Z_One Fund Raises Over €35 Mn Toward €60M Target to Invest in Italian Startups

The fund has attracted support from several major institutional investors in Italy. CDP Venture Capital SGR has committed capital through its newly launched Fondo Acceleratori 2.

Other investors include Zest, which is listed on Euronext Milan, Lazio Innova through a parallel fund focused on the Lazio region, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, and several private investors.

“The development of an increasingly mature innovation ecosystem comes from the ability to value specialised operators capable of supporting startups from the earliest stages of growth. It is with this vision that we chose to invest in Z_One Fund, the first investment of the Fondo Acceleratori 2, the cornerstone of our new acceleration strategy, designed to leverage the skills of specialised managers and operators, while maintaining the Rete Nazionale Acceleratori’s ability to combine investment with operational and mentorship support to help companies with go-to-market and the validation of their business model,” said Stefano Molino, Head of the Fondo Acceleratori at CDP Venture Capital.

“Italian venture capital needs a financial supply chain to help high-potential startups grow. This requires institutional capital willing to invest from the very beginning and the ability to support founders in developing their business. With Z_One Fund we put to use the experience gained over years of investing and acceleration,” said Capello, Partner at Z_One Fund.

He added, “We want to give more teams the opportunity to test themselves against the market and to progressively concentrate resources on the companies that show the greatest potential, in segments that open up important opportunities for a new generation of tech companies. Our ambition is to help them be born in Italy with a European outlook.”

“With Z_One Fund we take a further step in Eureka!’s growth path as a multi-strategy platform dedicated to alternative investments. We believe venture capital needs increasingly specialised and vertical models, capable of combining entrepreneurial talent, capital, expertise and operational support,” said Stefano Peroncini, CEO of Eureka! Venture SGR, manager of Z_One Fund.

Z_One Fund will invest in startups that use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve business operations, public administration, and services for citizens. The fund aims to support technologies that make these processes more efficient and accessible.

In urban technology, the fund will focus on solutions that improve city life. These include energy and resource efficiency, urban resilience, electric and connected mobility, smart water and waste management, public services, security, and better use of public spaces.

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