UniCredit is a major European financial group headquartered in Milan, Italy, offering a wide range of banking services to customers across numerous markets. Established in 1869, the institution has developed a significant presence with over 9,000 branches in 17 countries, employing more than 148,000 people. The bank provides personal and business banking solutions, including senior and subordinated debt, term loans, and revolving credit lines. UniCredit plays a crucial role in both Western and Eastern Europe, holding one of the region's highest market shares. The group is committed to driving innovation through initiatives like the UniCredit Start Lab Fintech Accelerator, which supports startups in the financial technology sector by providing co-working space, mentoring, and funding. Through these efforts, UniCredit aims to create a banking institution that meets the needs of all stakeholders and contributes to the economic development of communities throughout Europe.
Intesa Sanpaolo is a European banking group based in Turin, Italy. Formed by the merger of Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI, it offers a broad range of financial services across retail and corporate banking, investment banking, asset management, private banking, insurance, and wealth management. The group provides lending and deposits, payments, and advisory services to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, private clients, high net worth individuals, financial institutions, and public and corporate entities. With a network of subsidiaries and international operations, it serves customers in Italy and across Europe, integrating banking and financial services to support clients' financial needs.
Founded in Rome, Italy in 2015, CDP Venture Capital is a venture capital firm dedicated to fostering innovation and economic growth. It invests in early-stage and growth companies across various sectors, with a focus on Italian startups.
EASME is a European Union executive agency that supports small and medium-sized enterprises and promotes innovation in Europe. It manages projects in the areas of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the environment, energy, and maritime sectors, funded by COSME, LIFE, and EMFF. EASME organizes the European Sustainable Energy Week and serves industries such as environmental management, energy production, and maritime activities.
Private Equity Partners is an Italian private equity and venture capital firm focused on management buyouts, developmental capital and pre-IPO investments in middle-market and mature Italian companies. It targets revenues of 50 million to 1,000 million euros and typically invests 5 to 50 million euros in companies with enterprise values between 20 million and 1,000 million dollars. The firm generally seeks a majority stake in management buyouts and a minority stake in developmental capital and pre-IPO investments, and may co-invest. Exits are usually via stock exchange listings. Established in 1989, it is headquartered in Milan with offices in Mumbai, Warsaw and Sao Paulo.
360 Capital Partners is a Paris-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage startups across Europe, focusing on deep tech, climate technology, digital sectors, consumer goods and business services. With roughly two decades of activity, it operates across Europe with a diversified team and has an active portfolio of over 50 companies. The firm has about €400 million of assets under management. Notable portfolio companies include Alsid, Earthcube, Exotec, Arbe Robotics, Sophia Genetics, Le Slip Français and Tediber. The team is described as diverse and experienced, with offices in Paris and Milan, and it seeks to partner with talented entrepreneurs to develop disruptive companies in Europe.
LVenture Group is an Italian venture capital firm focused on incubating and investing in early-stage startups. It specializes in micro seed and seed investments, targeting companies with enterprise values between $0.8 million to $5 million. The firm invests across various sectors, including software-as-a-service, e-commerce, internet of things, and more. LVenture Group operates a startup accelerator, LUISS EnLabs, and has invested in over 90 startups characterized by high digital innovation and scalability.
European Investment Bank is the EU's long-term lending institution owned by its member states. It finances public and private sector projects across transportation, energy, telecommunications, health, education, water, housing, and other sectors in the European Union and beyond. The bank provides a range of financing tools including project loans, guarantees, debt and equity investments, and risk-sharing arrangements, as well as microfinance and venture capital funds. It also offers advisory services, infrastructure funding, and support for urban development, PPPs, and sustainable energy projects. Through infrastructure and environmental funds and partnerships with banks and intermediaries, it supports SMEs, innovation, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
BPER Banca S.p.A. is an Italian banking group that provides a comprehensive range of banking products and services to individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises, both domestically and internationally. The company operates through various segments, including Retail, Private, Corporate, and Large Corporate banking, as well as Finance and Corporate Center activities. Its offerings encompass loans, mortgages, insurance, retirement planning, current and savings accounts, and investment products such as mutual funds and certificates of deposit. BPER Banca also specializes in corporate finance, risk management, wealth management, and personal banking services. The company maintains a significant presence with a network of branches across Italy and a branch office in Luxembourg. Founded in 1867 and headquartered in Modena, Italy, BPER Banca evolved from the merger of several regional banks, emphasizing customer service and cooperative banking in its operations.
