Updated:
United Ventures
United Ventures was founded in Milan in 2013 by Massimiliano Magrini and Paolo Gesess, two operators who previously co-founded digital marketing and...
United Ventures
United Ventures was founded in Milan in 2013 by Massimiliano Magrini and Paolo Gesess, two operators who previously co-founded digital marketing and technology businesses in Italy. The firm emerged when domestic venture capital was scarce, positioning itself as a dedicated early-stage backer for European founders. Its creation coincided with Italy's first wave of startup-focused legislation, giving the firm a first-mover advantage in a market long underserved by institutional venture investors. The firm deploys seed and Series A capital across software, fintech, AI/ML, and digital health, with additional activity in gaming and industrial IoT. United Ventures operates a generalist early-stage strategy, typically leading rounds and building concentrated portfolios of 15–20 companies per fund. Confirmed portfolio positions include MoneyFarm, a digital wealth management platform, and Musixmatch, a lyrics data provider — both Italian-founded companies that scaled internationally. The investment geography centers on Italy but extends to other European hubs including the United Kingdom and Germany, often in syndication with co-investors from larger VC ecosystems. Professionals and total AUM are not publicly disclosed. The firm has raised at least two flagship funds, with a third vehicle reported in Italian financial press. United Ventures operates from its Milan headquarters and maintains ties to the broader European venture community through co-investment networks and limited partner relationships with Italian institutional investors, bank foundations, and family offices. The firm does not disclose adjacent philanthropic or club-deal structures. United Ventures holds a distinct position as one of the few domestically headquartered VC firms in Italy operating at institutional scale. While many Italian technology companies seek lead investors from London or Berlin, United Ventures writes first checks from within the country's own capital ecosystem, offering portfolio companies a local anchor before international syndication begins. This structural role makes the firm an important bellwether for Italian tech ambition.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2013
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Italy
City
Chicago
Corporate office
Milan, Italy
Principals
Massimiliano Magrini
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Paolo Gesess
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at United Ventures?
Investment decisions are led by co-founders and managing partners Massimiliano Magrini and Paolo Gesess. Both have backgrounds as repeat technology entrepreneurs in Italy before transitioning to venture capital. The firm's partnership structure concentrates decision-making authority with the two founding partners, a common configuration for independent European early-stage firms of its size.
How does United Ventures source deal flow?
United Ventures sources primarily through the founders' personal networks in the Italian and broader European technology ecosystem. The firm benefits from its early positioning in Italy's startup market, where it has access to deal flow before larger international VCs enter. It also receives referrals from co-investors and limited partners, including Italian bank foundations and family offices with regional business ties.
Is United Ventures a family office or an institutional venture firm?
United Ventures is structured as an independent venture capital firm, not a family office. It raises discretionary capital from third-party limited partners — including Italian institutional investors, bank foundations, and family offices — and deploys it through blind-pool fund structures. The management company is owned by its founding partners.
What investment stages does United Ventures target?
United Ventures focuses on seed and Series A rounds, with the capacity to support companies into later growth stages through follow-on investments. The firm typically writes initial checks in the low single-digit millions, with reserves for subsequent rounds. It leads most rounds it participates in, often serving as the first institutional investor in a company.
Which sectors does United Ventures explicitly avoid?
United Ventures is a generalist technology investor and does not maintain a public exclusion list. However, its portfolio concentration in enterprise software, fintech, health tech, and AI/ML suggests limited appetite for capital-intensive sectors such as cleantech hardware, semiconductor manufacturing, or biotech. The firm has not disclosed hard sector exclusions.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on venture capital firms?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: