First startup Fundo Launched by Maritime Ventures
First startup Fundo Launched by Maritime Ventures
September 19, 2025
Genoa, 19 September 2025 – Maritime Ventures, the system initiative launched by CDP Venture Capital with the support of the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and numerous financial and institutional partners, announces the launch of Fundo, the first startup created within its venture building program.
Fundo was designed to address one of the most urgent needs identified through the Venture Blueprint analysis: simplifying access to public funding, incentives, and grants for Italian SMEs operating in the maritime, shipbuilding, and port-logistics sectors.
A CONCRETE SOLUTION FOR ECOSYSTEM NEEDS
The Venture Blueprint analysis, conducted during the first months of Maritime Ventures’ activity and based on more than 45 interviews with companies across the value chain, identified six priority innovation areas, including regulatory complexity, traceability, organizational digitalization, and stakeholder communication.
Fundo addresses these challenges by offering:
- an automated assessment of SME needs to quickly identify relevant grants, incentives, and funding opportunities;
- an intelligent matching system between companies and funding opportunities to improve application success rates;
- personalized support throughout application preparation, submission, and post-submission monitoring until funding approval;
- a fully digital service accessible via platform, including registration, needs assessment, tailored recommendations, and deadline management.
BENEFITS FOR COMPANIES
Through its platform, Fundo enables SMEs to improve efficiency in identifying funding opportunities, reduce time spent searching for suitable calls, and increase application success rates through AI-enabled matching and expert guidance. The platform also ensures transparency and continuous monitoring of application status, deadlines, and compliance requirements.
Once company data is onboarded during the initial phase, users define their funding objectives and the platform continuously scans for relevant opportunities. An AI Agent supports application drafting and documentation preparation, while Fundo experts remain available to clarify requirements, collect missing information, and finalize submissions.
FUNDO, THE FIRST STARTUP OF MARITIME VENTURES
“Just 14 months after the launch of Maritime Ventures, we are proud to introduce our first startup to the market,” said Enrico Noseda, CEO of Maritime Ventures and Chief Innovation Officer of Cariplo Factory. “With Fundo, we deliver the first tangible outcome of our venture building methodology: not only identifying opportunities, but building solutions that directly respond to real needs expressed by companies within the ecosystem.”
“SMEs operating in maritime, port logistics, and industrial components face regulatory complexity and fragmented information regarding grants and financing, which often slows down innovation,” added Andrea Giustina, CEO of Fundo. “Fundo aims to bring clarity, structure, and acceleration to this process.”
CONTEXT AND INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK
Maritime Ventures aims to create 10 new companies over the next three years to support the digital transformation of Italian SMEs active in shipbuilding, recreational boating, cruise industry, and port logistics. These startups will be eligible for follow-on equity investments from CDP Venture Capital’s Boost Innovation Fund, with an expected allocation of approximately €30 million, generating a total investment impact of up to €70 million.
Maritime Ventures operates permanent hubs in Genoa (Genova Blue District) and Trieste.
***
Maritime Ventures is an initiative promoted by CDP Venture Capital together with leading financial, industrial, and institutional partners within the Italian innovation ecosystem. Its mission is to accelerate the digital transformation of the maritime and port-logistics sectors by creating 10 new companies over three years, targeting total investments of approximately €70 million.
Genoa, 19 September 2025 – Maritime Ventures, the system initiative launched by CDP Venture Capital with the support of the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and numerous financial and institutional partners, announces the launch of Fundo, the first startup created within its venture building program.
Fundo was designed to address one of the most urgent needs identified through the Venture Blueprint analysis: simplifying access to public funding, incentives, and grants for Italian SMEs operating in the maritime, shipbuilding, and port-logistics sectors.
A CONCRETE SOLUTION FOR ECOSYSTEM NEEDS
The Venture Blueprint analysis, conducted during the first months of Maritime Ventures’ activity and based on more than 45 interviews with companies across the value chain, identified six priority innovation areas, including regulatory complexity, traceability, organizational digitalization, and stakeholder communication.
Fundo addresses these challenges by offering:
- an automated assessment of SME needs to quickly identify relevant grants, incentives, and funding opportunities;
- an intelligent matching system between companies and funding opportunities to improve application success rates;
- personalized support throughout application preparation, submission, and post-submission monitoring until funding approval;
- a fully digital service accessible via platform, including registration, needs assessment, tailored recommendations, and deadline management.
BENEFITS FOR COMPANIES
Through its platform, Fundo enables SMEs to improve efficiency in identifying funding opportunities, reduce time spent searching for suitable calls, and increase application success rates through AI-enabled matching and expert guidance. The platform also ensures transparency and continuous monitoring of application status, deadlines, and compliance requirements.
Once company data is onboarded during the initial phase, users define their funding objectives and the platform continuously scans for relevant opportunities. An AI Agent supports application drafting and documentation preparation, while Fundo experts remain available to clarify requirements, collect missing information, and finalize submissions.
FUNDO, THE FIRST STARTUP OF MARITIME VENTURES
“Just 14 months after the launch of Maritime Ventures, we are proud to introduce our first startup to the market,” said Enrico Noseda, CEO of Maritime Ventures and Chief Innovation Officer of Cariplo Factory. “With Fundo, we deliver the first tangible outcome of our venture building methodology: not only identifying opportunities, but building solutions that directly respond to real needs expressed by companies within the ecosystem.”
“SMEs operating in maritime, port logistics, and industrial components face regulatory complexity and fragmented information regarding grants and financing, which often slows down innovation,” added Andrea Giustina, CEO of Fundo. “Fundo aims to bring clarity, structure, and acceleration to this process.”
CONTEXT AND INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK
Maritime Ventures aims to create 10 new companies over the next three years to support the digital transformation of Italian SMEs active in shipbuilding, recreational boating, cruise industry, and port logistics. These startups will be eligible for follow-on equity investments from CDP Venture Capital’s Boost Innovation Fund, with an expected allocation of approximately €30 million, generating a total investment impact of up to €70 million.
Maritime Ventures operates permanent hubs in Genoa (Genova Blue District) and Trieste.
***
Maritime Ventures is an initiative promoted by CDP Venture Capital together with leading financial, industrial, and institutional partners within the Italian innovation ecosystem. Its mission is to accelerate the digital transformation of the maritime and port-logistics sectors by creating 10 new companies over three years, targeting total investments of approximately €70 million.
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