Indaco Venture Partners is a Milan-based venture capital firm that backs growth-stage companies in electronics, robotics, medtech, biotech, digital, and new materials. The firm emphasizes Italian enterprises while investing across Europe, the United States, Canada, and Israel, seeking proprietary technologies and innovations as competitive advantages.
Club degli Investitori, founded in 2008 and based in Turin, Italy, is a venture capital firm and an angel investor network that focuses on early-stage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups. With over 400 members, including entrepreneurs and executives, the organization actively seeks investment opportunities in various sectors such as digital, fintech, medtech, biotech, deep tech, food tech, and proptech. The firm typically invests between €200,000 and €1.5 million, targeting companies with an enterprise value ranging from €0.8 million to €100 million. Club degli Investitori aims to acquire minority stakes and seeks to exit its investments within three to five years. In addition to providing capital, the Club leverages the collective experience and networks of its members to support the growth and success of the businesses it invests in.
Azimut Holding is an independent financial company based in Milan, Italy, specializing in asset management and investment solutions. Established in 1989, the firm operates primarily in Italy while expanding its global presence. Its business model integrates asset management with distribution, allowing for a seamless approach to delivering financial services. Azimut manages a variety of investment products, including mutual funds and hedge funds, and offers discretionary management of individual portfolios. The company also engages in the sale and distribution of financial and insurance products internationally. With a diverse range of portfolio solutions that span traditional and alternative asset classes, Azimut generates a significant portion of its revenue from recurring fees associated with assets under management. The firm employs portfolio managers and analysts located in major financial hubs worldwide, supported by a network of client-facing financial advisors dedicated to providing quality financial advice.
Founded in 2014, this Rome-based firm manages equity funds dedicated to financing energy efficiency projects. It partners with energy service companies, focusing on the energy and infrastructure efficiency sectors.
Established in 2020, the European Innovation Council supports innovative startups and researchers with promising ideas, focusing on early-stage companies with positive environmental, social, or governance impacts. It co-invests alongside private investors.
Innogest Capital is a venture capital firm with offices in Turin, Milan, Geneva and San Francisco. It concentrates on early-stage investments in technology and healthcare startups, collaborating with local and international research centers and technology transfer offices to support portfolio companies. In healthcare, the firm targets medical devices, diagnostics and digital health, with attention to therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, neurology and oncology. In digital sectors, it backs ventures in foodtech, fintech, fashion-tech and lifestyle verticals, aiming to leverage cross-sector expertise and global networks to accelerate growth.
Italian Angels for Growth, founded in 2007 and based in Milan, Italy, is an angel investor network dedicated to supporting early-stage startups. The organization facilitates access to venture opportunities for its members, who have collectively invested over 22 million Euros in 41 startups primarily in the seed and Series A stages. The sectors of interest include Medtech, SaaS, e-commerce, Fintech, and various high-tech fields. Each investment opportunity undergoes thorough vetting by a professional team, complemented by input from seasoned members of the network. Following investment, startups benefit from the guidance of up to two Investment Champions, who leverage their expertise to enhance the companies' chances of success.
P101, established in 2013, is an Italian venture capital firm headquartered in Milan. It specializes in early-stage investments, primarily in Italian technology companies, with a focus on the digital sector. The firm aims to provide not only capital but also expertise and resources to support the growth of new ventures. P101 was launched by Andrea Di Camillo, a seasoned investor with over two decades of experience, including co-founding Banzai and Vitaminic. The firm's name pays homage to the first personal computer sold on a large scale, Programma 101, an Italian innovation from the 1960s.
