Starting or running a business?
Discover everything you need to know about doing business in your country from one of the Ye! country guides. We have kick-started a few and will be adding more. Check it out and stay tuned!
Funding
Loans and microfinance
Loan is a common way of financing companies: you borrow from the investors/lenders an agreed amount (the principal) and reply the principal and interest to them after a specified period of time. Microfinance loans typically target small business owners.
- Fondazione Giordano Dell’Amore – provides a list of microfinance institutions in Italy.
- European Investment Fund – provides a list of micro-credit providers in Italy.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding allows entrepreneurs to raise (usually) small amounts of capital from a large group of individuals via the Internet to finance their business venture. If you are starting a business in Italy, you might find the following crowdfunding platforms interesting:
- Kapipal, launched in 2009. It hosts every kind of project without any fee.
- Eppela, launched in 2011. It hosts projects in art, technology, cinema, design, music, social innovation, fashion, non profit and comics.
- Starteed, launched in 2012 and supported by Starteed Community.
- Produzioni dal Basso, launched in 2005, hosts general projects.
- Crowdfunding-Italia, launched in 2012, hosts every kind of project without any fee.
- De Revolutione, launched in November 2012
- Com-Unity, a website launched in 2013 and owned by Banca Interprovonciale SpA together with a consulting company, Studio SCOA.
- Kendoo, launched in 2013, with a focus on the province of Bergamo
- Finanziami il tuo futuro, launched in 2013, with a focus on community development in Puglia.
- Cineama, founded in 2011, with a focus on the field of cinema.
- ShinyNote, launched in 2011. Crowdfunding for personal causes.
- Iodono, launched in 2010. Crowdfunding for personal causes.
A global list of crowd funding websites is available here.
Angel investments
Angel investments are typically the earliest equity investors in startup companies. Angel investors are usually wealthy individuals that band together in investor networks.
- Italian Angels - online network of Italian angel investors
- Terzo Valore it is a service developed by Intesa San paolo.
- SiamoSoci
- We Are Starting
- Prestiamoci
Venture capital
Venture capital refers to money invested in a project in which there is a substantial element at risk, typically a new or expanding business.
- Compare Venture Capital in Italy – This website compares venture capital firms in Italy
- UnitedVentures – Italian venture capital firm based in Milan focusing on consumer internet, software and mobile.
- ZernikeMetaVentures – company specialized in finance for innovation and new business creations.
Grants and Funds
- Access to EU finance - Grants provided by the EU to Italy
