CDP Venture Capital

What CDP Venture Capital does

CDP Venture Capital SGR S.p.A. is Italy's largest venture capital fund manager and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti), Italy's state-owned development bank. The firm manages approximately €4.9 billion in assets across 15 direct and indirect fund vehicles, deploying capital into Italian startups and growth-stage companies across strategic sectors including deeptech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, cleantech, space, biotech, sportech, and digital sovereignty-aligned infrastructure. Its investment thesis is anchored to national policy priorities — particularly the EU NextGenerationEU Digital Transition Fund and Italy's green and digital sovereignty agendas — and is operationally expressed through the National Accelerator Network, which includes specialized programs such as FoodSeed (foodtech), Tech4Planet (cleantech), Fin+Tech, Sportech/Wellness (via Juventus Forward), and dedicated AI & Cybersecurity, Digital Xcelerator, Boost Innovation, and Green Transition funds.

The firm operates a hybrid model combining direct startup investments, accelerator program deployments, fund-of-funds/LP commitments (e.g., 360 Capital Poli360 2, Italian Founders Fund, Step Fund), and strategic corporate co-investment partnerships with Italian industrial champions such as TIM, Eni (Eni Next), A2A, Brembo, MBDA, and Juventus. Revenue mechanics follow the standard European VC fund manager model: management fees on committed/NAV capital (~1.5-2.0% on €4.9B AUM) and carried interest on realized gains. Distribution channels include direct equity investments, accelerator cohorts, corporate co-development arrangements, and ecosystem platforms such as XJobs for portfolio talent placement. The customer base is bifurcated: portfolio companies (Italian startups seeking capital and industrial validation) on the deployment side, and institutional LPs (European Investment Fund, pension funds, family offices, corporate investors) on the funding side. The firm is headquartered in Rome with a secondary office in Milan, and leadership is currently Emanuele Levi (CEO, appointed May 2025) and Anna Lambiase (President).

Name

CDP Venture Capital

Legal name

CDP Venture Capital SGR S.p.A.

Website

https://cdpventurecapital.it/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Italy's largest venture capital fund manager and a subsidiary of state-owned CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti). It manages €4.9 billion across 15 direct and indirect funds, investing in Italian startups across deeptech, AI, cybersecurity, green transition, and digital sovereignty sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital and Private Equity Fund Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional / Country-Focused Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Venture Debt Providers (FSANAAAL)

Keywords

• Venture capital management
• Early-stage equity investment
• Startup acceleration programs
• Technology transfer funding
• Innovation fund management

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CDP Venture Capital SGR S.p.A. is Italy's largest venture capital fund manager, deploying approximately €4.9 billion across 15 direct and indirect funds that provide equity capital and acceleration services to Italian startups and innovative SMEs. Its offerings span sector-specialized VC funds (AI & Cybersecurity, Digital Transition, Green Transition, Boost Innovation, Rilancio), a national accelerator network (including FoodSeed, Tech4Planet, Zero, Fin+Tech, Sportech and Wellness Accelerator), and the XJobs talent platform. The firm invests across stages from pre-seed to growth, frequently as lead or co-lead investor, and operates with a public-interest mandate as a subsidiary of the state-owned Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.

Product overview

CDP Venture Capital is Italy's leading venture capital firm managing multiple specialized funds and acceleration programs. The company operates various investment vehicles including the National Network of Accelerators, AI & Cybersecurity Fund, Digital Xcelerator, Boost Innovation Fund, and Green Transition Fund. It also operates XJobs, a job platform serving its portfolio companies and the broader Italian startup ecosystem. With €4.9 billion in assets under management across 15 direct and indirect funds, CDP Venture Capital supports Italian entrepreneurship and innovation across strategic sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FoodSeed: Foodtech accelerator programme within CDP Venture Capital's National Accelerator Network, focused on sustainable food packaging and agrifood innovation.
• XJobs
• National Accelerator Network

