The Week in Italian Startup

Giacomo Mollo
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The Week in Italian Startup discusses and analyzes the latest news from the Italian startup ecosystem. Giacomo Mollo is a former academic in philosophy turned tech investor. He is co-founder and partner of iN3 Ventures, a corporate innovation and VC firm. Niccolò Sanarico is an Oxford MBA and a software engineer with a passion for innovation and startups. He is currently an Investment Manager at Primo Ventures SGR, a venture capital firm based in Italy.

  1. 24 DE OUT.

    Caracol raising $40M; Maia Ventures closing 55M new foodtech fund #182

    The episode discusses Caracol’s $40M Series B round, Europe-wide venture capital momentum, and deep-tech additive manufacturing. The hosts underline how Italian startups must stop thinking locally and begin raising from pan-European investors early to scale properly. They highlight Omnes and Move Capital as examples of sophisticated European deep-tech investors backing the deal. The conversation then dives into Caracol’s industrial 3D printing traction — especially a 77% cost reduction in marine parts via additive manufacturing pilots, and the shift from polymer to metal. They stress that this deal is not another AI SaaS hype wave but a “real-tech, atoms-not-bits” case. The episode also covers Maia Ventures’ €55M food/agri-tech fund launch as a counter-cyclical signal in the Italian market. Finally, they discuss whether Europe will match last year’s overall VC deployment, and how deal announcements often lag closing dates, causing misleading end-of-year “spikes.” Niccolò's newsletter: ⁠⁠http://dealflowit.niccolosanarico.com/⁠⁠Watch on Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@giacomomollo⁠Listen to all episodes on audio:Spotify: ⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3fVynsQ⁠⁠Google Podcast: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3thf9RC⁠⁠Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://apple.co/3Elhykq⁠⁠Amazon Music: ⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/9Dtd9⁠⁠Get in touch:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/giacxxx⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/giacomomollo⁠⁠Email: giacomo@in3.ventures#venturecapital #italy #startup

    12min

  2. 14 DE OUT.

    The Open-Hardware Deal No One Expected; Cyberwave, Eoliann, Italian Pension Funds and VC? #181

    This episode dives into the week’s biggest startup, tech, and venture-capital stories: Cyberwave, Eoliann, Arduino’s Qualcomm deal, and Italy’s new pension-fund VC law. The hosts unpack how Cyberwave’s €7 million seed round shows the rise of digital-twin infrastructure for testing industrial robotics safely before real-world deployment. They then explore Eoliann’s €4.25 million raise, combining satellite data and climate-risk modeling for insurance and infrastructure investors—a sign that space-data startups are entering finance. Next, they analyze Qualcomm’s acquisition of Arduino, a historic shift that bridges the open-hardware movement with corporate edge-AI power, potentially letting makers build commercial-grade products faster. The discussion expands to robotics, AI hardware, and the new generation of founders with exits moving into deep tech. Finally, they break down Italy’s Decreto 95/2025, which lets pension funds invest up to 10 percent in VC by 2027 with tax exemptions. Niccolò's newsletter: ⁠http://dealflowit.niccolosanarico.com/⁠ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@giacomomollo Listen to all episodes on audio: Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3fVynsQ⁠ Google Podcast: ⁠https://bit.ly/3thf9RC⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3Elhykq⁠ Amazon Music: ⁠https://shorturl.at/9Dtd9⁠ Get in touch: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/giacxxx⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/giacomomollo⁠ Email: giacomo@in3.ventures #venturecapital #italy #startup

    22min

  3. 10 DE OUT.

    Vertical AI wins: Lexroom. Also: Serenis, Lupa and State of Italian VC - Oct 7, 2025 #180

