Zest and Eureka! launch €55M Z_One fund for pre-seed AI startups
What's the deal? Italian firms Zest and Eureka!Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → have launched Z_One, a new venture capital fund targeting €55 million in commitments. It backs early-stage startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, with a focus on AI applications and urban transformation.
What's the endgame? The fund plans up to 100 investments. That points to a high-volume, portfolio-driven strategy typical of early-stage investing, where a wide spread of small bets aims to catch a few outsized winners.
The hire: Alongside the launch, Zest named Marco Gay as chief executive officer. Marco Giovannini takes the role of non-executive chairman, rounding out a new governance structure for the firm.
Why now? AI applications have become one of the most contested categories in early-stage venture, and the fund's dual focus ties that momentum to the concrete theme of transforming cities. The new leadership signals Zest's intent to scale up its investment activity behind those bets.
The signal: A €55 million fund aimed at pre-seed and seed AI startups underscores how Italian investors are moving to build early positions in the sector. With capacity for up to 100 deals, Z_One is positioning itself as an active feeder at the base of the country's startup pipeline.
Read more: EconomyUp
