Top 10 Angel Investors in Italy

In 2023, startup investments in Italy totaled €1.17 billion across 325 funding rounds, a 37% decline from the previous year driven by fewer mega-rounds.

The top angel investors in Italy include Marco Valta, Fabio Mondini de Focatiis, Luca Ascani, Giovanni Gardelli, Fabio Cannavale, Paolo Barberis, Andrea Dusi, Matteo De Brabant, Enrico Pandian, and Raffaele Terrone, all active backers of early-stage Italian startups.

As funding cooled, many angel investors and venture capital firms stepped up to support new businesses. These angel investors aren’t just investing capital, they also guide startups and arrange events to speed up entrepreneurial growth.

And if you’re wondering who these angel investors are, here’s the list of the top 10 angel investors in Italy.

Top 10 Angel Investors in Italy

Following is the list of the top-ranked angel investors in Italy according to their investments and active involvement. 

Marco Valta

Marco Valta is an entrepreneur and angel investor with over 12 years of experience in the tech/web industry. He is currently a Partner at Ambridge Capital and has had 18 exits, with the most notable ones being StyleLounge, Snap, and SkipTheDishes.

Moreover, Valta likes to be part of companies that are dreaming big. He makes investments at the seed stage and looks for startups led by experienced entrepreneurs and those who have created hype for their exceptional products/services.

Marco Valta’s check size typically ranges from $100,000 to $5 million, with a sweet spot around $1.5 million.

• Linkedin: Marco Valta

• Preferred Industries: Tech, Innovation, Makeup, Fashion, Healthcare, and Financial Services

• Total Investments: 46

• Notable Investments: Salty, Smartprice, and Mira Beauty

Fabio Mondini de Focatiis

Fabio Mondini de Focatiis is one of the most active individual investors in Italy. He has around 10 years of experience in more than 20 countries as a venture capitalist, business angel, and entrepreneur.

He currently serves as a Venture Partner at Eurazeo Investment, following their acquisition of IDINVEST Partners.

When funding startups, Fabio Mondini de Focatiis focuses on businesses at the early stages. He invests in startups that are producing something unique, either in the form of a product or a service.

The investment range of Fabio Mondini de Focatiis lies around €200,000.

• Linkedin: Fabio Mondini de Focatiis

• Preferred Industries: Tech, Management, Consumer Products and Retail

• Total Investments: 20

• Notable Investments: HiNelson, Yobs, Homepal, MamaClean, and Kippy

Luca Ascani

Luca Ascani is also a well-known angel investor and an experienced entrepreneur. He has founded many businesses and surprisingly, many of them have been acquired by other big names. During the investment process, Luca Ascani selects startups through networking events and startup fundraisers.

He is known for attending relevant startup events and meeting leaders to find a business that is introducing something new to the Italian entrepreneurial scene. Once a startup leader has proven their startup idea, Luca Ascani provides them with access to experienced mentorship panels along with the required investment.

The investment range of Luca Ascani lies between 50,000 to 100,000.

• Linkedin: Luca Ascani

• Preferred Industries: AI, Software, and Innovative Tech

• Total Investments: 10

• Notable Investments: Bear and Emma App

Giovanni Gardelli

Giovanni Gardelli is an Italian angel investor as well as an experienced entrepreneur who takes an interest in funding early-stage startups. Before focusing on investing, he built a background as an entrepreneur and operator in the tech industry.

Gardelli seeks startups that have the potential to secure profits and scale internationally within 2 years of the initial investment. He also values businesses that are being led by startup leaders who understand business and are well-experienced.

The investment range of Giovanni Gardelli is between  €25,000 to €75,000.

• Preferred Industries: Travel, Entertainment, Retail and Tech 

• Total Investments: 8

• Notable Investments: Yocabè and WeRoad

Fabio Cannavale

Based in Milan, Fabio Cannavale is known for his strong interest in tech-related companies. He has also founded many companies (most of them are now acquired by other well-reputed companies).

When making investments, Fabio Cannavale prioritizes innovation and funds startups accordingly. He usually funds startups through investor meetings and individually selects the companies with the most potential through public events. 

The investment range of Fabio Cannavale is around  €100,000.

• Linkedin: Fabio Cannavale

• Preferred Industries: Education, B2B, and E-Commerce

• Total Investments: 6

• Notable Investments: Epicode, Strive School, and Contents.com

Paolo Barberis

Known as the founder of Nana Bianca, Paolo Barberis is an experienced angel investor with a strong interest in Florence and Milan-based startups. Barberis primarily invests in the seed stage. His industry focus includes Consumer Internet and Mobile.

Moreover, Paolo Barberis usually funds startups through fundraisers and startup accelerators. He is known for his careful evaluation and doesn't invest in businesses that have high competition.

