The Italian venture capital industry is growing and getting more structured.
This is certainly a consequence of the increasing attention of the Italian public institutions to themes related to innovation (read: National Innovation Fund: the government-sponsored funds to boost the Italian start-up ecosystem), but it is also due to the greater capital provided for venture capital investments by the private sector.
Below you find a list (in alphabetical order) of some of the new venture capital funds and investment clubs dedicated to start-up investments in Italy, announced in 2020.
360 Capital, a leading player in the European venture capital, announced the € 90 million initial closing of its new 360 Fund V. The firm’s fifth fund will target Series A and B investments in breakthrough European tech start-ups, with particular focus on France, Italy and Spain.
a|impact– Avanzi Etica SICAF EuVECA S.p.A, an investment vehicle promoted by Avanzi – Sostenibilità per Azioni and Etica SGR (Banca Etica Group) which supports the development and growth of innovative SMEs and start-ups whose mission is to generate a positive social, environmental and cultural impact on the community.
Claris Biotech I, the first fund of Claris Ventures SGR, a venture capital firm based in Italy dedicated to early-stage investments into biopharma companies. Claris Biotech I focuses on investments in high potential biopharma companies arisen from the Italian R&D ecosystem, both local and international. Claris Ventures SGR announced the first closing at € 30 million.
Cysero is the recently announced venture capital fund promoted by Alberto Bombassei (Brembo S.p.A.), Angelo Radici (RadiciGroup) e Pierino Persico (Persico S.p.A.) dedicated to humanoid robotics and cybersecurity. The fund’s capital target is € 100 million.
Eterna Borderless Venture Studio, an investment vehicle promoted by Eterna Capital, Borderless Capital and Algorand which will invest in projects looking to build applications on the Algorand blockchain platform.
Euregio Plus SGR (former PensPlan Invest SGR) announced the upcoming launch of a venture capital fund to support the growth of innovative start-ups and SMEs in the Bolzano and Trento areas. The fund will raise capital from both public and private investors with an announced target of € 50 million.
Eureka! Fund I, the first fund of Eureka! Venture SGR, reached the first closing with €38 million. Eureka! Fund I is a technology transfer fund with an investment focus on proof of concept, seed and early stage deals in spinoffs and start-ups steaming out from Italian Universities and Research Centres.
Innogest Capital launched an investment fund dedicated to cardiovascular technologies, and announced the upcoming launch of two new funds: one dedicated to digital companies and another one to healthcare.
Innovazione Italia, the venture capital instrument of Archeide sca Sicav SIF to finance and support the growth of Italian start-ups. Target companies must demonstrate high growth potential, a great risk/reward relationship, an experienced management. Archeide’s minimum target return is between 8% and 10%.
Liftt, the investment vehicle promoted by Politecnico di Torino and Compagnia di San Paolo which encourages a ethical business models inspired by the ESG, raised € 7.2 million from private individuals, business angels and investment holding companies.
Net4Capital, the origination and management company founded by Massimiliano Dendi (One Factory), Andrea Marangione (Maider), Dino Poggio (manager and business angel) and Gabriele Rossi (Aetos Partners), creates investment clubs for investing in private equity and venture capital opportunities.
Neva Finventures, the corporate venture capital of Intesa Sanpaolo, became a SGR (an authorised asset management company). Neva Finventures aims to raise € 250 million by 2021, to be invested in opportunities in the following sectors: fintech, automotive, renewable energies, AI, new materials.
Opes Italia Sicaf, a new impact investing venture capital, which will focus on early-stage investments, mainly in Italy.
Primo Space, an early-stage venture fund focused on space start-ups, reached the first closing with an amount of € 58 million (read: Interview with Matteo Cascinari, General Partner at Primo Space, the first Italian fund focusing on Space economy start-ups).
Rancilio Cube created Cube3, a new Italian vehicle for global venture capital investments together with other family offices (read: Rancilio Cube created Cube3, a new Italian vehicle for international venture capital investments).
Sella Venture Partners Fund of Funds I, the first fund of Sella Venture Partners SGR, the alternative asset management firm of Sella Group, dedicated to venture capital.
Synergo announced the launch of two funds dedicated to Italian and US scale-ups: Sinergia Venture, with a fundraising target of € 150 million, and Sinergia III, with a fundraising target of € 200 million.
The Hundred, the media holding founded by Vincenzo Macrì, Marino Giocondi and Leonardo Bongiorno, dedicated to investments in talents and entertainers.
UV T-Growth, the new fund of United Venture in partnership with TIM. The fund, whose fundraising target is set at € 150 million, is managed independently by United Ventures and will support highly innovative growth-stage businesses in Italy and abroad.
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