U-Start Club is a leading elite group of investors with a deep passion for innovation and venture capital investments.
The Club provides access and constant exposure to innovation globally and drives family offices and HNWIs in the digital and tech space in a more holistic, strategic and conscious way, helping them to build up an efficient asset allocation.
By participating in the different activities and events, the club members exchange ideas, business opportunities and build long lasting relationships with each other.
Members receive a monthly report signalling the best investment opportunities selected by the U-Start Investment team, along with a tailored report summarizing the performance of the companies in which the Club Members have invested in.
SEE OUR COMPANIESA smart, interactive and informal gathering intended to create expertise and knowledge on venture capital investment dynamics. The exclusive event is run by top international professionals of the sector.
A monthly curated publication with property content, including a selection of articles and insights featuring some of the most influential voices in the industry from all over the world.
SEE A PREVIEW OF THE MAGAZINEThe webinars are intended to give Club members the opportunity to talk with global industry experts, successful founders and relevant angel investors. We want to give our Club Members the chance to learn from the best people involved in the markets, building on their advices and personal experiences.
19th March 2018
The first U-Meet event was born one year ago: during our new office inauguration, we hosted Giampaolo Cagnin, Hi-Food Founder. Once again, we decided to stay in the Food Innovation sector inviting Michela Petronio, Vice President at Barilla Global Discovery Center and Director at Blu1877 (Barilla Corporate Venture). The event is organized in collaboration with Tearose, iconic Fashion and Event Design brand.
It’s an invitation-only-event. If you want to take part, please contact our team.
U-Start Club Christmas Cocktail
13th December 2017
The U-Start Club Christmas Cocktail will take place at Svinazzando wine shop in piazza Tre Torri, Milan, on Wednesday, 13th December from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The cocktail is a good chance to wish each other a Happy Christmas and to celebrate another year spent together.
The Christmas Cocktail is an invitation-only-event. If you want to take part, please contact our team.
U-Start Club Business Trip to San Francisco
12nd - 15th November 2017
U-Start is inviting all Club Members to a private and exclusive business trip to San Francisco from the 12nd to the 15th of November 2017. Our ambition is to give our clients a rich experience in networking with industry leaders and learning from participating in seminars, meetings, and workshops with top venture capital firms, family offices, accelerators, well-known corporates and exciting start-ups. They range from SOS Ventures, HAX Accelerators and Y-Combinator’s start-ups to Airbnb, Memphis Meats, Finless Foods, and much more.
U-Start Club Academy - III EDITION
7th October 2017
The third edition of U-Start Club Academy will take place on Saturday 7th of October from 09.30am to 5.30pm at the beautiful, traditional, Michelin- awarded restaurant Da Vittorio in Bergamo, a thirty minutes’ drive from the center of Milan.
Considering our role as advisor, we believe that Venture Capital investments require great knowledge, thus it is essential to be constantly updated about the dynamics and peculiarities of the industry, as they change so fast. This is why we organize on an annual basis the U-Start Academy: a conference-day reserved to our Club Members.
As last year, the Academy will be run by top professionals speaking about a chosen topic. Several experts and representatives from the most important international Venture Capital firms will contribute to the event by giving their insights about internal processes and decision-making strategies.
More than a series of speeches, the Academy is also an occasion to deal with influential industry leaders, to meet other Club Members and to spend time together, creating enjoyable networking moments. After the event the opportunity of attending a wine tasting from the Sicilian produced wine Baglio di Pianetto.
The event will be English and it is an invitation only-event. If you want to take part, please contact our team.
19th June 2017
We are organizing the 2nd edition of the U-Start Club Portfolio Day, one of our most important annual events, which will take place on June 19th, 2017 from 2.30pm to 8.30pm at Terrazza Martini, piazza Armando Diaz 7, Milan.
During the event the U-Start Club members have the chance to meet their portfolio companies as well as all the other companies invested by the U-Start Club. Their founders will give the attendance a presentation on their latest updates and achievements.
During the Portfolio Day, there will be time for networking and discussions amongst participants and founders. Moreover, the event is a great occasion to look into the VC industry in terms of trends, opportunities and challenges.