The investment range of Paolo Barberis lies between  €500,000 to €2M.

• Preferred Industries: IoT, Energy & Clean Tech, Entertainment, and Consumer Products

• Total Investments: 6

• Notable Investments: Epicode, Faire.ai, and Musixmatch

Andrea Dusi

Andrea Dusi is an active angel investor in the EU who has made a total of 23 investments (out of which 6 are in Italy). He has a strong background as an investor, with a number of successful investments in his portfolio. Previously, Dusi had 3 exits, with the most notable ones being Wish Days and Checkout Technologies.

Talking about his investment interest, Andrea Dusi prioritizes startups that can generate high profits and are related to climate tech and VC. Over the past several years, Andrea Dusi hasn't just contributed to the Italian startup ecosystem financially but also invested his time into guiding young startup leaders.

The investment range of Andrea Dusi is around  €200,000.

• Linkedin: Andrea Dusi

• Preferred Industries: climate tech, deep tech, decentralized finance, and VC

• Total Investments: 6

• Notable Investments: CaSRevolution

Matteo De Brabant

Matteo De Brabant is an active individual angel investor who likes to fund Italian startups. De Brabant started funding startups after the success of his personally owned companies. Currently, he is the Founder and Chairman at Jakala.

Similarly, Matteo De Brabant prefers startups that can grow 2-3x and are dreaming of achieving an international presence. In short, he wants to invest in startups that are planning to participate in the longer game and generate massive profits.

The investment range of Matteo De Brabant lies between  €30,000 to €300,000.

• Linkedin: Matteo de Brabant

• Preferred Industries: Emerging Tech 

• Total Investments: 7

• Notable Investments: We Are Emma, Faire.ai, and Futura

Enrico Pandian

Enrico Pandian has been investing in Italian startups for years. He has founded many businesses and understands which startups can easily attain success when provided with the required funds.

Similarly, Enrico Pandian invests in high-growth startups led by founders who have 4 to 5 years of experience in their industry. He also attends many startup events to find the most suitable fit for his investment.

The investment range of Enrico Pandian lies between  €20,000 to €250,000.

• Preferred Industries: Tech  

• Total Investments: 9

• Notable Investments: Bene Bono and CaSRevolution

Raffaele Terrone

Based in London, Raffaele Terrone actively invests in Italian startups. He backs early-stage businesses related to tech and fintech, and has a background of working with many well-reputed firms.

The investment range of Raffaele Terrone is around  €50,000.  

• Linkedin: Raffaele Terrone

• Preferred Industries: Tech and Fintech

• Total Investments: 5

• Notable Investments: Flanks, BonusX, and Qomodo

How To Connect With Angel Investors?

We often get questions about “the best ways to connect with angel investors.” And honestly, if you have short-listed some investors to pitch to, this question will also pop up in your mind.

So, here are some short tips on how you can get connected with angel investors to secure a warm introduction. 

Attending Events

Most angel investors attend startup accelerators and related events to find deserving businesses. So, if you attend the event and have researched your targeted investor, it will be easy for you to build a new connection. 

Networks

Networks are vital in the startup community. That is why you need to build connections with useful people and understand how the industry works. To start fresh, we would recommend creating a LinkedIn account and building connections from there.

Digital Platforms

Another great idea is to use the digital presence of angel investors and connect with them online. When you do reach out, a tailored investor outreach email makes a stronger first impression. There’s a reason almost every angel investor and VC firm keeps a polished website and LinkedIn profile. 

Wrap-Up

In a nutshell, angel investors love funding startups that can help them get recognition and generate a strong ROI. As a startup leader, don’t feel too confused about your first investor meeting and ruin the opportunity.

Research well, remain confident, and show the real potential of your startup to the angel investor. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do angel investors in Italy typically invest?

Most Italian angels back pre-seed and seed rounds, writing personal checks that usually range from tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand euros. Many also co-invest alongside other angels or venture funds, so a single startup can raise a larger round by combining several angel tickets.

Which industries do Italian angel investors focus on?

Italian angels are most active in fintech, SaaS, deep tech, climate and clean tech, e-commerce, travel, and edtech. In 2023, deep tech attracted the most capital while smart city startups saw the most funding rounds, reflecting where much of Italy’s early-stage money now flows.

How much did startups in Italy raise in 2023?

In 2023, Italian startups raised about €1.17 billion across 325 funding rounds, a 37% drop from 2022. The decline came mainly from fewer mega-rounds, not fewer deals, since the number of rounds stayed roughly stable year over year.

How can founders get in front of angel investors in Italy?

Warm introductions work best, followed by startup events, accelerators like Nana Bianca and B Heroes, and LinkedIn. Before reaching out, make sure your startup is investment-ready and target angels who already back your sector and stage.