Rome, Italy · Venture Capital Founded in 2015 as the National Innovation Fund (Fondo Nazionale Innovazione) and wholly owned by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, CDP Venture Capital SGR is the largest venture capital operator in Italy and one of the biggest in Europe, deploying capital through a family of direct and fund-of-funds vehicles with a combined target allocation of over €3.3 billion in its 2024–2028 business plan. It operates across the full lifecycle — from seed (Italia Venture I/II) through growth (Large Ventures, target €700 million) and ecosystem development (VenturItaly II FoF, target €700 million) — covering deep tech, life sciences, digital transition, and sustainability. The portfolio spans 246+ companies, with notable names including Everli and Arduino; its fund-of-funds arms back virtually every significant Italian VC manager. As a state-backed anchor LP and direct co-investor, CDP acts as the cornerstone of the national innovation ecosystem.
Venture Capital Multi-stage Deep TechLife SciencesDigitalSustainabilitySpaceFintech
Milan, Italy · Venture Capital Founded in 2016 by Davide Turco, Elizabeth Tosto, Antonella Grassigli, and Alvise Bonivento, Indaco Venture Partners SGR is Italy's largest independent venture capital management company, with over €350 million in assets under management across six funds. The firm specialises in proprietary-technology companies at Series A and B, with deep expertise in electronics, robotics, medtech, advanced materials, and digital sectors. Notable portfolio companies include Newronika (adaptive deep brain stimulation), Sibylla Biotech, Almawave, and Codasip; exits include Silicon Biosystems and Directa Plus. Indaco's differentiated focus on hardware-intensive and science-driven startups sets it apart from Italy's mostly software-focused VC landscape.
Venture Capital Seed to Series B ElectronicsRoboticsMedTechAdvanced MaterialsDigital
Milan, Italy · Venture Capital Founded in 2013 by Andrea Di Camillo — a serial entrepreneur behind Vitaminic and Banzai and an early investor in Yoox and Venere — P101 is one of Italy's most prominent early-stage VC firms, managing approximately €500 million AUM. Its latest vehicle, Programma 103, closed at €250 million in early 2025, targeting early-stage startups in fintech, proptech, edtech, and cybersecurity with an average ticket of €5 million. Over 12 years P101 has backed 58+ companies and completed roughly 290 transactions with ~20 exits; standout portfolio names include Musixmatch (acquired by TPG for ~$500 million in 2023). The firm has a stated goal that Programma 103 companies will collectively generate €5 billion in revenue and 3,000+ jobs by 2030.
Venture Capital Pre-Seed to Series A FintechPropTechEdTechCybersecurityConsumerEnterprise Software
Milan, Italy · Venture Capital Primo Ventures (operating entity: Primomiglio SGR), led by chairman Gianluca Dettori and founded in 2016, is a Milan-based VC managing approximately €530 million in assets across digital and space-focused funds. It launched the first Italian venture capital fund dedicated to space technologies — Primo Space Fund (target €80 million, first close €58 million) — in partnership with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Fondazione E. Amaldi, backing deep-space logistics, propulsion, and AI for spacecraft. Portfolio investments include D-Orbit (space logistics, Series C co-lead) and AIKO (AI for autonomous spacecraft operations). Beyond space, its digital fund invests in B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, and fintech at seed and early-growth stages.
Venture Capital Seed to Series B Space TechB2B SaaSCybersecurityFintechDeep Tech
Milan, Italy · Venture Capital Founded in 2013 by Massimiliano Magrini (former Google Italy MD) and Paolo Gesess, United Ventures is one of Italy's leading independent technology-focused VC firms, with cumulative AUM approaching €500 million across three funds including a €150 million early-stage Fund III (launched 2023) and a dedicated growth vehicle, UV T-Growth. The firm targets software, fintech, cybersecurity, cloud, IoT, and marketplace companies predominantly at Series A, co-investing across Italy and Europe. Its portfolio of 51 companies has generated 10 acquisitions and 2 IPOs; landmark investments include Musixmatch (10x+ return on exit to TPG), Everli (Series C lead, €22 million), and Cleafy (Series B, 2026).
Venture Capital Seed to Series B SoftwareFintechCybersecurityCloudIoTMarketplaceDeep Tech