Investing in startups & supporting founders

Capital, conviction,
& a network that compounds

Share your pitch Our approach

We back early-stage companies built by founders with the ambition to change how things are done — wherever they are in the world, with roots in or a route to the Italian market.

Alongside our network of angels, family offices, and VC funds, we bring capital, strategic guidance, and introductions that open doors.

  • 6 Companies backed

Our mission

Great founders deserve more than a cheque

At Avvio Capital we invest in early-stage companies building ambitious products and scalable business models. We invest alongside a network of business angels, family offices, and venture capital funds who bring far more than capital: operating experience, industry access, and doors that open faster.

Our goal is to accelerate growth and help determined founders turn bold ideas into companies that matter — and to make the Italian ecosystem a place where that happens more often.

Our approach

Built on trust, long-term partnerships, and shared ambition

We work alongside founders — not above them.

  • 01

    Tailored strategy

    Hands-on strategic advice shaped around each founder's ambition, market, and stage of growth.

  • 02

    Operational support

    Support that goes far beyond the cheque — from hiring and product to go-to-market execution.

  • 03

    Markets & network

    Access to key markets and industries, and to a network of business angels, family offices, VC funds, and operators who co-invest with us.

Investment stages

  1. 01

    Pre-seed & seed

    Initial investments to help founders validate their product and gain initial market traction.

  2. 02

    Ongoing support

    Beyond capital, we offer mentorship, strategic support, network access, and assistance in securing additional funding.

  3. 03

    Follow-on

    Potential follow-on in subsequent rounds for portfolio startups that demonstrate strong growth and execution.

What we look for

We care more about founders than about categories

No sector checklist. We look for people determined to change how something is done, and for a thread that connects them to Italy.

  • 01

    Ambition over category

    Sector-agnostic by choice. What matters is whether a team is set on changing the status quo — not the label on its market.

  • 02

    An Italian thread

    Italian founders building anywhere in the world, or international founders building for Italy. That connection is what we bring.

  • 03

    Early stage

    Mainly pre-seed and seed, where conviction about people matters more than metrics.

  • 04

    Scalable by design

    Business models that can grow beyond their first market, with an insight that is hard to copy.

Investment criteria

  • Visionary entrepreneurs with expertise in their sector
  • Innovative solutions with significant market potential
  • Scalable and sustainable business models
  • Strong technological component and international growth potential
  • Complete team with complementary key competencies

Why Avvio

Choosing Avvio means more than receiving investment

  • 01

    A community, not a cap table

    A tight network of founders and operators who back one another well beyond the deal.

  • 02

    An experienced team

    Experience across venture capital, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy.

  • 03

    Global reach, Italian roots

    Warm introductions across key markets worldwide, anchored in a network built in Italy.

Our ecosystem

A broad ecosystem that supports startups at every stage

Avvio Capital has built a strong network over the years, including players in the startup ecosystem in Italy and abroad. This network serves our startups.

  • Accelerators

    We collaborate with incubators and accelerators to gain access to qualified dealflow in different sectors.

  • Investors

    Several private and institutional investors are part of our network, leading to collaborations and co-investments.

  • Professionals

    Matching startups with their needs is what makes us different. We supply our founders with professional figures from our network.

Team

The people you'll actually work with

Small by design, and built on a combination of strategic consulting, M&A and entrepreneurship. When you talk to Avvio Capital, you talk to the people who make the decisions and do the work.

  • Gabriele Capolino

    Forbes 30 Under 30 · Corporate finance · Academia

    Named in Forbes 30 Under 30. A background in strategic consulting and corporate finance built between Italy and international contexts. Leads sourcing, deal structuring and investor relations, and teaches financial reporting and performance measurement at postgraduate level.

    LinkedIn — Gabriele Capolino

  • Davide Marelli

    Founder & CEO, Pillole di Economia · M&A

    Founder and CEO of Pillole di Economia, a platform bringing economics and finance to a young audience across Italy. Combines entrepreneurship with an M&A and corporate finance background, and leads company analysis and support to portfolio founders.

    LinkedIn — Davide Marelli

Portfolio

A growing family of companies turning bold ideas into real businesses

Companies backed by Avvio Capital and by the co-investors of our network.

The Circle

Club deals for a circle of selected investors

Selected investors gain access to top-tier startups and unique opportunities in Italy and abroad. For founders, the Circle is a strategic partner that makes raising capital faster and more effective.

  • Access to exclusive opportunities, handpicked and validated by our team.
  • Membership in a network of investors with diverse backgrounds and specializations.
  • A tailored portfolio of high-potential investments, proactively managed and monitored.
Investor access

By invitation only.

Get in touch

Building something bold?

Tell us about your startup. We read every application and reply to founders we'd like to meet.

Share your pitch
Email
info@avviocapital.com
Where we invest
Worldwide, with Italian roots