Nevermind (NVM), a venture capital fund focused on deep tech and dual-use technologies, has officially launched in Italy and Europe. NVM Ventures has announced a €23.6 million first close for its NVM Venture Lazio fund, with a final fundraising target of €35 million.
The fund plans to invest in 10 to 15 early-stage startups at the Pre-Seed and Seed stages. It will mainly invest in companies developing STEP technologies with dual-use applications and strong potential to grow internationally. NVM also aims to support the development of Lazio’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
Lazio Innova is one of the key investors, committing €18.83 million through Lazio Venture 2. The fund of funds is supported by the Lazio Region and co-financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programme 2021–2027.
NVM Ventures uses a multi-compartment structure, allowing each fund to focus on a specific investment area with a specialised team. The model also gives emerging fund managers access to shared support for governance, risk management and compliance.
The fund was founded by Andrea Bonabello and Niccolò Bienati, who are founding partners and board members of the General Partner. They are joined by Giorgio Gulienetti and Alessandro Casiraghi, who manage the fund and are responsible for the NVM Venture Lazio compartment.
The team has experience across venture capital, corporate finance, technology companies and critical industries such as aerospace and defence. Their background includes working with both Italian and international businesses and helping technology companies grow.
NVM Venture Lazio will invest in deep tech startups developing technologies that can be used for both civilian and defence purposes. Key areas include aerospace, maritime technology, robotics, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, defence AI, energy infrastructure, advanced materials, manufacturing and biotechnology.
Lazio has a strong position in the aerospace industry and is the only Italian region with the full aerospace value chain, from research and manufacturing to services. According to Lazio Region data, more than 300 advanced technology companies employ around 23,000 people in the region. Together, these companies generate more than €5 billion in annual revenue, including €1.6 billion in exports.
According to Andrea Ciampalini, Director General of Lazio Innova: “With NVM Venture Lazio, we are further expanding the specialist expertise in dual-use frontier technologies within the regional venture capital platform. Investing in a first-time fund also reflects our commitment to backing emerging managers with distinctive skills, helping build new professional and investment capabilities for the benefit of the entire ecosystem.”
“This interest is also driven by strong results: research conducted in the United States by the National Association of Investment Companies found that emerging manager programmes outperformed by 700 basis points. NVM Ventures was created to meet this demand in Italy, with the goal of fostering a new generation of capable, ambitious managers who currently struggle to raise their first fund.” says Andrea Bonabello, founding partner and Board Member of Ulixes Capital Lux, General Partner of NVM Ventures.
