Milan is Italy’s style capital, but also hosts a thriving startup scene, strong in B2B, fintech and applied AI. This is where to make the best startup and investor connections in the city.
Milan is known for being the style capital of the eternally elegant Italy, home to Versace, Prada and Armani, as well as Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Those of a more sporting bent can catch AC Milan and Inter at the San Siro stadium, one of football’s most famous geographic landmarks.
But this is also the city that birthed the Futurism art movement a century ago, and today it hosts a thriving startup scene accentuated by internet roll-up Bending Spoons, VC firms including P101, United Ventures and Principia SGR, and corporate venture units such as Techint’s TechEnergy Ventures, A2A Life Ventures and publisher Zanichelli’s venture builder arm, ZNext. We asked ZNext CEO Elena Lavezzi (below) to be our guide to the city.
What makes Milan’s startup scene stand out? What is the city particularly strong in?
What makes Milan stand out is its ability to turn ideas into businesses quickly. The city is particularly strong in B2B, applied AI, fintech and enterprise software as a service as well as in sectors where design, technology and operations intersect. The ecosystem rewards pragmatism, speed of execution and sustainable growth, aimed at building companies that can scale internationally while staying grounded in strong industrial fundamentals.
Where are the hotspots in the local tech scene?
Milan’s tech ecosystem is compact but highly interconnected. Creative cross-pollination happens at spaces like the innovation orbit of Politecnico di Milano, MIND Milano Innovation District and BASE Milano, where technology, creativity and entrepreneurship naturally intersect.
A key hub is the Porta Nuova tech district, which stretches from Piazza Gae Aulenti to Centrale Station, Piazza della Repubblica and Porta Garibaldi and which is home to global players such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft. Another anchor is the Fintech District in Via Sassetti, which connects startups, entrepreneurs, investors and institutions, with a strong focus on financial innovation.
Where’s the best place for a coffee meeting?
For an informal but high-signal meeting, Pavé is a classic choice: creative, relaxed and founder-friendly. For something more central and elegant, Marchesi 1824 (below) offers a timeless Milanese setting that works well with international guests.
Where would you take a founder you wanted to impress to dinner?
I’d say Trippa: informal, high-energy and uncompromising on quality, it reflects Milan’s ability to reinterpret tradition with confidence. For something more relaxed and poetic, Erba Brusca offers a unique setting along the Naviglio, with a strong focus on seasonal ingredients and sustainability. Both are perfect for conversations that go beyond the pitch deck.
What are the best events for meeting local founders and investors?
Milano Digital Week, StartupItalia Open Summit and SMAU (below) are the main platforms for connecting with the local ecosystem. Together, they bring visibility to early-stage startups, scaleups, corporates and investors, offering a broad snapshot of Italy’s innovation landscape.
It’s not in the city but I also have to mention Italian Tech Week. In Turin, just an hour by train from Milan, it’s the country’s most important gathering for founders and investors, and a key moment for anyone wanting a clear picture of where Italian tech is heading.
What’s the one thing every visitor should see while they’re here?
Beyond the obvious icons, Fondazione Prada is a perfect snapshot of Milan’s DNA: industrial heritage, contemporary vision and international ambition all in one place. Inside, Bar Luce, designed by Wes Anderson, is more than a café – it’s a cinematic space where time slows down, ideas circulate freely and informal conversations often turn into something bigger.
Who in the VC/CVC/startup scene should people make sure to meet while they’re here?
This may sound biased, but the ZNEXT team is always happy to meet people who are building with real intent. More broadly, Milan is home to a dense and diverse group of early-stage investors, corporate innovation leaders, operators and repeat founders who are deeply embedded in the local industrial fabric.
It’s a city where introductions travel fast and conversations tend to cross boundaries between venture, corporates and entrepreneurship. Anyone passing through Milan with curiosity and an open mindset will quickly find themselves plugged into the ecosystem, often starting from a simple coffee.
What’s a secret only the locals know about?
Milan rewards curiosity. Just a short walk from the city’s busiest streets, Villa Necchi Campiglio (below) offers a quiet, elegant retreat that captures the understated side of Milanese sophistication. And nearby, Villa Invernizzi hides one of the city’s most unexpected sights: a small flock of pink flamingos living in its garden, a true reminder that Milan always keeps a few surprises for those who look closely.
Looking to travel somewhere for business and pleasure? You can find a complete rundown of all the GCV Investor’s Guides here.
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