The event is an invitation-only-event. If you are interested in participating, please contact Gaia Zoccoli at gaia.zoccoli@u-start.biz
U-Start Club Cocktail - U-Start's new office in Milan
9th May 2017
U-Start continues to grow and as a natural step in that growth, we have decided to move in a new and more spacious office in the beautiful area of Porta Venezia. Moving in is always exciting and we look forward to creating many great memories here with you.
U-Start team organizes a cocktail for celebrating the new office with the U-Start Club Members. The Cocktail will take place on May 9th, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm in Viale Luigi Majno 15, Milano.
Special thanks goes to our partner and sponsor Culti who has supported us in decorating the office with its products.
The Cocktail is an invitation-only-event. If you want to take part, please contact our team.
U-Start Club Cocktail at Rossana Flagship Store - Salone del Mobile
4th Aprile 2017
The U-Start Club Cocktail event, organized on the occasion ofthe Salone del Mobile Milano and Fuori Salone, will be held at Rossana Showroom in via Turati, 6/8, Milan, on Tuesday, 4th April from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
The event is organized in collaboration with our partners Rossana, a historical brand of Italian luxury kitchens - owned by Colombini Group, and Sweetguest, a company specialized in short rent management services on the Airbnb platform.
During the event, Emanuel Colombini, U-Start Club Member and CEO of Colombini Group will tell us the importance of innovation as cornerstone of the Group and how over the years they have been searching forthe right synergy between innovation and design
Moreover, Rocco Lomazzi e Edoardo Grattirola, founders of Sweetguest, will present their startup and the goals achieved. Nowadays SweetGuest, after only one year of activity, and 700k raised, deals with 150 clients in Italy, France and Switzerland with an 85% average of occupancy rate and +50% average on increase of profits. Here you find more information.
Below, the event’s agenda:
AGENDA
The event is an invitation-only-event. If you are interested in participating, please contact Gaia Zoccoli at gaia.zoccoli@u-start.biz
U-Start Club leisure activity: Maserati Winter Tour | 17-19 March 2017
17-19 March 2017
U-Start team organizes the U-Start Club’s leisure activity: Maserati Winter Tour in Courmayeur Mont Blanc on March, 17th-19th thanks to our great partner Maserati.
During the Tour a fleet of Maserati Levante, and S Q4 Ghibli and Quattroporte, accompanied by a team of professional instructors, will be available to participants to reveal all the secrets of driving in low grip conditions.
The atmosphere of elegance that always surrounds the Trident brand will continue throughout the winter season at the most exclusive ski locations (Courmayeur Mont-Blanc, Cortina D’Ampezzo and Val Gardena).
U-START CLUB CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL
05th December 2016
The U-Start Club Christmas Cocktail will take place at Culti Milano store in Corso Venezia, 53, Milan, on Monday, 5th December from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
The event is organized in collaboration with our partner Culti Milano, the unrivaled benchmark in the world of home fragrances since 1990. The Cocktail will be a special occasion to conclude the great year spent together and to share our thoughts about the future, together with other Club Members, in a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. Pierpaolo Manes, CEO at Culti, will also join the event to introduce you to Culti’s world, briefly telling brand’s history and peculiarities.
Moreover, we are glad to announce you that catering service will be provided by Bottega del gusto of Cometa, a professional catering service composed of Oliver Twist school’s students who, together with their teachers, all professional chefs, offer high-quality catering services. In the attachment, a short project’s description.
The Christmas Cocktail is an invitation-only-event. If you want to take part, please contact our team.
15th October 2016
The second edition of U-Start Club Academy will take place on Saturday 15th October from 10.15am to 6.00pm in the beautiful setting of Ca’ del Bosco in Franciacorta, one of the most avant-garde and exclusive wineries in Italy, just one hour away from Milan.
Considering our role of advisor, we believe that Venture Capital investments require great knowledge, thus it is essential to be constantly updated about the dynamics and peculiarities of the industry, as they change so fast. This is why we organize on an annual basis the U-Start Academy: a conference-day reserved to our Club Members.
As the past year, the Academy will be run by top professional and will focus on a specific topic. Several experts and representatives of the most important international Venture Capital firms will contribute to the event by giving you insights about their internal processes and decision-making strategies. In particular, their speeches will focus on the different investment strategies that can be used to build up an efficient Portfolio.
