Growth Engine
Description
Growth Engine S.p.A. is a Milan-based venture capital holding company focused on investing in innovative, high-growth potential startups, primarily within the digital and tech-driven sectors. Established in Italy, the firm positions itself as a strategic partner for entrepreneurs, offering not just capital but also active support and strategic guidance to accelerate the development of its portfolio companies. Their investment philosophy centers on identifying promising early-stage and growth-stage businesses that demonstrate strong market potential and scalable business models.
The firm's investment strategy is characterized by its commitment to fostering long-term value creation. Growth Engine typically targets companies that are past the initial ideation phase and are ready for significant scaling, often exhibiting initial traction or a proven product-market fit. They are particularly interested in businesses leveraging technology to disrupt traditional industries or create new market opportunities. Beyond financial backing, Growth Engine emphasizes providing operational expertise, access to their network, and strategic mentorship to help founders navigate challenges and achieve their growth objectives.
Growth Engine provides significant capital injections to its portfolio companies. Their typical initial equity investments range from €0.5 million to €3 million per round, which translates approximately to $540,000 to $3,240,000 based on recent exchange rates. This flexible check size allows them to support a diverse range of companies, from those seeking initial seed or Series A funding to more mature startups requiring growth capital. The firm also indicates a willingness to participate in follow-on rounds, demonstrating a sustained commitment to their most promising investments as they continue to scale. Their approach as a holding company suggests a patient capital model, aligning with the long development cycles often seen in high-growth tech ventures.
Investor Profile
Growth Engine has backed more than 38 startups, with 2 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 3 rounds, about 8% of its total and boasts 3 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Secondary Market, Pre Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on Information Technology, E-Commerce, Software.
- Typical check size: $540K – $3.2M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (39%)
- Secondary Market (26%)
- Pre Seed (16%)
- Convertible Note (16%)
- Post Ipo Secondary (3%)
Country Focus
- Italy (92%)
- Mexico (3%)
- United Kingdom (3%)
Industry Focus
- Information Technology
- E-commerce
- Software
- Saas
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Cyber Security
- Retail
- Internet Of Things
- Internet
- Consulting
Frequently Asked Questions
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