What LaGemma Venture does

LaGemma Venture S.r.l. con unico socio is an Italian investment company and startup accelerator founded on March 11, 2024, in Cuneo, and wholly owned by Fondazione CRC. The firm operates a recurring open-call acceleration program branded Call4Future (with agrifood-focused cohorts AGRIFOOD24, AGRIFOOD25 and AGRIFOOD26), backed by a share capital of €3,000,000 and a stated deployment budget of up to €1 million per year through 2027, distributed across selected early-stage Italian agrifood startups via non-interest-bearing convertible financing instruments (two tranches tied to milestone attainment). Each selected startup can receive up to €175,000 in seed funding together with a 4.5-month structured acceleration program comprising strategic support, training and mentoring, delivered from LaGemma's coworking headquarters in central Cuneo (Via Roma 17) and capped by an annual Investor Day event positioning cohorts to follow-on investors, corporates and regional stakeholders.

The company's customer is the early-stage agrifood startup (validated prototype or revenue-making stage) working on sustainable agriculture, novel food products, biodegradable packaging, waste reduction and nutrition/wellness solutions. LaGemma does not charge explicit management fees or interest; revenue is structured around upside participation in portfolio companies, with convertibles converting into equity when startups raise further rounds or perform. The €1.7M deployed into 11 startups in AGRIFOOD24 and €2.7M into 14 startups in AGRIFOOD25 define the current scale of the platform, which is supported by a network of strategic partners including SocialFare (acceleration methodology), Confindustria Cuneo (industry access), the Università di Scienze Gastronomiche di Pollenzo and SAA School of Management (academic expertise), AGRION, NEXO Agrifood Hub and Réseau Entreprendre Piemonte.

Distribution is event- and ecosystem-driven: open applications sourced through partner networks, selection interviews, intensive on-site acceleration at the Cuneo coworking facility, and an annual Investor Day to commercialise deals. A content arm (LaGemma Magazine) and active social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram) extend top-of-funnel reach. As of the most recent disclosed data the firm employs 11-50 staff operating under a Board of Directors, an Executive Technical Committee and a general management structure led by General Director Wilma Tesio and President Enrico Collidà. No M&A, external funding rounds, or expansion beyond Italy have been disclosed; the company's growth path to date has been cohort-led scaling within Italy, with stated intent to extend nationally and into selected European markets.

Name

LaGemma Venture

Legal name

LaGemma Venture S.r.l. con unico socio

Website

https://lagemmaventure.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LaGemma Venture is a Cuneo-based, Fondazione CRC-owned investment hub and accelerator that runs the Call4Future program, providing up to €175,000 in convertible seed funding and a 4.5-month acceleration program to early-stage Italian agrifood startups developing sustainable agriculture, food, and wellness innovations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agrifood Startup Accelerator and Venture Capital

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration programs
• Venture capital services
• Seed investment financing
• Agrifood investment
• Startup mentorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Cuneo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns from Portfolio Companies: LaGemma Venture invests in early-stage agrifood startups through convertible instruments (non-interest-bearing financing convertible into startup equity). Returns are generated when startups perform well and/or raise capital from other investors, at which point LaGemma's convertible converts to equity stake.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LaGemma Venture is an agrifood-focused investment company and startup accelerator that provides seed investment of up to €175,000 per startup via convertible financing, combined with a 4.5-month intensive acceleration program offering strategic support, training, and mentoring. The company deploys up to €1 million annually through 2027 through the Call4Future open call, with funds disbursed in two tranches based on milestone achievement, and operates a coworking facility in Cuneo that hosts the program.

Product overview

LaGemma Venture operates as an investment company and accelerator focused on agrifood startups. The company runs the Call4Future acceleration program offering up to €175,000 per startup through convertible instruments, supported by a 4.5-month intensive program including strategic support, training, and mentoring at their Cuneo coworking facility. The investment arm deploys up to €1 million annually until 2027, with funds distributed in two tranches based on milestones. LaGemma Magazine serves as a content platform documenting portfolio company stories. The portfolio includes 14 startups from AGRIFOOD25 (including AGROTEV, ALKELUX, DICTO AI, SODAMORE) and 11 startups from AGRIFOOD24 (including Vortex, Joinfruit, Aqua Farm, Plantvoice).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CALL4FUTURE: The open call acceleration program for agrifood startups, with multiple editions (AGRIFOOD24, AGRIFOOD25, AGRIFOOD26).
• AGRIFOOD

