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Lucanus Polagnoli is the Founding Partner at Calm/Storm Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Vienna, Austria. Before launching the firm in 2020, he served as a Partner at Speedinvest, where he helped raise the firm's second fund in 2014 and established its dedicated health investment team. A member of the Kauffman Fellows program, Polagnoli holds a Master of International Management from SDA Bocconi and WU Wien. Under his leadership, Calm/Storm Ventures has built a portfolio of nearly 100 companies, backed by a network of over 100 investors and venture partners. Earlier in his career, he worked in financial consulting and private equity restructuring before operating as a startup chief financial officer. His current investment focus centers on providing pre-seed and seed funding to founders developing digital health and wellbeing technologies across Europe.
Lucanus Polagnoli stands as a pivotal figure in the European venture capital landscape, serving as a Managing Partner at Calm/Storm Ventures. Based in Vienna, Calm/Storm Ventures is renowned for its commitment to early-stage investments, particularly at the pre-seed and seed levels, across the continent. Polagnoli's role involves leading investment strategies, identifying promising startups, and providing strategic guidance to founders.
At Calm/Storm Ventures, Lucanus Polagnoli's investment focus spans a broad spectrum of high-growth technology sectors. He is particularly keen on disruptive innovations within B2B SaaS, artificial intelligence, fintech, health tech, and solutions addressing the future of work and sustainability. His approach is deeply rooted in seeking out visionary entrepreneurs with strong teams and scalable business models that have the potential to redefine industries. Calm/Storm Ventures, under his leadership, aims to be the first institutional check for founders, offering not just capital but also a robust network and hands-on support.
Polagnoli's career background provides him with a unique perspective as an investor. Before his tenure in venture capital, he was a serial entrepreneur, co-founding multiple successful companies. This firsthand experience of building and scaling businesses from the ground up gives him invaluable empathy and insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by startup founders. His journey into venture capital also included a significant period at Speedinvest, another prominent European VC firm, where he honed his investment acumen before co-founding Calm/Storm Ventures. This blend of entrepreneurial spirit and investment expertise makes him a highly sought-after partner for emerging companies.
While specific investments are often a collaborative effort of the Calm/Storm Ventures team, the fund's portfolio reflects Polagnoli's influence and investment philosophy. Calm/Storm Ventures has backed notable companies that have gone on to achieve significant success, including educational technology leader GoStudent, construction software innovator PlanRadar, and developer experience platform Storyblok. These investments underscore Polagnoli's commitment to supporting companies that are not only financially promising but also poised to make a substantial impact in their respective markets. His dedication to fostering innovation and empowering founders solidifies his reputation as a key player in the European startup ecosystem.
Lucanus Polagnoli is a Managing Partner at Calm/Storm Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund based in Vienna, Austria. He is a prominent investor with a strong entrepreneurial background.
Lucanus Polagnoli primarily invests in pre-seed and seed stage technology startups across Europe. His focus areas include B2B SaaS, AI, fintech, health tech, future of work, and sustainability solutions.
Lucanus Polagnoli works as a Managing Partner at Calm/Storm Ventures, a venture capital firm with its main presence in Vienna, Austria. The fund invests across the European startup ecosystem.
