Vento, the Italian chapter of Exor Ventures*, is proud to celebrate its second anniversary, with significant impact and success within the Italian startup ecosystem. Over the past two years, Vento has established itself as a pioneering force in the field of investment and new business creation, promoting innovation in various sectors and encouraging the growth of innovative startups.
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A dual approach to innovation
The heart of Vento’s success lies in two main activities: investments and venture building. Vento has set a new standard for venture capital in Italy, offering an investment ticket of 150,000 euros to early-stage startups in any sector, provided they have at least one Italian founder. The company stands out for its speed of decision-making, averaging just five days to report results, and for its founder-friendly approach. To date, Vento has reviewed more than 2,400 applications, investing in 60 companies, a testament to its rigorous selection process and commitment to excellence.
The venture building program further exemplifies Vento’s innovative approach, selecting talented people in the pre-idea and pre-team phase and supporting them financially in the development of their startups. Currently in its third edition, the program has received over 1,500 applications, selected 110 talents and launched 20 startups, with investments in 10 of these. These results were achieved thanks to the constant support of Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo and OGR Torino. Vento is now working on the next investment committee, which will decide on potential pre-seed investments of 80,000 euros in the latest cohort of 40 talents.
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A diversified portfolio
Commenting on the first two years of activity, Diyala D’Aveni, at the helm of Vento, declared “We are the most active non-governmental fund in Italy and we have a very diversified portfolio of companies. Notably, Health Tech and Biotech together represent a significant 20% of our investments, demonstrating our dedication to startups at the intersection of technology, healthcare and life sciences. The remainder of our portfolio spans vital sectors such as Software/SaaS/Marketplace (35%), Fintech and Deeptech (10% each), as well as emerging sectors such as SpaceTech and PropTech (5% each), demonstrating our commitment to cultivating broad range of technologies that pave the way for a future of technological advancements and lasting impact. Vento is not only a catalyst for technological and entrepreneurial innovation, but also a champion of diversity within the startup community. 30% of the founders in our portfolio are women. This figure significantly exceeds industry averages and demonstrates Vento’s commitment to inclusive growth.”
*Exor is also the owner of Gedi, which includes Italian Tech, La Stampa, Repubblica, Secolo XIX