    The episode focuses on a number of Series A rounds, spotlighting Lexroom’s €16M for AI-assisted legal drafting, Serenis’ €12M amid explosive revenue growth, and Lupa’s €20M veterinary operating system. We argue vertical, domain-trained AI is winning where complexity is high, with “proof of love” (user delight) emerging as the decisive product metric. We highlight increasingly international syndicates and urge Italian founders to pitch EU and US investors from day zero to avoid later-stage bottlenecks. Roman-law commonalities make Lexroom’s expansion across continental Europe logical, while Lupa’s workflow unification underscores ROI-driven adoption. Serenis’ B2B wellness surge signals corporate readiness to fund mental-health infrastructure. Finally, we caution that bold “enterprise value” figures are mostly unrealized, so outcomes hinge on eventual distributions, not headlines. Niccolò's newsletter: ⁠http://dealflowit.niccolosanarico.com/⁠ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@giacomomollo Listen to all episodes on audio: Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3fVynsQ⁠ Google Podcast: ⁠https://bit.ly/3thf9RC⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3Elhykq⁠ Amazon Music: ⁠https://shorturl.at/9Dtd9⁠ #venturecapital #italy #startup Get in touch: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/giacxxx⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/giacomomollo⁠ Email: giacomo@in3.ventures #venturecapital #italy #startup

    21min

  4. 7 DE OUT.

    Are European VCs Quietly Matching U.S. DPI? The New Data Says Yes - Sep 30, 2025 #179

    Highly syndicated rounds with more international investors backing Italian and European startups. We discuss TIP’s markup implying Bending Spoons’ €5B valuation and speculate on a potential IPO. The centerpiece is BlackRock + EIF’s TrackVC dashboard, giving Europe a rare, official benchmark for DPI, TVPI, and net IRR—albeit with a one-year lag and GP-reported, interim data. We stress the J-curve and argue that judging performance should focus on older vintages (2017–2019) rather than frothy 2021–2022. A key insight: while TVPI gaps look wide between U.S. and Europe, DPI outcomes appear to converge more than many assume. Another takeaway is structural: European funds show a tighter spread between median and 75th percentile, suggesting different risk posture or valuation dynamics. Niccolò's newsletter: ⁠http://dealflowit.niccolosanarico.com/⁠ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@giacomomollo Listen to all episodes on audio: Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3fVynsQ⁠ Google Podcast: ⁠https://bit.ly/3thf9RC⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3Elhykq⁠ Amazon Music: ⁠https://shorturl.at/9Dtd9⁠ #venturecapital #italy #startup Get in touch: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/giacxxx⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/giacomomollo⁠ Email: giacomo@in3.ventures

    21min

  5. 23 DE SET.

    Bending Spoons: 500M in Debt + Vimeo Acquisition Explained ; Nozomi; ShopCircle- Sept 23, 2025 #178

    We discuss Bending Spoons’ massive $500M debt financing led by JP Morgan and other global banks, and its headline-making $1.38B acquisition of Vimeo, signaling a bold product consolidation strategy. We highlight speculation of a possible IPO and synergies across Bending Spoons’ video and productivity tools. The episode also covers Shop Circle’s $200M Series B round, emphasizing its acquisition-driven SaaS platform strategy and strong founder-led execution. A landmark deal is Mitsubishi Electric’s $1B acquisition of Italian cybersecurity leader Nozomi Networks, a case study in corporate venture collaboration. Finally, we preview an upcoming analysis of BlackRock’s VC report on European fund performance, focusing on metrics like TVPI, DPI, and IRR. Niccolò's newsletter: ⁠http://dealflowit.niccolosanarico.com/⁠ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@giacomomollo Listen to all episodes on audio: Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3fVynsQ⁠ Google Podcast: ⁠https://bit.ly/3thf9RC⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3Elhykq⁠ Amazon Music: ⁠https://shorturl.at/9Dtd9⁠ #venturecapital #italy #startup Get in touch: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/giacxxx⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/giacomomollo⁠ Email: giacomo@in3.ventures #venturecapital #italy #startup

    15min

  6. 22 DE JUL.

    Exein Built a Digital Immune System for 1 Billion Devices, Tulum, Nuclidium - July 22, 2025 #177

