Turin/Milan, 16 July 2024 – Neva Sgr, the venture capital arm of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, has taken an equity stake in Bio4Dreams Spa, an Italian incubator specializing in innovative start-ups within the Life Sciences sector. This investment was made through Neva Sgr’s Fondo Sei – Sviluppo ecosistemi di innovazione fund.

Strengthening the Italian Innovation Ecosystem

The Fondo Sei fund, entirely backed by the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, aims to bolster the Italian innovation landscape by investing in entities that drive research, selection, acceleration, and professionalization programs for high-potential start-ups. Managed by Neva Sgr, Fondo Sei’s strategic investment in Bio4Dreams marks a significant step in fortifying the incubator’s internal structure and enhancing its international reach.

A European Benchmark for Innovation

Since its inception, Bio4Dreams has evaluated approximately 1600 entrepreneurial projects across various ecosystems in Italy and abroad. With a strong presence in cities like Milan, Turin, Genoa, and international locations such as Pécs, Hungary; Krakow, Poland; and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Bio4Dreams has launched tailored incubation programs for 47 start-ups and innovative SMEs, creating a portfolio valued at over €71 million. These start-ups span a range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, E-Health, Agrifoodtech, and the circular bio-economy.

New Leadership and Future Goals

As part of this investment, Neva Sgr will appoint a new member to the Bio4Dreams board of directors. Mario Costantini, CEO and General Manager of Neva Sgr, emphasized the importance of this investment: “Our goal is to support and accelerate innovation in the Life Sciences sector in Italy. Many of our country’s brilliant researchers and start-up founders often go abroad to develop their ideas. With Fondo Sei, we are proud to support Bio4Dreams in retaining and attracting highly innovative start-ups to our region.”

Elisabetta Borello, Co-Founder and VP of Strategy & External Relations at Bio4Dreams, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are excited and honored to have Neva Sgr and Fondo Sei alongside us, and to collaborate with Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center. The synergies we can create with the various players in the Intesa Sanpaolo Group’s innovation system will be crucial as we continue to grow, explore new directions, and face future challenges.”

Neva Sgr’s investment in Bio4Dreams underscores a shared commitment to advancing the Life Sciences sector in Italy. This partnership not only strengthens Bio4Dreams’ position within the Italian innovation ecosystem but also sets the stage for accelerated development and international expansion, fostering a more robust and dynamic environment for cutting-edge start-ups.