More than a series of talks, the Academy is also an occasion to deal with influential industry leaders, to meet other Club Members and to spend some time together, creating enjoyable networking moments. During the event you will indeed be able to visit the wine cellars of the winery Ca’ del Bosco in a less than one-hour guided tour.
The event will be English and it is an invitation only-event. If you want to take part, please contact our team.
29th June 2016
At U-Start we trust that strong networks and mutually beneficial liaisons between investors and entrepreneurs are essential elements to a successful investment strategy.
This is why we decided to organize an exclusive event, the U-Start Club Portfolio Day that will take place in Terrazza Martini, piazza Armando Diaz, 7, 20123, Milan, on Wednesday, June, 29th from 2.30pm to 8.30pm.
The Portfolio Day is the annual gathering that brings to Milan the entrepreneurs in which the Club have invested and it's the right moment for you to know our companies, see how they have developed so far and have an overview about their future growth.
It is also the special occasion to meet in the same location all the founders of these innovative companies and more than 50 U-Start Club investors.
This event confirms our belief that the right combination of private capital and innovation are keys for a sustainable future and represents the outcome of our hard work: in just one year the U-Start Club has set a new standard in the VC industry, becoming one of the main private investors Club in the VC space in Europe with more than 16M EUR invested by our Club Members on aggregate.
The event will be in English and it is an invitation only-event. If you want to take part in our Portfolio Day, please contact our team.
U-Start Club Cocktail at Clubhouse Brera
16 May 2016 18.30 - 20.30
U-Start Club Cocktail organized in collaboration with our partner ClubHouse Brera.
During the event the monthly investment opportunity will be presented to the Club members.
1st March 2016
Ristorante dal Bolognese, Milan
U-Start Club Charity Dinner organized in collaboration with “Associazione Amici di Cometa Onlus”.
The charity event was aimed at supporting a specific child development project and it will be an occasion to meet all the Club Members and to know one of the investment opportunities of the month, Coureon.
U-START CLUB CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL
10th December 2015
Doriani Cafè Restaurant, Milan
U-Start Club Christmas Aperitif in Milan organized in collaboration with our partner Doriani and Excantia. The Cocktail was a special occasion to meet all the Club Members, to share their thoughts with other club members, dwell on the enjoyable moments of the past year and discuss the future endeavours over a glass of wine.
U-START CLUB BUSINESS TRIP TO TEL AVIV
22nd-26th November 2015
The aim of the trip was to enlarge our members exposure to the up-surging Israeli ecosystem to connect you with top-notch companies, VCs and business angles. We met some of the biggest accelerators and VCs, such as Microsoft Ventures, IAngles, Glilot Capital Partners, Wadi Ventures, Terra Ventures and Magma Ventures.
24th October 2015
Castello di Cigognola
The Academy aimed to develop a clearly defined vision, complemented with pragmatic advices on how to build, manage and exit diversified portfolios of agile, fast-growing tech companies. The Academy gathered high-level professionals to transfer their know-how about early-stage investment dynamics, providing the tools for effective deal origination, screening and valuation.
10th September 2015
Alitalia - Etihad Pavillion – EXPO, Milan
The U-Start Club Dinner was an occasion to meet the Club Members after the summer holidays and to know the investments opportunities of the month (La Belle Assiette and WineoWine). During the Dinner the Members had the chance to taste Domori Chocolate and to have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Alitalia- Etihad new services and to pilot their flight simulators.
U-START CLUB COCKTAIL AT DAMMANN FRERES
21st May 2015
Dammann Frères
During the U-Start Club Cocktail two investment opportunities (Satispay and Worldcoo) were presented to the club members. The Cocktail was an occasion also to taste the Dammann Frères tea and Domori Chocolate.
U-START CLUB BUSINESS TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO
13rd-20th March 2015
U-Start has organized an intense travel to San Francisco: the business trip included training, networking, and inspirational visits to the offices of the biggest tech companies, such as Apple, Google, Salesforce and the accelerator 500startups. We met top leading investors and entrepreneurs, including Rob Salomon, Luca Maestri (Apple’s CFO), Omid Kordestani (Chief Business Officer – Google), Dave McClure(investor/partner at 500Startups).