5/12/2021 Lexi Larson
Roberto Guagnelli (BSME '21), alongside his father, created the company IntoConcrete, which makes well-crafted beautiful concrete decor, jewelry, and home goods.
Written by Lexi Larson
Roberto Guagnelli has helped build and develop his company, IntoConcrete, since 2014. All while studying mechanical engineering at UIUC.
Guagnelli started IntoConcrete with his dad, who had been working at a concrete company. The idea began when they were traveling through Europe and noticed many beautiful and expertly crafted concrete products. They both appreciated the quality of the pieces, and they realized concrete was a perfect medium to develop their own modern pieces built to last. Their product line includes home décor, sculptures, jewelry, pens, and more.
Working from the basement of their home in Chicago, their first big breakthrough with the company came with their Corvi Wine Cooler, a beautiful minimalistic piece that keeps wine at a chilled temperature. The company has gone through many design phases and has collaborated with artists and designers all over the world. Until last summer, Guagnelli said he was only loosely involved. Now he has decided to go all in.
He worked to restructure the company’s strategy more to a consumer-orientated approach, and he wants people to know who the company is by telling their story. As the head of growth, Guagnelli focuses on the business side of the company. He thoroughly enjoys being able to see every process, even on a small scale. He said he has learned a lot about accounting, finance, marketing, and advertising.
As a May 2021 graduate from MechSE, Guagnelli will soon work full time at IntoConcrete. During his time at UIUC, Guagnelli spent two semesters working with Illinois Business Consulting (IBC) in the Gies College of Business, where he found his passion for business. IBC also taught him the soft skills that are critical for his work with IntoConcrete. “IBC is a great way to interact with students in different majors as you have to work on teams with people who have different backgrounds from you,” Guagnelli said.
While he is not transitioning into a “typical” mechanical engineering job, he said, “Mechanical engineering has taught me to figure things out,” which will be critical for the future development of IntoConcrete.