Neva SGR is the venture capital arm of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group and is wholly owned by the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center. It plans and manages investment funds for professional investors seeking diversification and high-yield opportunities through venture capital. By leveraging the resources, know-how, and network of Intesa Sanpaolo Group and its Innovation Center, Neva SGR positions itself at the intersection of finance and technology, supporting Italian innovation and the growth of new technologies while contributing to the development of the venture capital market in Italy.
LIFTT is a venture capital firm established in 2019 and located in Turin, Italy. The firm focuses on investing in technology companies, aiming to support innovative ventures that demonstrate potential for growth and impact. By targeting the technology sector, LIFTT seeks to foster the development of new ideas and solutions, contributing to the advancement of the industry while generating returns for its investors.
Alto Partners SGR is a private equity firm based in Milan, Italy, focused on investing in small and medium-sized companies primarily within the Italian mid-market. The firm specializes in majority acquisitions, including management buyouts and buy-ins, while also considering selected minority investments in companies with robust shareholder protections and established exit strategies. Alto Partners SGR targets sectors such as consumer goods, food and beverages, industrial machinery, high-end mechanics, and luxury goods, among others. It typically invests in companies with revenues ranging from €20 million to €80 million and has a geographical focus on the regions of Lombardia, Emilia Romagna, Piemonte, Toscana, and Veneto. The firm's team brings over 125 years of combined financial experience, providing strategic, operational, and financial support to its portfolio companies through the expertise of qualified senior consultants.
Ardian, established in 1996, is a France-based asset manager offering global investment management services. It primarily focuses on fund of funds (55.21%), followed by direct funds (19.79%), infrastructure (16.67%), and private debt (7.29%), with a minor allocation to real estate (1.04%). Ardian invests across various sectors, including food value chain, healthcare, technology, and industrials, with a presence in Europe and North America.
United Ventures is an independent Italian venture capital firm that invests in software and digital technologies, supporting founders as they build high-growth technology companies from early stages onward. Founded in 2013 and based in Milan, it backs software, enterprise software, fintech, cloud, IoT, cybersecurity, marketplaces, and B2B/B2C models, with a portfolio spanning Europe, the United States, and other regions. The firm has managed about €190 million in assets across two early-stage funds and is raising growth-equity opportunities to broaden its strategy, aiming to help teams scale internationally and accelerate product development.
Boost Heroes is an Italy-based holding company founded in 2015, specializing in seed and early-stage investments. Located in Milan, the firm is dedicated to identifying and supporting innovative startups with high growth potential. By leveraging its expertise and resources, Boost Heroes aims to foster the development of emerging companies, contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Italy and beyond.
Vertis SGR is a private equity firm based in Naples, Italy, focusing on early stage and growth investments in small and medium-sized businesses in Southern Italy. It typically seeks minority stakes, with the possibility of majority investments in management buyouts or co-investments with other private equity partners. The firm targets technology-enabled companies, including software, robotics, automation, big data, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, and extends to sectors such as retail, consumer durables, utilities, cleantech, wellness and e-commerce. Investment sizes range from about €2 million to €9 million per portfolio company. Vertis SGR aims to support portfolio companies with growth and expansion in regional and national markets, leveraging its local footprint in Naples and an office in Milan.
The Techshop is a venture capital investment firm established in 2021 and located in Milan, Italy. Specializing in early-stage investments, the firm focuses on B2B digital startups across various sectors, including e-commerce, fintech, property, insurance, marketing technology, artificial intelligence, analytics, the Internet of Things, security, 5G, and cloud computing. Through its strategic investments, The Techshop aims to support the growth and development of innovative companies in the digital landscape.
Primo Capital is a venture capital firm focused on seed and early stage startups. The firm is a multi-fund investment company, with four different investment practices with dedicated funds on specialized strategies. Primo Capital invests in digital/software, new space, climate technology and healthcare.
InvestIndustrial is a London-based private equity firm that specializes in funding mid-market companies in Southern Europe, particularly Italy and Spain. Established in 1990, it provides industrial solutions and capital to portfolio companies across consumer, healthcare, industrial manufacturing and technology sectors. The firm traces its origins to the BI-Invest Group, a historic Italian financial and industrial conglomerate owned by the Bonomi family. It maintains advisory teams in the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, the United States and China to support growth and cross-border opportunities.
