U-Start

General contacts

Investor type

Founded

2012

AUM

Location

Milan, Lombardy, Italy

Investment Ticket

$1-5 m

Investment Stage

Series A Seed Series B

Region of investment

Europe North America Asia

ESG Focus

LGBTQ

Investor profile last updated: 21 August, 2026

Profile

U-Start is a venture capital firm founded in 2012, headquartered in Milan, Italy, with additional operations in Lugano, Switzerland. The firm specializes in advising and structuring deals for private investors, focusing on tech companies across Europe, Israel, and the US. U-Start works closely with family offices and funds on venture deals and collaborates with corporates on startup scouting and innovation projects.

The firm primarily invests in Series A rounds, with a focus on sectors such as consumer, retail, and enterprise applications. U-Start has a diverse portfolio, having invested in 42 companies, including notable names like Deliveroo and Wallapop. The firm is known for its strategic partnerships and co-investments with other funds, such as Angel Capital Management.

Notable investments by U-Start include Deliveroo - food delivery service, Wallapop - second-hand marketplace, SumUp - mobile payments, Outfittery - personalized shopping service, and Freeda Media - digital media company. These investments highlight U-Start's focus on innovative tech-driven solutions in various sectors.

Industry

Retail Consumer Products Transportation Telecommunications Software Foodtech Food and Beverage Financial Services Fashion/Beauty SaaS Mobile/Apps Media and Entertainment Internet and Web Services Fintech

Contacts

Name

Title

Social Networks

Daniele Testa Partner

Partner

Vittorio Mauri Partner

Partner

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Investment-team contacts for U-Start — including verified work emails and LinkedIn profiles — are available to Private Equity List subscribers.
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Contacts sourced from the firm's website and LinkedIn, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Spot a stale contact, or none at all? Report it — we re-run that firm within 48h and get back to you.

FAQs about U-Start

Is U-Start a venture capital or private equity firm?

U-Start is a venture capital firm. It backs companies at Series A, Seed and Series B, writing tickets of $1-5 m.

Where is U-Start located?

U-Start is located in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.

When was U-Start founded?

U-Start was founded in 2012.

What sectors and industries does U-Start invest in?

U-Start invests in companies and startups in Retail, Consumer Products, Transportation, Telecommunications, Software, Foodtech, Food and Beverage, Financial Services, Fashion/Beauty, SaaS, Mobile/Apps, Media and Entertainment, Internet and Web Services, Fintech.

What is U-Start geographical focus of investments?

U-Start invests in companies and startups in Europe, North America, Asia.

At what stages of companies and startups does U-Start typically invest in?

U-Start invests in companies and startups at Series A, Seed, Series B.

What is the usual amount of U-Start investment?

U-Start usually invests $1-5 m on average.

Does U-Start invest and support LGBTQ, female and other minorities startups and founders?

U-Start invests and supports LGBTQ startups and founders.

What are the contacts of U-Start?

U-Start can be reached through its website u-start.biz, its LinkedIn page and its X account. Its general enquiries address is [email protected]. Cold-mailing a general inbox rarely reaches a partner, so Private Equity List also lists the investment-team contacts for U-Start — names, roles, verified work emails and LinkedIn profiles — available on a Pro plan from $129/month (see pricing). Contacts are sourced from the firm's website and LinkedIn and re-verified on a rolling cycle. Spot a stale contact, or none at all? Report it — we re-run that firm within 48h and get back to you.

Can I access U-Start data via API or MCP?

Yes. Every field on this page — profile, funds, investment criteria, portfolio and investment-team contacts — is available programmatically through the Private Equity List REST API and MCP server, so AI assistants such as Claude and ChatGPT can query U-Start directly instead of scraping this page. One subscription covers both the web app and machine access — see API & MCP.

When was the U-Start profile last updated?

Private Equity List re-verifies investor profiles on a rolling cycle, pulling from the firm's own website and LinkedIn rather than a one-off import. This profile was last updated on 21 August, 2026. Something out of date here? Report it — we re-run that firm within 48h and get back to you.