Stage-Specific VCs are venture capital firms that focus their investments on startups at a particular stage of growth. Many VCs specialize in either early or late stage investing. Early-stage firms like First Round Capital and Upfront Ventures focus on Seed, Series A and Series B rounds for young startups still proving product-market fit. Late-stage VCs like IVP and DST Global invest in mature startups already showing strong traction and scalability in Series C rounds and beyond. Specializing by stage allows VCs to tailor their expertise, networks, fund sizes, and investment strategies to the needs of startups at that growth phase. Stage-specific investing also reduces risks by avoiding risky early bets or high late stage valuations. However, the most successful VCs take a full lifecycle approach to build relationships with entrepreneurs early and realize the highest returns by investing through multiple stages.
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.