Products and services

• Call4Future (AGRIFOOD) Acceleration Program Intensive 4.5-month acceleration program for early-stage Italian agrifood startups offering strategic support, training, and mentoring. Selected startups enter the program via the open Call4Future application process and present at an annual Investor Day.
• Investment Services (Convertible Seed Financing) Seed investment of up to €175,000 per selected agrifood startup via convertible financing (non-interest-bearing loan convertible to equity). Capital is disbursed in two tranches: the first at program start, the second at mid-program based on achievement of shared objectives. Up to €1 million is deployed annually through 2027.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74% reduction in CO2 emissions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JoinfruitcoreOthers · 1 January 2024Producers' Organisation specializing in fruit and vegetables; portfolio company of LaGemma Venture. Uses AI-based quality control and symbiotic agriculture research with University of Turin.
• BaladincoreOthers · 1 January 2024Italian craft brewery; portfolio company. Pioneer of Italian craft beer with €16M turnover in 2022, present in 47 countries.
• SocialFarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocialFare is the acceleration program partner, providing expertise in social impact innovation and startup acceleration methodology. LaGemma operates as a certified incubator in collaboration with SocialFare.
• Confindustria CuneocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor industry association partnership providing access to regional business network and corporate partners in the agrifood sector. Giuliana Cirio, Director General of Confindustria Cuneo, is part of LaGemma's expert team.
• Université di Scienze Gastronomiche di PollenzocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with the University of Gastronomic Sciences, providing research expertise and connection to Slow Food network. Vice President Silvio Barbero from UNISG serves on LaGemma's expert team.
• Réseau Entreprendre PiemonteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness support network partnership for entrepreneurship development in Piedmont region.
• AGRIONminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub for agrifood sector providing technical expertise and network connections.
• NEXO Agrifood HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgrifood innovation hub partnership supporting startup ecosystem development.
• SAA School of ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partnership for management education and research collaboration.
• Acqua Eva (Fonti Alta Valle Po)coreOthersMineral water company from Europe's highest spring at 2042m altitude; ISO 14001 certified, renewable energy powered production.
• MichelisminorOthersMonregalese food brand bringing local flavors to table; corporate partner in LaGemma ecosystem.
• MerlominorOthersManufacturer of telehandlers and innovative machinery; CEO Paolo Merlo serves on LaGemma's expert team and is Vice President of Confindustria Cuneo.
• Vanzetti EngineeringminorOthersPiedmont company specializing in cryogenic pumps for LNG and industrial gases; CEO Valeria Vanzetti Ghio serves on LaGemma's expert team.
• SebasteminorOthersHistoric confectionery company from Gallo d'Alba specializing in hazelnut-based products; CEO Matteo Rossi Sebaste serves on LaGemma's expert team.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eatable Adventures: Spain-based agrifood accelerator and early-stage investor running cohort programs for food-tech startups. Comparable to LaGemma in vertical focus, convertible/seed instruments, and accelerator-plus-investment hybrid model.
• Rockstart AgriFood: Rockstart runs a dedicated agrifood accelerator program investing in early-stage startups across Europe with a thesis very similar to LaGemma's — combining seed capital with intensive cohort-based acceleration focused on sustainable food systems.
• H-Farm: Italian innovation platform combining acceleration, venture capital, and education. Comparable in operating model (accelerator + investor) and Italian base, though broader across verticals than LaGemma's agrifood focus.
• Foundament Capital: Italian foundation-backed early-stage investor and accelerator. Similar to LaGemma in being a mission-driven, foundation-affiliated investor targeting impact-oriented Italian startups, though with a broader vertical mandate.
• SocialFare: SocialFare is LaGemma Venture's acceleration program partner and is itself an Italian impact-focused startup accelerator. It is the closest peer given its direct operating relationship with LaGemma and shared methodology in social-impact acceleration.
• LVenture Group: Italian-listed accelerator and early-stage investor (LUISS EnLabs operator) running cohort-based acceleration programs. Directly comparable as an Italian corporate accelerator with seed investment activity.

Emerging players

• FoodHack: Global food-tech community and accelerator with strong European presence, running cohort programs and connecting founders with corporate partners in the agrifood ecosystem — overlapping with LaGemma's gtm_motion and target startups.

Regional players

• Indico Capital Partners: Portugal-based early-stage fund and accelerator with European agrifood exposure. Comparable in fund structure and early-stage agrifood focus, but operates in a different national ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• EIT Food Accelerator Network: EU-backed pan-European agrifood accelerator network that is a direct competitor for high-quality agrifood startups and a potential co-investor or syndication partner for LaGemma's portfolio companies.
• Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator: Techstars' agrifood-focused accelerator (in partnership with Cargill and Ecolab) is a global, well-funded comparator targeting the same early-stage agrifood startup segment with larger checks and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lagemma-venture

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments3 records

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

Frequently asked questions about LaGemma Venture