Pre-seed funding refers to the first external investment in an early-stage startup, typically raised to launch and develop an initial prototype or proof-of-concept. Pre-seed rounds range from $10,000 to $150,000 and usually come from the founders themselves, friends and family, incubators, angel investors, or micro VCs focused on pre-seed. The capital allows founders to get a minimum viable product off the ground and perform initial market validation before applying to accelerators or pitching to seed investors. Pre-seed funding carries huge risk investing in ideas not yet validated. But it can also reap massive returns getting in early on the next big thing. Promising startups may raise pre-seed funding before applying to top startup accelerators like Y Combinator, which itself offers a standard $125k pre-seed investment to accepted companies. Venture capital firms will later seek out those winners that gained momentum during the pre-seed stage.
At our latest 0100 Conference Mediterranean, we gathered experts from Lombardy’s investment ecosystem, including Andrea Beretta of Cariplo Factory, Gessyca Golia from the Lombardy Region, and moderator Fiorenza Lipparini of Milano & Partners, to discuss the unique appeal of Milan for venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) investments.
The 0100 Conference Mediterranean Fireside Chat: VC Secondaries – the Market Opportunity and Ways to Select the Right Fund highlighted its unique potential for investors seeking more liquidity and quicker returns. This session featured Nick Hendra from AAF Management, Matt Russell from Vencap, and Luca Mannucci from Sella Venture Partners, who shared insights on the market dynamics of VC secondaries, effective fund selection, and key strategies for mitigating risk while maximizing returns.
LP panels are essential at every conference, especially as fundraising becomes increasingly competitive and challenging. One of the highlights at the 0100 Conference Mediterranean was the panel titled “Attracting LP Investors Outside the Region: Interest in the Regional PE/VC Market from Global Institutional Investors.” In this session, key investors shared insights into the growing global interest in private equity and venture capital markets within the Mediterranean and Southern Europe. Moderated by Francesco Cerruti, Director General of the Italian Tech Alliance, the panel brought together leading figures in the industry, including Emre Karabekirogullari, Director of Investments at Sarona AM; Patrick Aisher, Chairman of Kinled Holding; Benno Tieke, Director of Portfolio Management at Philips Ventures; and Veera Somersalmi, Director of Investor Relations at Bpifrance.
