Intesa Sanpaolo and Vertis SGR back innovation in Southern Italy
28 April 2026
Intesa Sanpaolo and Vertis SGR have launched a strategic collaboration to support the growth and consolidation of innovative startups and SMEs in Southern Italy, strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Vertis SGR is the only asset management company based in Southern Italy active in private equity and venture capital fund management.
The agreement involves Intesa Sanpaolo’s Banca dei Territori Division and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, which will provide Vertis and the selected startups with specialised expertise, national and international networking opportunities and initiatives aimed at accelerating innovation, fostering connections between companies, universities, research centres and investors.
Financial and non-financial services supporting startups
In 2025, Intesa Sanpaolo’s Banca dei Territori Division provided €70 million to innovative companies in Southern Italy and is now expanding its support through an integrated offering that includes financing solutions, acceleration programmes and dedicated initiatives such as Up2Stars, Terra Next, and the activities of the ESG Labs and Innovation Hubs in Naples and Bari.
As part of the partnership, Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, the Group company dedicated to frontier innovation, will also promote open innovation initiatives to facilitate connections between companies and capital.
Neva SGR’s investment in the Vertis Venture 6 Digital Sud fund
In parallel, Neva SGR, the venture capital firm of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, has invested - through its Innovation Ecosystem Development Fund (SEI fund) - in the Vertis Venture 6 Digital Sud (VV6) fund, dedicated to the development of innovative startups and SMEs in Southern Italy.
The VV6 fund invests in companies at all stages of growth, with tickets ranging from €0.5 million to €5 million, focusing on key sectors of the digital transition including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech and agritech. The objective is to create technology hubs in Southern Italy, attract investment and skills, and generate high-quality employment.
Just over one year after launch, the fund has raised more than €49.5 million, completed 7 investments and plans to carry out a further 6 by the end of the year.
Last updated 28 April 2026 at 13:12:00
