Italy’s most active early-stage venture capital fund, Vento, has announced the launch of its second fund, committing €75 million over the next five years to support bold Italian startup founders worldwide. This move solidifies Vento’s role as a driving force behind Italy’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, fostering a new wave of global tech leaders.
Since its debut in 2022, Vento has played a crucial role in identifying, supporting, and scaling promising Italian startups, positioning itself as a key player in Italy’s growing venture capital landscape.
Diverse and dynamic team
Led by Diyala D’Aveni, the firm boasts a dynamic team of professionals under 35, predominantly female, bringing fresh perspectives and a new level of dynamism to the sector. This diverse team is instrumental in shaping a more inclusive and forward-thinking investment landscape in Italy.
Also, Vento is chaired by John Elkann and boasts a distinguished Investment Committee, including notable industry veterans such as Diego Piacentini, Mike Volpi, and Jean de La Rochebrochard. Their collective expertise helps shape Vento’s ambitious vision: to transform Italy’s underserved tech ecosystem into a thriving global force, capable of competing with the country’s most successful industries.
A bold vision for Italian tech
Vento’s investment strategy is centered exclusively on Italian founders, whether based in Italy or abroad. The primary focus is on entrepreneurs in key global markets such as the US, the UK, Germany, and France. By maintaining a highly selective investment process, Vento has evaluated over 3,500 startups, resulting in just 100 investments—a rigourous 2.5% conversion rate. Each initial investment is standardised at €150,000, with follow-on funding opportunities for the most promising startups.
This strategic approach ensures that Italian founders receive not only financial backing but also access to a strong network of investors, mentors, and industry experts who can help them scale globally.
The fund’s impact is already evident. To date, Vento has invested in 100 startups, including Bee, JetHR, and Qomodo, making it one of the largest early-stage portfolios in Italy. The new €75 million fund, known as Fund II, aims to significantly expand this reach, with plans to back 375 startups over the next five years.
Beyond capital: Building the ecosystem
The VC’s mission extends beyond venture capital. The firm is actively engaged in fostering a broader tech ecosystem through initiatives like Italian Tech Week. This premier event has attracted high-profile speakers such as Sam Altman, Reid Hoffman, Brian Chesky, Daniel Ek, and Elon Musk, connecting Italian founders with international investors and global industry leaders.
Additionally, Vento operates a venture-building program, which has successfully created 26 startups over three cohorts. The five-month program is one of Italy’s most prominent startup incubation initiatives, providing hands-on support to early-stage founders as they develop and scale their businesses.
Portfolio of investments
Vento has built one of Italy’s largest early-stage portfolios, backing 100 startups across diverse sectors. Notable investments include Bee, a mobility startup revolutionising last-mile delivery with electric vehicles; JetHR, a cutting-edge HR-tech platform streamlining payroll and compliance for businesses; and Qomodo, a cybersecurity firm enhancing digital identity protection. These companies exemplify Vento’s commitment to fostering globally competitive Italian founders.
Redefines Italian innovation
With the launch of Fund II, Vento is set to deepen its impact on Italy’s startup ecosystem, identifying and backing the country’s most ambitious founders. By combining venture capital investment, venture building, and ecosystem development through Italian Tech Week, Vento is cementing its status as Italy’s leading early-stage investment platform.
As Vento continues to support and scale Italian startups worldwide, its influence in the global venture capital landscape is expected to grow, ultimately positioning Italian entrepreneurship as a major force in the global tech economy.
“Almost three years after launching Vento,” said John Elkann, Chair of Vento. “We’re proud to renew our commitment and back top Italian entrepreneurs with a new fund. The passion behind their innovative ventures and our shared successes so far drive us to pursue even more ambitious goals together.”
“We believe Italy’s technological and entrepreneurial potential has been underserved for too long,” added Diyala D’Aveni, CEO of Vento. “Through our three-pronged approach combining direct investment, venture building, and our annual tech conference, we are committed to changing this narrative and positioning Italy as a major European tech hub.”
