Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia

What Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia does

Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia SGR S.p.A. (SICI SGR) is an Italian asset management company (Società di Gestione del Risparmio) authorized by the Bank of Italy since April 23, 1999 and registered at number 21 of the Albo dei Gestori FIA. Founded in 1998 in Florence by Fidi Toscana, MPS Capital Services, CR Firenze, and CR Lucca-Pisa-Livorno, SICI manages closed-end Alternative Investment Funds (FIA) that provide equity, quasi-equity, convertible bonds, and minibonds to unlisted small and medium enterprises in Central Italy. The firm has launched 6 FIA funds totaling approximately 150 million euros plus 2 million euros of proprietary resources for short-term minibonds, of which 5 funds with approximately 125 million euros are currently in active management.

SICI's product portfolio spans four specialized strategies: private equity growth capital (Fondo Rilancio e Sviluppo, Fondo Centro Invest, Fondo Toscana Venture), venture capital for innovation (Fondo Umbria Ricerca e Innovazione, Fondo Toscana Innovazione), cooperative enterprise financing (Fondo Sviluppo Cooperazione Toscana), and structured private debt instruments. Investment ticket sizes range from 200,000 euros (early-stage venture) to 5 million euros (mid-market private equity), with typical holding periods of 3-7 years. The firm has completed 126 investments across sectors including fashion, food and beverage, biotechnology, advanced mechanics, cosmetics, fintech, blockchain, aerospace, and luxury goods. Notable exits include the sale of Yogitech to Intel Corporation, buybacks of Lapi Gelatine and Corpo Vigili Giurati, and IPO-track exits at Bassilichi, Dedalus, Hospital Consulting, WIVA Group, and Daimont/Sebach, several of which won Premio Demattè Private Equity of the Year awards.

The firm's revenue model combines recurring management fees on approximately 125 million euros of AUM with capital gains and carried interest from portfolio exits, structured through private placement to qualified institutional investors. SICI is owned by a syndicate of Italian financial institutions: Fidi Toscana (31%), Intesa Sanpaolo (20%), Banca MPS (15%), Gepafin (14%), Banca Popolare di Vicenza in LCA (10%), and Credit Agricole Italia (10%), with share capital of 5,164,600 euros. Distribution is conducted through direct enterprise sales to SMEs in Tuscany and Umbria, supplemented by regional co-investment partnerships (notably Gepafin for Umbria), AIFI membership networking, and Borsa Italiana's Elite program for PMI development. The firm has received the Premio Saccomanni Private Debt Award 2024 and multiple Premio Demattè Private Equity of the Year awards.

Name

Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia

Legal name

Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia SGR S.p.A.

Website

https://fondisici.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia SGR S.p.A. is an Italian Bank of Italy-authorized asset management company managing closed-end private equity and venture capital funds for unlisted SMEs in Central Italy, with approximately 125 million euros in AUM across 5 active funds and 126 investments completed since 1998.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Asset Management and Private Equity

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Other Financial Vehicles (52599)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Endowment / OCIO-Style Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Institutional Separate Accounts & SMAs (Mandates) (FSAAAGAL), Managed Account / SMA Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAGAL)

Keywords

• Private equity funds
• Venture capital investment
• Alternative investment funds
• SME growth financing
• Asset management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Firenze

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fund Management Fees: SICI generates revenue through management fees charged on the assets under management of its Alternative Investment Funds (FIA). As an authorized SGR (Società di Gestione del Risparmio), the company manages closed-end funds reserved for qualified investors, earning recurring management fees on the fund portfolios.
2. Investment Returns and Capital Gains: Returns generated from successful portfolio company exits through capital gains on equity investments, redemption of mini-bonds, and proceeds from the sale of participations. The firm has completed 126 investments since inception, with realized returns from exits including Yogitech (sold to Intel), Lapi Gelatine, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SICI SGR is an Italian asset management company (Società di Gestione del Risparmio) authorized by the Bank of Italy since April 23, 1999, managing six closed-end Alternative Investment Funds (FIA) reserved for qualified investors. The firm provides minority equity participations, quasi-equity instruments, convertible bonds, and minibonds to unlisted SMEs in Central Italy (primarily Tuscany and Umbria), with investment tickets ranging from 200,000 to 5 million euros and holding periods of 3-7 years.

