Factory Inc., a nonprofit that inspires and educates children to explore science, technology, and creativity through our STEM education programs.
Together with my wife Anasofia, we created a series of school projects and workshops that introduce kids to the world of STEM in a fun and engaging way. We teach them how to think like inventors, how to ask questions, experiment, and build small prototypes that connect imagination with science. Each class helps them understand that invention is not something distant or impossible. It starts with curiosity and the courage to find a solution for every challenge, even the smallest one.
We both use the same mindset in everything we do. We believe that creativity is a way of living. I always tell people one thing that has guided me since childhood: always be curious. Ask questions, explore, and never ignore a small problem, because behind every question and every problem there is the seed of a new idea. Curiosity is what keeps us alive, what drives progress, and what turns ordinary moments into discoveries.
From Sardinia to Miami, my journey has always followed the same belief:
Curiosity is the spark that turns dreams into inventions, and inventions into a better world.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has never been smooth. But if it were easy, invention would lose its magic.
When I created Inventando.it, it was because there was no real place for inventors like me. No one believed that ordinary people with ideas deserved a voice. There were no online communities, no support, and no visibility for creative minds who worked from their garages or kitchens with nothing but imagination. So I decided to build that space myself.
I launched Inventando.it as the first completely free website in Italy for publishing inventions. It grew far beyond what I expected, becoming the largest inventors’ community in the country, with more than 25,700 registered inventors. Every day, people uploaded sketches, prototypes, and dreams, and I tried to help as many as I could. But it was not easy. I had no funding, no team, and no experience running a platform of that size. I worked countless nights alone, managing the site, reviewing submissions, answering messages, and trying to keep it alive.
There were also times when I was criticized for believing too much in people, for helping without asking for money, and for giving time and ideas to others without thinking of profit. But I never built Inventando.it for money. I built it for hope, because I knew what it felt like to have an idea and nowhere to go.
Then life took me across the ocean. When I moved to the United States, everything started again from zero. A new language, a new culture, and new rules. I had to rebuild my world while keeping my identity alive. Founding Sir Clean Corp. was another challenge, and just like before, I faced it with the same faith I had when I built my first website. I believed that passion, hard work, and curiosity could help me improve, innovate, and grow in every part of my business.
Now, with The Inventions Factory Inc., the challenge is different but just as meaningful. It is about inspiring children to believe in their imagination in a world that often tells them to follow the system instead of creating something new. I want to show them that innovation is born from curiosity, not privilege.
Every struggle has been a lesson, and every obstacle a test of purpose. Without them, I would not be who I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Inventions Factory Inc.?
The Inventions Factory Inc. was born from a simple idea: to give every child and young mind the chance to feel the same excitement I felt when I built my first invention. It is a nonprofit organization based in Miami that transforms curiosity into creativity and creativity into invention.
We design and host hands-on workshops, educational programs, and community events that combine science, technology, and imagination. Children learn how to brainstorm, design, and build prototypes using safe materials and guided activities. Each session helps them practice problem-solving, teamwork, and creative thinking.
What sets us apart is the heart behind the mission. The Inventions Factory is not about grades or competition. It is about awakening imagination and giving value to every idea, no matter how simple or unusual it seems. We show kids that invention does not belong only to scientists or engineers. It belongs to anyone with curiosity and courage.
I am most proud of the emotion I see in children’s eyes when they realize they can create something that did not exist before. That moment is priceless. It is the spark that changes how they see the world and themselves.
Our programs focus on inclusion and access. We collaborate with schools, cultural centers, and community groups to reach children from all backgrounds. Many of them have never used a tool, drawn a design, or seen their ideas taken seriously. At The Inventions Factory, they are treated as inventors from the first day.
From a brand perspective, I am proud that The Inventions Factory represents more than an organization. It represents a movement of creativity with purpose. It connects my past, when I built the largest inventors’ community in Italy, with my mission today to inspire the next generation of innovators in America.
What I want readers to know is that The Inventions Factory is not only about teaching science or mechanics. It is about building confidence, curiosity, and compassion. Every child who joins our programs learns not only how to invent but also how to believe in the power of their own ideas.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me truly happy is seeing ideas come to life. When I see a child in one of our workshops holding something they created with their own hands, I feel a kind of joy that words can hardly describe. That spark in their eyes is the same feeling I had when I built my first invention. It is like watching the next generation of dreamers take their first step.
I also feel happy when I help someone believe in themselves. Whether it is a child who thinks they are not creative, an adult who has lost confidence, or someone who just needs a little encouragement, being part of that transformation fills my heart with purpose.
Happiness for me has never been about money or recognition. It comes from knowing that what I do brings hope and inspiration to others. Every smile, every moment of pride, every young inventor who dares to believe in their ideas reminds me that I am living the life I was meant to live.
On a personal level, happiness is also found in simple moments with my wife Anasofia, my family, and the people I love. Sharing laughter, helping others, and creating something meaningful give me peace. Knowing that I can leave the world a little better than I found it is what truly makes me happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theinventionsfactory.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inventionsfactory/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579730823721
Image Credits
Andrea Cadelano
The Inventions Factory Inc.