    This episode kicks off with Exein, a cybersecurity startup building a “digital immune system” for IoT devices, which raised €70M and achieved 450% YoY growth, highlighting strong demand for device-level protection. We break down the massive opportunity in cybersecurity, noting unicorn creation and strong ARR multiples. Next, the conversation shifts to Tulum Energy, a clean-tech firm producing turquoise hydrogen using methane pyrolysis, which raised €27M in a seed round backed by major corporates like CDP and TDK Ventures. We spotlight Nuclearis, a biotech firm working on theranostics (therapy + diagnostics) for precision oncology, backed by Novartis and Italian VC Angelini Ventures. The final segment covers the booming welfare tech space in Italy and why July 2025 has become the most active fundraising month of the year so far—on track to surpass 2024 totals. Niccolò's newsletter: ⁠http://dealflowit.niccolosanarico.com/⁠ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@giacomomollo Listen to all episodes on audio: Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3fVynsQ⁠ Google Podcast: ⁠https://bit.ly/3thf9RC⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3Elhykq⁠ Amazon Music: ⁠https://shorturl.at/9Dtd9⁠ #venturecapital #italy #startup

    19min

  7. 1 DE JUL.

    Sibill Disrupting Italian Accounting, ZNEXT launching a 60M Initiative, LIFTT - July 1, 2025 #176

    Sibill, a fintech startup, stands out for its innovative approach to automating accounting for Italian SMEs, saving business owners up to five hours a week and streamlining compliance with government agencies and banks. The conversation highlights a broader trend: “boring” but essential business problems like finance and HR are now lucrative targets for modern startups. ZNEXT’s €60M initiative is spotlighted as a unique hybrid venture builder and M&A engine, self-financed by Zanichelli Editore, and focused on human potential technologies spanning education, wellness, and productivity. LIFTT’s transformation into a multi-vertical VC is discussed as a sign of maturity and diversification in the Italian innovation ecosystem, with deep tech investments in energy and quantum computing. The episode also touches on new nuclear ventures in Turin and the increasing professionalism and ambition of Italian startup founders and investors. Niccolò's newsletter: ⁠http://dealflowit.niccolosanarico.com/⁠ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@giacomomollo Listen to all episodes on audio: Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3fVynsQ⁠ Google Podcast: ⁠https://bit.ly/3thf9RC⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3Elhykq⁠ Amazon Music: ⁠https://shorturl.at/9Dtd9⁠ #venturecapital #italy #startup

    17min

  8. 26 DE JUN.

    JetHR Making Payroll Sexy, Vikey Acquired, Investor-Founder Match - June 25, 2025 #175

    Jet HR, an HR tech startup, just raised €25M in a growth round from Base10 Partners, Exor Ventures, and the Italian Founders Fund. Known for integrating with over 600 government entities and simplifying Italy’s complex payroll system, Jet HR achieved a 6X increase in ARR and now serves over 700 SMEs. The founders—already seasoned entrepreneurs—are steering the company toward breakeven while scaling rapidly. This marks one of the fastest-growing ventures in the Italian ecosystem this year. The episode also covers the M&A exit of VKey, acquired by Zucchetti, signaling a return to liquidity in Italy’s venture market. In the broader context, Italian investors like Neva SGR are backing next-gen tech such as nuclear fusion and quantum computing, suggesting Italy’s quiet but impactful push into deep tech. The conversation ends with Roberto Bonanzinga’s philosophical take on investor-founder alignment, reminding us that capital doesn’t create maturity—only traction does. Niccolò's newsletter: ⁠http://dealflowit.niccolosanarico.com/⁠ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@giacomomollo Listen to all episodes on audio: Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3fVynsQ⁠ Google Podcast: ⁠https://bit.ly/3thf9RC⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3Elhykq⁠ Amazon Music: ⁠https://shorturl.at/9Dtd9⁠ #venturecapital #italy #startup Get in touch: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/giacxxx⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/giacomomollo⁠ Email: giacomo@in3.ventures #venturecapital #italy #startup

    18min
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Sobre

The Week in Italian Startup discusses and analyzes the latest news from the Italian startup ecosystem. Giacomo Mollo is a former academic in philosophy turned tech investor. He is co-founder and partner of iN3 Ventures, a corporate innovation and VC firm. Niccolò Sanarico is an Oxford MBA and a software engineer with a passion for innovation and startups. He is currently an Investment Manager at Primo Ventures SGR, a venture capital firm based in Italy.

Informações

  • Criado por
    Giacomo Mollo
  • Anos de atividade
    2021 - 2025
  • Episódios
    183
  • Classificação
    Livre
  • Copyright
    © Giacomo Mollo
  • Site do podcast
    The Week in Italian Startup

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