CDP Equity, established in 2011 and headquartered in Milan, Italy, is a private equity firm dedicated to providing growth capital investments primarily in companies of significant national interest. The firm focuses on sectors including defense, security, infrastructure, transportation, energy, tourism, and high technology, among others. CDP Equity aims to support listed companies or those planning to list on the stock exchange in the medium term, investing between €50 million and €100 million in firms that have a minimum annual turnover of €50 million and at least 250 employees. Additionally, the firm may consider investments in larger companies with a turnover of €300 million or more. CDP Equity also engages in co-investments and seeks to generate long-term value for its investors while contributing to the development of the Italian economy.
Founded in Munich, Germany in 2015, Picus Capital is an early-stage technology investment firm with a long-term investment philosophy. It works closely with daring founders to build successful global companies across various sectors including financial services, HR, energy & climate, healthcare, logistics & mobility, real estate & construction, crypto & web3, deeptech, and e-commerce. Picus invests in pre-seed, seed, and series A ventures, aiming to become the closest partner of its portfolio companies by supporting strategic decisions and operative challenges throughout their lifecycle.
Lazio Innova is a venture capital firm established in 2015 and headquartered in Rome, Italy. The firm focuses on supporting startups in the Lazio region through various services, including credit support and guarantees, risk capital interventions, and internationalization services. Additionally, it promotes business networks and offers resources for enterprise creation and development. By fostering the growth of local startups, Lazio Innova aims to enhance the entrepreneurial landscape in the region.
Established in 2021 and headquartered in Turin, Italy, IH1 is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in European software-enabled startups incubated by Mamazen.
Digital Magics S.p.A., founded in 2003 and based in Milan, Italy, operates as a business incubator that focuses on supporting startups in the digital and technology sectors. The company offers a range of services aimed at enhancing and accelerating business growth, from initial concept development to preparation for public offerings. In collaboration with Talent Garden and Tamburi Investment Partners, Digital Magics has established a significant national innovation hub dedicated to promoting MADE IN ITALY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES. Their Open Innovation services create a collaborative environment for established companies and emerging digital startups. Digital Magics provides its incubation and acceleration services across Talent Garden coworking campuses throughout Italy. Additionally, the firm has built a portfolio of over 99 investments in startups, scale-ups, and digital spin-offs, demonstrating its commitment to fostering high-growth potential enterprises.
SocialFare is the Centre for Social Innovation in Italy and operates as a social enterprise based in Turin. Its mission is to catalyse, generate, and innovate solutions for the Common Good through activities such as research, product and service design, and the development of entrepreneurial models that promote change and generate economic value from social value. The organization develops ideas and plans addressing societal challenges by integrating residents' experience, community knowledge, technology, and social action to pilot smart solutions in the local territory. It identifies emerging needs and supports the development of community services, social entrepreneurship, sustainability, and networks.
Progressio SGR, established in 2005, is a Milan-based independent private equity firm. It manages approximately 306 million Euros across two funds, investing in small and medium-sized companies with revenues between 20 and 200 million Euros. The firm focuses on industrial and service sectors, targeting majority and minority stakes through buy-outs, buy-ins, and expansion financing. Progressio SGR partners with family-owned companies and motivated entrepreneurs, aiming to support their growth and operational development.
Ambienta SGR is a private equity firm based in Milan with offices in London, Munich and Paris. It specializes in environmental sector investments, offering growth capital, low-leverage buyouts, accretive add-ons, and later-stage mid-market transactions, including management buyouts and buy-ins. The firm targets small to mid-sized companies across Europe, North America and Asia that enhance resource efficiency or reduce pollution, with focus areas spanning renewable energy services and equipment (wind, solar, hydro and mini-hydro, biomass and biogas, biofuels), energy storage and distribution, water treatment and management, waste management and recycling, emission controls and pollution mitigation, clean power systems, and related environmental technologies. It typically pursues investments in the €30–€100 million range per deal, with capacity up to €140 million for opportunities with enterprise values of €50–€300 million, and commonly takes majority or qualified minority stakes with co-investors.
