UK-based NeoPhore, a biotech company of Cambridge that the founder Alberto Bardelli heads, attracted the resources of pharma giant Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and closed the extension of the Series B round that launched in 2021 (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The company previously attracted 18 million euros from lead investor Claris Ventures, Frankfurt-listed 2Invest, 3B Future Health Fund (fka Helsinn Investment Fund), Astellas Venture Management, and CRT Pioneer Fund (a vehicle that Sixth Element Capital manages). The company will invest such resources in R&D ahead of finding a drug candidate in 2025. Pietro Puglisi (Claris Ventures), Heikki Lanckriet (2Invest) and Marianne Bjordal (3B Future Health Fund) are part of NeoPhore’s board.
Fondo Corporate Partners (FCP) – CDP Venture Capital has resources of above 300 million euros and already invested in 15 companies since its launch in September 2021 (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The final fundraising target is of 400 million or 100 million to allocate in each of the FCP’s units that are EnergyTech (Marino Giocondi heads it and already raised all of its resources as Baker Hughes, Edison, Snam, Italgas, Terna Forward, and others poured money in the vehicle); InfraTech (Matteo Pozzi); IndustryTech (Enrico Fili), and ServiceTech (Laura Scaramella).
Angelini Ventures, a vehicle that is part of 2 billion euros sale Italian healthcare firm Angelini Industries, has resources of 300 million for investing in BioTech and Digital Health, ceo Paolo Di Giorgio said to BeBeez (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The fund already planned 80 million worth investments in startups based in Europe and North America.
XGEN Venture Life Science Fund, a vehicle that XGEN Venture launched in 2022, raised 160 million euros ahead of a 200 million target (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The fund attracted the resources of anchor investor Micheli Associati, The European Investment Fund, CDP Venture Capital, Unicredit, Quaestio Capital, Banco BPM, Inarcassa, ENPAM, Fondazione di Sardegna, Banca Sella Holding, and other family offices. The founding partners Paolo Fundarò, Federica Draghi and Daniele Scarinci also invested for 2.5% of total resources.
Terna Forward, a corporate venture capital that Milan-listed energy network Terna launched in late 2022, aims to invest 50 million euros in startups and consolidated companies with a potential for growth and innovation (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Giuseppina Di Foggia is the ceo of Terna which allocated 2 billion to invest in the energy and digital transitions for the 2024-2028. Massimiliano Garri, Terna’s executive vice president of Innovation and Market Solutions, heads Terna Forward.
Italian iconic publisher Gruppo Mondadori launched PLAI, an accelerator for AI-focused startups that aim to raise pre-seed and seed resources of at least 0.1 million euros in exchange of a minority stake (see here a previous post by BeBeez). PLAI will support every year 10 Italian and international startups operating in the fields of publishing, education, retail, media, and advertising. Mondadori allocated 6 million in PLAI for the 2024-2026 investments. Antonio Porro, the parent company’s ceo, will head PLAI for which Stefano Argiolas will act as ceo.
Good Food Makers (GFMs), a global open innovation programme of Italian food company Barilla, launched its sixth call for startups (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Tommaso Maschera is the director of Plug and Play Italy, one of the supporters of GFMs that will invest in the following startups: AI for consumers insights; Tasty and Healthy; Energy Shift; and Smart Start.
