Shop Circle, a London-based developer of apps for e-commerce that Gian Maria Gramondi and Luca Cartechini founded in 2021, raised 120 million US Dollars in equity and debt (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The company will invest such proceeds in its organic growth and development, Cartechini said. Shop Circle attracted equity resources from 645 Ventures, 3VC, QED Investors, NfX, CDP Venture Capital, Primo Ventures , BlackSheep Madtech Fund (a vehicle of EUREKA! Venture), and The TechShop. US-based i80Group provided the company with venture debt.
Cleafy, a scaleup for fighting banking and digital frauds, raised 10 million euros from Milan-based UV T-Growth (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The company will invest such proceeds in its organic growth and the development of its proprietary technology. Moviri sold part of its 56.25% stake and kept a minority. Matteo Bogana, Niccolò Pastore and Carmine Giangregorio founded the company in 2014.
MintWatch, an Italian startup for the luxury watches investments born in 2022, raised one million euros from several angel investors (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Matteo Melegari and Fabio Piloni, the company’s founders, are working on two Security Token Offering (STOs) for allowing retail investors to join the project. Sources said to BeBeez that MintWatch is going to launch a first STO of 3.5 million in autumn 2023 on Blockinvest. In 2Q24, MintWathch will launch another 7.5 million worth STO.
Eden Ventures, a vehicle that Italian Angels for Growth (IAG) launched in October 2022, said it invested in Anthropos, a California-based HR startup that Stefano Bellasio and Giacomo Marinangeli founded (see here a previous post by BeBeez).
Vitanuova, an insurance broker born in 2015, acquired Axieme, an insurtech startup (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The vendors retained Futura Law Firm STA. Edoardo Monaco (ceo), Marco Pollara (cto) and Matteo Gallo founded Axieme in December 2016. In 2018, the company received the acceleration support of Magic Wand, a programme of Digital Magics, BNL BNP Paribas, Credito Valtellinese, Ersel Investimenti, Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Innogest, Poste Italiane, SellaLab, SisalPay, Società Reale Mutua di Assicurazioni, and UBI Banca. Axieme will invest the raised proceeds in its proprietary technology and organic development.
Neva, a venture capital of Intesa Sanpaolo, is working on the launch of Neva II Global and Neva II Europe (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The veichles will be operative in 2H24 and will target ESG and circular economy companies. Neva II Global aims to raise 380-400 million euros to invest in firms based in USA, Israel and Europe. Neva II Europe aims to fetch 100-120 million and will focus on Italian and European targets. Luca Remmert and Mario Costantini are the chairman and ceo of Neva. Gian Maria Gros-Pietro is the chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo.
LIFTT, the venture capital that Stefano Buono heads, appointed as Francesco Maria Berri head of M&A and Business Development (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Berri is an alumnus of Lazard.
In 1H23, the investment portfolio of Milan-listed LVenture Group is worth 29.1 million euros(29.9 million in 2H22 and 30.2 million in 1Q22) (see here a previous post by BeBeez). In 1H23, LVenture, the early stage investor that Luigi Capello founded, carried on investments for 0.5 million (1.2 million in 1H22) and fetched 0.4 million out of the sale of its stake in the software house Filo.