Product overview

SICI SGR is a fund management company (Società di Gestione del Risparmio) managing 5 active Alternative Investment Funds (FIA) for a total of 125 million euros in assets under management. The product portfolio consists of specialized closed-end funds targeting different investment strategies: Fondo Sviluppo Cooperazione Toscana (cooperative enterprises), Fondo Umbria Ricerca e Innovazione (venture capital for tech startups), Fondo Rilancio e Sviluppo (private equity for SME growth), plus two legacy funds (Centro Invest and Toscana Venture). Investment tickets range from 200,000 to 5 million euros with 3-7 year holding periods. The company also structures private debt instruments including minibonds and convertible bonds for portfolio companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fondo Centro Invest: Closed-end Alternative Investment Fund launched in 1999 with initial endowment of 38 million Euro for SME investments in Central Italy.
• Fondo Toscana Venture
• Fondo Toscana Innovazione
• Fondo Rilancio e Sviluppo
• Fondo Umbria Ricerca e Innovazione
• Fondo Sviluppo Cooperazione Toscana

Products and services

• Fondo Centro Invest A closed-end alternative investment fund established in 1999 with 38.8 million euros, investing in SMEs in Central Italy across diversified sectors including fashion, food, biotech, and information technology.
• Fondo Toscana Venture A closed-end alternative investment fund launched in 2004 with 50 million euros, focused on equity investments in SMEs in Tuscany with turnover exceeding 5 million euros, reserving 15% for innovative startups.
• Fondo Toscana Innovazione A venture capital fund launched in 2008 with 24.8 million euros, the first specifically dedicated to venture capital for innovative Tuscan SMEs, including early-stage companies.
• Fondo Rilancio e Sviluppo A closed alternative investment fund focused on supporting medium-term growth of SMEs in Central Italy, offering capital increases and convertible bonds with investments ranging from 0.5 to 5 million euros over approximately 5 years.
• Fondo Umbria Ricerca e Innovazione A reserved alternative investment fund targeting high-tech startups, industrial and university spin-offs, and SMEs in Umbria developing complex research projects, with investments between 300,000 and 600,000 euros.
• Fondo Sviluppo Cooperazione Toscana A reserved alternative investment fund targeting cooperative enterprises registered in the Tuscany region, offering equity and quasi-equity financing with investment tickets between 200,000 and 500,000 euros and duration of 5-7 years.
• Private Debt Instruments Flexible financing instruments including minibonds, convertible bonds, and quasi-equity instruments that combine fixed coupon remuneration with participation in enterprise value growth, including 2 million euros of proprietary resources dedicated to short-term minibonds.

Quantifiable outcome

• 126 investments completed since 1998
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AIFI (Associazione Italiana del Private Equity, Venture Capital e Private Debt)coreOthersSICI SGR is a member of AIFI, the Italian Private Equity, Venture Capital and Private Debt Association. Membership provides industry representation, networking, event participation, and credibility in the Italian investment community.
• Borsa Italiana / ElitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSICI collaborates with Borsa Italiana for the promotion of the Elite service for the development of Italian SMEs. Elite is a unique integrated services platform organized and managed by Borsa Italiana that provides industrial, financial, and organizational competencies to help SMEs succeed in international markets.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gepafin S.p.A. Umbria regional financial company owned by Umbria Region and 11 local banks; 14% shareholder in SICI and co-investment partner on Fondo Umbria Ricerca e Innovazione. Operates as a regional PE/VC fund manager with identical mandate focus on Central Italy SMEs, making it the closest direct peer.
• Finlombarda S.p.A. Lombardy regional finance company managing PE/VC funds targeting Lombardy SMEs. Highly comparable to SICI: regional development finance entity running institutional closed-end funds for SME growth, partnering with banking groups, and deploying mezzanine/equity instruments.
• Friulia S.p.A. Friuli Venezia Giulia regional financial holding managing PE/VC funds for Friuli SMEs. Another Italian regional development finance company with a directly comparable model of regional PE/VC fund management for local SMEs.
• Piemonte Innova S.p.A. Piemonte regional development finance entity operating venture capital and innovation funds for Piemonte SMEs and startups. Closely comparable regional PE/VC fund manager model with regional government backing and SME/innovation focus.
• Trentino Sviluppo S.p.A. Trentino regional development holding managing venture capital and growth funds for SMEs and startups in Trentino. Closely comparable regional PE/VC fund manager structure with similar mandate on local SME financing and technology/industrial development.
• Veneto Sviluppo S.p.A. Veneto regional finance company operating PE/VC funds for Veneto SMEs through regional public-private partnerships. Highly analogous model to SICI: regional government-backed fund manager, bank shareholders, SME growth capital mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Innogest Capital: Italian early-stage venture capital firm investing in technology and deep tech startups. Comparable to SICI's Fondo Umbria Ricerca e Innovazione strategy but operates nationally with institutional LP base and broader Italian tech focus.
• United Ventures SGR: Italian venture capital manager focused on digital and technology innovation across Italian startups. Comparable to SICI's VC fund but with national scope, larger AUM, and stronger tech-sector specialization.
• Charme Capital Partners: Italian PE manager focused on mid-market Italian SMEs and growth capital. Comparable investment focus on Italian SMEs but operates nationally at larger AUM scale (€1B+) and broader sector coverage; serves as the natural competitive benchmark for SICI at the upper end of the Italian market.
• Wise Equity SGR: Italian PE manager specializing in mid-market buyouts and growth capital for Italian SMEs. Comparable in targeting Italian SMEs but operates nationally with larger AUM and bigger ticket sizes; competes with SICI for the same entrepreneur relationships across regions.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/834063

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments41 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia