Italian provider of TPA (third party administrator) services for automotive companies hlpy raised a Series B round of 18 million euros (80% equity and 20% debt) that Nextalia Ventures and Alkemia Capital led and invested part of such proceeds in the acquisition of HESA Solutions, a German competitor that owns the brand MySchleppApp (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The Italian company also attracted the resources of Techshop, CDP Venture Capital and Simest. Sources said to BeBeez that hlpy now belongs to Nextalia (15.87%), Valerio Chiaronzi (ceo – 20.36%), Graziano Cavallo (9.6%), Enrico Noseda (4.35%), Alkemia (13.79%), Techsop (7.01%), and CDP Venture Capital (5.6%).
Audioboost, a startup provider of AI-based audio technology that the ceo Cristina Pianura founded in 2021, sold a 20.83% stake Israel-USA Branovate, the owner of video advertising company Truvid (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The buyer will raise such a stake to 29.57% upon the achievement of targets. Audioboost retained Pavia e Ansaldo and will invest the proceeds of this deal in its international expansion. Truvid hired Portolano Cavallo and Herzog, Fox & Neeman.
Germany’s provider of data-based marketing Drive to Store solutions Media Central Group, a company that belongs to Bregal Unternehmerkapital Funds since 2019, and its Italian subsidiary Shopfully will merge with Canadian competitor Flipp, an asset of Truelink Capital (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Truelink Capital will be the main shareholder of the new entity while Bregal Unternehmerkapital, Insight Venture and Highland Europe will hold a minority.
Neva, a venture capital fund that belongs to Intesa SanPaolo Innovation Center, launched Neva II and Neva II Italia (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Neva II aims to raise 400 million euros, while Neva II Italia set a 100 million target. The funds will invest in life science, energy transition, digital transformation, new generation manufacturing, and the aerospace sector. Luca Remmert and Mario Costantini are the chairman and the ceo of Neva.
NextSTEP (NextEnergy Sustainable Technology for the Planet), a venture capital fund that NextEnergy Group launched, said it raised 6.4 million euros (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The parent company and its managers poured 3.2 million in the fund that will support sustainable tech startups. Claudio Colombo is the managing director of NextSTEP. Aldo Beolchini is the managing partner and chief investment officer of NextEnergy Group.
Evoralis, a British chemical startup that spun off from Cambridge University, raised 2.5 million GBPs from Liftt, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Parkwalk Advisors, Backbone Ventures, Circular Plastics Accelerator, Archipelago Ventures, and other angel investors (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Furthermore, CPI converted in equity a loan that Evoralis previously borrowed. The company will invest such proceeds in its organic growth.
Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, Università Bocconi, ION, and FSI, a private equity that Maurizio Tamagnini launched, created Tech Europe Foundation (TEF), a vehicle for allowing the startup ecosystem to liaise with Universities (see here a previous post by BeBeez). TEF has resources worth above 100 million euros and already attracted 50 million from Camera di Commercio di Milano Monza Brianza Lodi ahead of a final target of 1 billion by 2030. TEF will focus on the sectors of deeptech, AI, biotech, microelectronics, aerospace, and renewable energies.
Fabrizio Capobianco and Banca Popolare di Sondrio (BPS) launched Liquid Factory, a B-Corp startup studio for supporting firms that will seek resources and partnerships in the Silicon Valley at a later stage (see here a previous post by BeBeez). BPS will pour 4 million euros in four years in this Entrepreneurship in Residence programme. Capobianco said that Liquid Factory aims to support 20 founders with a ticket of 0.2 million and allow the Italian startups to join the accelerator Y Combinator which invests in projects with a pre-money value of 20 million. Capobianco said that Liquid Factory aims to support startups for the Cloud, SAS and Gen AI sectors. The deadline for sending the application for Liquid Factory expires on 31 October, Thursday.
Irene Mingozzi is one of the new principals of Italian Founders Fund (IFF), an venture capital fund that Koinos Capital manages (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Mingozzi will work with the founding partner Lorenzo Franzi for scouting targets an sign co-investment partnerships with international investors. Mingozzi will also keep her venture partner role in E12 Ventures, a Silicon Valley fund.