Products and services

• XJobs A job board and recruitment platform connecting innovative Italian startups with talent, supporting CDP Venture Capital's portfolio companies and the broader Italian startup ecosystem.
• National Network of Accelerators (Rete Nazionale Acceleratori) An accelerator network initiative supporting startups across Italy through various sector-specific accelerator programs (FoodSeed, Tech4Planet, Zero, Fin+Tech, Sportech and Wellness, etc.), providing funding, mentorship, and ecosystem connectivity.
• AI & Cybersecurity Fund A specialized venture capital fund focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity startups, part of the National Technology Transfer Hub for AI and Cybersecurity.
• Digital Xcelerator (Digital Transition Fund) A digital acceleration program and fund (including the EU NextGenerationEU-funded Digital Transition Fund) supporting technology startups in Italy through equity investments and acceleration support.
• Boost Innovation Fund A fund providing capital support for innovation and startup growth in Italy.
• Green Transition Fund A fund focused on supporting environmentally sustainable and green technology ventures in Italy, aligned with EU green transition objectives.
• Online Pitch and Application Platform (Applica ora) Online pitch platform allowing Italian startups and innovative SMEs to apply for funding from CDP Venture Capital's various funds and acceleration programs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Eatable AdventurescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Co-investment in Alkelux as part of the second batch of FoodSeed acceleration programme within CDP Venture Capital's National Accelerator Network, focused on sustainable food packaging.
• Telecom Italia (TIM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Telecom Italia and CDP Venture Capital signed an MOU to support startups in digital sovereignty, supporting the EU's Digital Decade program.
• TIM (Telecom Italia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026TIM and CDP Venture Capital signed a memorandum of understanding to identify and support Italian startups and small businesses with high growth potential in areas crucial to Italy's digital sovereignty. The initiative explores industrial, commercial, and technological partnerships involving CDP VC portfolio companies and TIM's innovation ecosystem.
• Juventus Football ClubflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Juventus Forward partnership relocates CDP Venture Capital's Sportech and Wellness Accelerator from Rome to Turin, establishing the Allianz Stadium as a national hub for sports startups. CDP VC will select 11 startups annually ('Forward Squad') for collaboration.
• The Players FundminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 February 2026Partnership with Juventus and CDP Venture Capital to lead a global search for potential venture partners over three years in sports technology.
• CY4GATEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024CDP Venture Capital and CY4GATE signed binding agreements to form a joint venture for cybersecurity solutions and cyber insurance to SMEs, capitalized at €3-9.5 million.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• European Investment Fund (EIF): EU institution providing LP capital to European VCs; key LP backer in CDP VC's fund vehicles (Poli360 2 and others), functioning as an enabling capital provider rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• 360 Capital Partners: Pan-European VC headquartered in Paris/Milan with strong Italian deeptech focus; frequent co-investor with CDP Venture Capital on rounds such as ISAAC, Sinergy Flow, Resilco, and CareGlance, and manages the Poli360 2 deeptech fund alongside CDP VC.
• Vertis SGR: Italian investment manager with venture and growth strategies; co-led Titan4's €4M Series A with CDP VC and co-led TimeFlow's €4M round, directly competing for Italian growth-stage opportunities.
• Primo Capital: Italian VC firm partnering with CDP Venture Capital on multiple rounds including Shop Circle's €84M Series B and Rara Factory's seed round, targeting similar Italian early-stage opportunities.
• United Ventures: Italian tech-focused VC firm; co-led rounds with CDP Venture Capital including Smartness' €47M Series B and Algorithmiq's €18M quantum computing round, operating in the same Italian Series A/B opportunity set.
• Nextalia Ventures: Italian VC led by Francesco Cerruti targeting Italian SMEs and growth-stage; led Shop Circle's €84M Series B extension in which CDP VC participated, competing for the same Italian tech growth opportunities.

Regional players

• Inventure VC: Nordic-Italian VC firm participating alongside CDP VC in Italian rounds (Algorithmiq €18M), providing a regional cross-border alternative for Italian deeptech investments.

Broad incumbents

• Azimut Holding: Italy's largest independent asset manager with diversified PE/VC strategies including Azimut Libera Impresa; frequently co-invests in CDP VC rounds (Dronus, UpSurgeOn, ISAAC) and competes broadly for Italian private market allocations.
• Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP): Italian state-owned development bank and parent company of CDP Venture Capital; provides direct lending, infrastructure finance, and other investment vehicles that overlap with CDP VC's broader capital deployment mandate.

Emerging players

• Italian Founders Fund: Italy-focused pre-seed/seed VC backed by prominent Italian founders; received €35M from CDP VC's Digital Transition Fund, positioning it as both a portfolio company and an emerging competitor for early-stage Italian deals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments292 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CDP Venture Capital