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Accelerator / StudioPuts its own capital into companiesActive · deal in last 18 monthsLAST VERIFIED Oct 2026 · 18 SOURCES

Zest

Also known as Zest S.p.A., Zest Group, LVenture Group, LVenture Group S.p.A., Digital Magics, LUISS EnLabs, Luiss Enlabs

Euronext Milan-listed accelerator and early-stage investor (Rome, Milan, Turin) formed by merging LVenture Group and Digital Magics; invests its own capital in pre-seed and seed startups.

HEADQUARTERS
Roma, Italy
FOUNDED
—
AUM
—
OUTSIDE CAPITAL
Yes
TEAM LISTED
4 people

Focus

STAGES
Pre-SeedSeed
SECTORS
Artificial IntelligenceSoftware & SaaSClimate & EnergyHealthTechFintech
ASSET MIX
Venture capital
GEOGRAPHY
Italy

Investment arms & vehicles

  • Apside
    Joint venture with Intesa Sanpaolo (€15M endowment) investing in Fintech/Insurtech, Proptech and related startups
  • Open T
    Joint venture with Tinexta (€5M endowment) investing in digital and AI startups

Overview

Zest S.p.A., listed on Euronext Milan (ZEST, ISIN IT0005013013), results from the merger of LVenture Group (which ran the Luiss Enlabs accelerator in Rome) and Digital Magics. It invests its own balance sheet in pre-seed and seed startups — starting with a €10K cash “Scouting Ticket” tied to an 8-week acceleration programme — co-manages acceleration programmes such as ARGO in CDP Venture Capital’s national accelerator network, and offers open-innovation and corporate-venturing services through Zest Innovation. It reports 230+ startups in portfolio, a €50M portfolio fair value and 16 exits, and co-invests through joint ventures with Intesa Sanpaolo (Apside) and Tinexta (Open T). On 16 July 2026 it announced a €5M commitment, as first private investor and sponsor, to Z_One, a €55M-target AI and UrbanTech fund managed by Eureka! Venture SGR, of which Zest owns 20%; CEO Luigi Capello moved to the fund and Marco Gay became CEO.

Investment thesis

Industry-agnostic early-stage investing with vertical focus on AI, cybersecurity, cleantech, data and business software, healthtech, insurtech/fintech and smart city/factory; first ticket at idea/MVP stage with follow-on in later rounds.

PORTFOLIO (7)

  • Tiledesk
    Artificial Intelligence · since 2026
  • Ulisses
    Mobility & Logistics
  • viteSicure
    Fintech
  • Gevi
    Climate & Energy
  • Elai
    Artificial Intelligence
  • SartiQ
    Artificial Intelligence
  • Z_One (fund managed by Eureka! Venture SGR)
    since 2026

People

  • Marco Gay
    Chief Executive Officer (since July 2026; previously executive chairman) · source
  • Marco Giovannini
    Non-executive Chairman (independent director since 2017) · source
  • Luigi Capello
    Board member; key person of the Z_One fund and director of Eureka! Venture SGR (CEO until July 2026) · source
  • Claudio Berretti
    Board member · source

Links

Frequently asked questions

Zest is a accelerator based in Roma, Italy.

Yes. Zest invests its own capital in private companies. It also commits capital to third-party funds as an LP.

Zest invests at Pre-Seed and Seed stages in Artificial Intelligence, Software & SaaS, Climate & Energy, HealthTech and Fintech.

Zest's stated ticket size is From €10K.

Key people at Zest include Marco Gay (Chief Executive Officer (since July 2026; previously executive chairman)), Marco Giovannini (Non-executive Chairman (independent director since 2017)), Luigi Capello (Board member; key person of the Z_One fund and director of Eureka! Venture SGR (CEO until July 2026)) and Claudio Berretti (Board member).

Zest's investments include Tiledesk, Ulisses, viteSicure, Gevi, Elai, SartiQ and Z_One (fund managed by Eureka! Venture SGR).

The most recent publicly reported investment by Zest is Tiledesk (€1.1M seed round subscribed by Zest, Vertis (Vertis Venture 6 Digital Sud and 7 Digital Puglia) and OpenT), announced in Sep 2026.

Zest states that it accepts submissions through its official contact page.

Yes. Zest manages capital from outside investors.