Loading organizations...
Key people at Vertis SGR.
Vertis SGR is an investment management firm specializing in private equity and venture capital funds, primarily targeting startups, scaleups, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. The company provides capital and expertise to foster growth within the "innovative Made in Italy" sector. It operates through closed-end investment vehicles, strategically designed to support businesses with high potential and contribute to the development of the innovation ecosystem.
The company was founded in 2007 by Amedeo Giurazza and Renato Vannucci. Giurazza serves as the Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner, while Vannucci holds the position of Co-Founder, Vice President, and Managing Partner. Their establishment of Vertis SGR was driven by the insight to accelerate innovation by offering structured investment solutions and strategic guidance, particularly in Southern Italy, where it stands as a significant investment management entity.
Vertis SGR’s portfolio companies are innovative businesses poised for expansion, ranging from early-stage startups to established SMEs with ambitious development plans. The firm’s long-term vision centers on cultivating growth, innovation, and sustainable value by investing in promising ventures and the entrepreneurial teams behind them, ultimately aiming to drive economic progress through strategic capital deployment.
Key people at Vertis SGR.
Vertis SGR is an independent asset management company (SGR) authorized by the Bank of Italy, operating since 2008 as the only firm in southern Italy managing private equity and venture capital funds focused on innovative "Made in Italy" opportunities.[1][2][4] Its mission centers on launching closed-end funds for professional investors, targeting stakes in research projects, university spin-offs, startups, scaleups, and SMEs with high technological potential, while integrating ESG criteria for sustainable investments.[1][2] The investment philosophy emphasizes operational independence, a strong track record, and expertise in selecting and valorizing tech-driven companies, supported by teams with over 200 years of cumulative experience in finance, consulting, industry, and research.[1][2] Key sectors include software, IoT, health care, e-commerce, biotechnology, robotics, big data, AI, digital transformation, cleantech, and wellness.[3][5] Vertis impacts the startup ecosystem by backing early-stage and growth investments (typically €2-9 million) in southern Italy, enabling regional and national expansion, with 57 total investments, 31 leads, and 4 exits as of available data.[3][5]
Vertis SGR was established in 2007, with operations starting in 2008, building on predecessor experience from 2001 when founder and CEO Enzo Albanese created Vertis SpA as exclusive advisor for Interbanca Gestione Investimenti SGR's southern Italy fund.[1] Key figures include CEO Enzo Albanese, with a background in founding advisory firms and roles at Ernst & Young, L.E.K. Consulting, and BlueGem Capital Partners; partners like Giacomo Giurazza; and investment managers such as Alessandro Papoff.[1][3] The firm evolved from advising on closed-end funds to becoming an independent SGR, launching 9 funds (including 2 private equity and 4 VC) with offices in Naples (HQ) and Milan, focusing on southern Italy's high-tech innovation gap.[1][2][4] Pivotal moments include peak activity in 2012 (high deal volume) and consistent investments in startups like Sclak, AppsBuilder, and Glomeria Therapeutics, prioritizing 2-3-year-old companies with 3+ founders.[5]
Vertis rides the wave of innovative Made in Italy, channeling risk capital into southern Europe's underserved startup ecosystem, where proximity to talent in Naples/Milan aids early/growth-stage tech like AI, IoT, robotics, and biotech.[1][3][5] Timing aligns with Italy's push for Industry 4.0, digital transformation, and cleantech, amplified by EU funds and post-2012 recovery in VC activity.[5][7] Market forces favoring Vertis include southern Italy's innovation potential (spin-offs, SMEs), scarcity of local PE/VC managers, and demand for minority investments in €2-9M rounds amid global tech shifts.[3][4] It influences the ecosystem by bridging regional gaps, boosting national expansion (e.g., Zerynth IoT investment), and prioritizing high-exit tech, fostering a pipeline of scalable "Made in Italy" leaders.[5][7]
Vertis SGR's southern Italy niche and tech focus position it for expansion amid rising EU sustainability mandates and AI/IoT demand, potentially scaling funds and exits beyond its 4 recorded successes.[1][5] Trends like ESG-driven VC, Industry 4.0 adoption, and cross-border co-invests will shape its path, with influence evolving toward pan-European "Made in Italy" champion as portfolio firms like those in software (14 investments) and health (7) mature.[3][5] Expect more leads in big data/robotics, leveraging its independence for superior deal flow in a consolidating PE landscape.[2] This reinforces Vertis as the go-to for southern Europe's innovative edge.[1]
