Investing in startups & supporting founders
Capital, conviction,
& a network that compounds
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.
- Early stage
- 6 portfolio companies
- National & international startups with Italian roots
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.
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.
- Galvani Power Software-defined modular lithium battery packs for industry and traction.
- Mixum Cocktails on tap: pre-mixed kegs serving a perfect drink in five seconds.
- Finbooks Portfolio tracking and ready-to-file tax reporting for investors.
- Gotobeat The infrastructure behind live music across the UK and Europe.
- FairShot AI video and voice interviews that assess candidates at scale.
- Cohere Secure, customisable enterprise AI built on company data.
Our approach
Built on trust, long-term partnerships, and shared ambition
We work alongside founders — not above them.
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01
Tailored strategy
Hands-on strategic advice shaped around each founder's ambition, market, and stage of growth.
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02
Operational support
Support that goes far beyond the cheque — from hiring and product to go-to-market execution.
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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
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01
Pre-seed & seed
Initial investments to help founders validate their product and gain initial market traction.
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02
Ongoing support
Beyond capital, we offer mentorship, strategic support, network access, and assistance in securing additional funding.
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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.
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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.
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02
An Italian thread
Italian founders building anywhere in the world, or international founders building for Italy. That connection is what we bring.
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03
Early stage
Mainly pre-seed and seed, where conviction about people matters more than metrics.
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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
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01
A community, not a cap table
A tight network of founders and operators who back one another well beyond the deal.
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02
An experienced team
Experience across venture capital, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy.
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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.
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Accelerators
We collaborate with incubators and accelerators to gain access to qualified dealflow in different sectors.
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Investors
Several private and institutional investors are part of our network, leading to collaborations and co-investments.
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Professionals
Matching startups with their needs is what makes us different. We supply our founders with professional figures from our network.
The Circle
A restricted network of private investors who co-invest alongside us
Avvio Capital Investment Circle is a small group of private, non-institutional investors. Its members co-invest with Avvio Capital in the deals we lead.
- Private, not institutional. Individuals investing their own capital, not funds deploying someone else's.
- Varied backgrounds. Members come from different industries and bring their own operating experience.
- Value beyond capital. The same approach as Avvio Capital: the cheque is where the contribution starts, not where it ends.
By invitation only.
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.
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Gabriele Capolino
Forbes Under 30 · Corporate finance · Academia
Named in Forbes Under 30. Background in strategic consulting and corporate finance built between Italy and international contexts. Teaches financial valuation at postgraduate level. Leads sourcing, deal structuring and investor relations.
LinkedIn — Gabriele Capolino -
Davide Marelli
Founder & CEO, Pillole di Economia · M&A and Venture building
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
Get in touch
Building something bold?
Tell us about your startup. We read every application and reply to founders we'd like to meet.
- info@avviocapital.com
- Where we invest
- Worldwide, with Italian roots