While global attention is focused on artificial intelligence companies, the biotech sector is not standing still and continues to grow, even in Italy. In the research sector, the Tricolour country is carving out increasingly important spaces, competing with large international hubs such as Boston or Basel. Venture capital firms specialising in biotechnology, such as Claris Ventures, are also driving innovation. Claris Ventures recently announced the first closing of the Claris Biotech II fund, targeting 100 million euros in funding. This is not entirely new, in fact, the new fund is in line with the one launched in 2020 that had raised 85 million euros and financed 10 biotech companies, active in medical areas such as oncology, neurology and rare diseases. To date, four therapeutic programmes supported by the first fund – Claris Biotech II – have already entered the clinical phase. And the investee companies have raised a total of over 170 million euros in capital, attracting the interest of international investors and pharmaceutical groups, including Sanofi, Bristol Myers Squibb and ONO Pharmaceutical.
But let’s take a look at the most interesting rounds of the last month in Italy, looking at the healthcare sector, but not only
IAMA Therapeutics
The young biopharmaceutical company, born from the research of the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa and active in the development of innovative therapeutic approaches, has raised 15 million euros in an investment round led by the Biotech Fund. With the new funds, the startup will be able to enter phase two of the clinical trial to test the efficacy on humans of IAMA-6, a drug that is expected to increase the quality of life of people with neurodevelopmental problems, such as conditions on the autism spectrum.
Keplera
The legal tech startup that aims to simplify the creation and management of legal documents, which has developed an all-in-one solution that integrates artificial intelligence to facilitate the creation, filing, sharing and signing of documents, has closed a 770 thousand euros investment round, underwritten by Magic Mind.
WSense
The Italian ocean tech scaleup, world leader in the development of wireless underwater monitoring and communication systems, has closed a 7.2 million euros pre-B Series round. This highlights the growing potential of the underwater market. For instance, in the field of underwater telecommunications alone, 552 cables are currently laid on the oceanic backbone, and 98% of global digital telecommunications, including digital transactions, pass through these cables.
Blubrake
The Milan-based scaleup that developed a technology to equip e-bikes and light electric vehicles with an ABS integrated into the frame has completed a 12 million euros investment round led by Algebris Climatech. Today, this technology is already integrated in leading bicycle models, and demand is expected to outstrip supply between 2025 and 2026, partly due to competitive pricing.
Tundr Tech Corporation srl
The startup based in Milan and Lecce that promotes organisational wellness, enabling companies to activate welfare plans with simplicity, flexibility and without red tape, has closed a 7.2 million euros Seed round led by 360 Capital. In less than two years since its market launch, Tundr has become the reference for over 400 companies, and the new funds will enable it to strengthen its presence in the Italian market.