COIMA SGR, an Italian property management firm based in Milan, specializes in investment and asset management services within the real estate sector. The company manages opportunistic real estate funds, including Coima Opportunity Fund I and Coima Opportunity Fund II, which focus on various property types such as retail, office, and industrial assets in Italy. COIMA SGR caters to both domestic and international institutional investors, offering tailored management and investment solutions to meet diverse strategic needs in the real estate market.
Founded in 2007, Atlante Ventures is an Italian venture capital firm with a focus on seed and early-stage investments. Managed by IMI Fondi Chiusi SGR, part of Intesa Sanpaolo Group, the company supports innovative startups both domestically and internationally. With approximately €60 million under management across its funds, Atlante Ventures invests in companies demonstrating a unique product or service, strong intellectual property, and a dynamic entrepreneurial team.
Proximity Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2014 and located in Milan, Italy. The firm focuses on investing in business-to-business software startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, primarily targeting companies based in Italy and Europe. Proximity Capital aims to support visionary entrepreneurs who are committed to innovation and transformative change, fostering meaningful connections with exceptional founders. Through its investments, the firm seeks to empower these entrepreneurs to build impactful companies that can reshape industries and contribute positively to society.
Panakes Partners is a Milan-based venture capital firm founded in 2015 that specializes in early-stage investments in life sciences and healthcare across Europe and Israel. It backs ambitious teams developing innovative technologies and products to improve human health, providing capital and strategic guidance to move scientific discoveries toward practical market applications.
Credit Agricole CIB operates in the sectors of capital markets, investment, and corporate banking. The company focuses on providing financial services and solutions to corporate and institutional clients. With expertise in various financial products and services, Credit Agricole CIB assists clients in achieving their capital raising and investment goals. The company is known for its strong presence in the global financial market and its commitment to delivering tailored financial solutions to meet the specific needs of its clients.
Founded in 1563, Compagnia di San Paolo is an independent non-profit organization based in Turin, Italy. It operates with philanthropic purposes, focusing on scientific research, education, art conservation, cultural heritage enhancement, and social assistance.
Founded in Milan, Italy in 2000, Wise Equity is a private equity firm focused on investing in small and mid-cap companies based primarily in Italy, with a strong emphasis on those with international sales potential. The firm specializes in complex primary buyouts, often sourcing from family sellers, and seeks to strengthen market leadership through strategic add-on acquisitions and developing international operations.
Established in 2019, B4i is Bocconi University's entrepreneurial hub, supporting early-stage founders through acceleration and pre-acceleration programs. It fosters an entrepreneurial culture by hosting community activities for students, investors, alumni, and relevant players.
Founded in 1881, Banco de Sabadell is a Spanish banking group specializing in serving small and medium enterprises. It offers a wide range of financial products and services for personal, business, and private customers, including retail banking, corporate banking, asset management, insurance, and pension products.
Chequers Capital is an independent Paris-based private equity firm founded in 1972 that invests in mid-market companies across Europe. It seeks to acquire controlling stakes in leveraged buyouts and collaborates with entrepreneurs and management to strengthen equity, finance acquisitions, enable transitions, or restructure ownership to unlock value. With offices in Paris, Munich and Milan, the firm has completed nearly 300 investments in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the United Kingdom, and manages about €1.5 billion of resources. Chequers Capital targets sectors including business-to-business services, information technology services, asset-light industries and healthcare.
Progress Tech Transfer is an impact investing firm established in 2018 and based in Luxembourg. The company focuses on investing in sustainable technologies developed from the research conducted by Italian universities and public research organizations. Progress Tech Transfer aims to support start-ups, spin-offs, and entrepreneurs in the sustainable technology sector, promoting innovations that contribute to environmental and social progress. By leveraging academic research and fostering entrepreneurial initiatives, the firm seeks to drive positive change and advance sustainable development.