Italian startup ecosystem grows and gives the boost also to non-tech sectors.
Exein, an Italian Internet of Things cybersecurity startup, raised 2 million of euros from United Ventures (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Exein will invest such resources in developing further its software for the firmware security. Gianni Cuozzo founded Exein in July 2018. Massimiliano Magrini, co-founder and managing partner of United Ventures, said that his firm is keen on investing in an entrepreneur and a company that may protect the privacy globally.
Bnp Paribas and Digital Magics launched MIA – Miss In Action, an accelerator for women-led Italian startups and innovative SMEs (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Isabella Fumagalli, ceo of BNP Paribas Cardif and Coordinator of the Italian chapter of BNP Paribas IFS ), Layla Pavone (Chief Innovation Marketing and Communication Officer of Digital Magics), Andrea Munari (ceo of Bnl Italy’s country manager of Bnp Paribas), and Marco Gay (ceo of Digital Magics) presented MIA. A panel of judges will select the four best women-led startups and innovative SMEs. Jury members are Anna Amati, Vice President of META Group and member of IAG; Paola Bonomo, Business Angel;Frieda Brioschi, entrepreneur and Professor at IED; Roberta Cocco, Milan City Hall Assessor for Digital Transformation and community services; Alessandra Gritti, ceo of Tamburi Investment Partners; Sandra Mori, President of Valore D and Data Privacy Officer of Coca-Cola Europe; and Fausta Pavesio, Business Angel and Investor Board Member of Smartup Capital.
uFirst, a provider of fast-track services that belongs to venture capital fund Alchimia, acquired Qurami, an app that allows taking numbers for cues without being physically in the standing line (see here a previous post by BeBeez). In July 2016, Qurami closed an investment round through which it raised resources from R204 Partners, an investment company that Bain&Company partners Duilio Matrullo and Roberto Folli founded. In late 2014 Qurami raised 0.59 million euros from UniCredit StartLab, LVenture Group, a group of members of Italian Angles for Growth, and further private investors. After such a transaction, LVenture will partially exit Qurami as it will receive cash and shares of uFirst for the asset. Roberto Macina founded Qurami in 2011. uFirst appointed Matteo Lentini (previously working with Foodora Italia) as managing director. The company was born in 2016, and the list of investors who provided their support to the business includesEduardo Teodorani Fabbri (the son of Maria Sole Agnelli), Fabio Borghese, cousins Gilda and Angelo Mario Moratti. Paolo Barletta, ceo of Gruppo Barletta, founded Alchimia in 2018 together with Alessio Vinciguerra and Lorenzo Castelli. Alchimia is the only Italian investor inVirgin Hyperloop One, a project for a magnetic gravitation train.
Milan based miscusi, the Italian restaurant chain serving handmade fresh pasta, raised 5 million of euros through an investment round that Milano Investment Partners (MIP) led (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Alberto Cartasegna and Filippo Mottolese founded miscusi in March 2017. Alexander Samwer, co-founder of German e-commerce accelerator Rocket Internet, previously invested in miscusi, which managed to generate sales worth 4.5 million euros in 20 months of activity.
