Liguria launches €10M equity fund for startups and SMEs
What's the deal? Italy's Liguria region has opened a new €10 million fund to back startups and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises investing in growth across the territory. Managed by regional entity LigurcapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, it uses equity and semi-equity tools to deploy between €100,000 and €500,000 per project.
How it works: Each public investment must be matched by at least one private, independent co-investor holding a stake of between 40% and 60%. The fund takes a silent, minority position and aims to exit within a maximum of five years.
Why now? The money is drawn from the EU's Fesr 2021-2027 programme (action 1.3.6), which targets business growth and job creation. Applications open on September 22 via Ligurcapital's "Bandi On Line" portal, with forms available from September 15, and will be assessed in chronological order until funds run out.
What's the endgame? Regione LiguriaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → wants to give companies the liquidity to launch or strengthen their market presence, said regional councillor Alessio Piana. He called it "a much-anticipated instrument" that will stay active until the money is exhausted (translated from Italian).
Who decides: Investment calls will be made by a three-member committee of venture capital experts, independent from both Regione Liguria and Ligurcapital and selected through public procedures.
The signal: The fund reflects a growing use of regional, EU-backed equity vehicles to crowd in private capital and fill early-stage funding gaps outside Italy's main startup hubs.
Read more: primaillevante.it
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