Angel investor · Europe
Backing the next generation of founders.
I'm Luca Ascani. After over 25 years building and scaling internet companies, I invest — early and hands-on — in a small number of teams with the ambition and the market to become category leaders.
About
I started out in Rome at 20 in 2000, launching BuyCentral, Italy's first shopping comparison site (sold to Lycos), and ADVance, which became the country's leading digital agency (sold to NetBooster). In 2004 I co-founded GoAdv / Populis, one of Europe's largest digital publishing groups, listed on the Paris Alternext exchange in 2007.
I brought the TechCrunch conference to Italy and co-hosted Founders Forum in Rome. Today I invest as an angel and back funds as an LP, with a portfolio that includes Scalapay, Lendable, Pliant, Apron, BearNotes and Stacks.ai.
Approach
I'll always be very direct — no BS. But the best entrepreneur is the one who takes in all the feedback and turns it into their own secret sauce.
People over ideas
I back the founder, not the pitch. Focus and execution matter more than the deck.
More than capital
I've been an entrepreneur from zero to IPO, with everything in between. Where I help most: positioning, fundraising, go-to-market, UX — and the daily rollercoaster of building a company.
A clear equity story
I invest where we can create a clear equity story, often with VCs or other prominent angels.
Two or three a year
Few, deep relationships. Wherever great founders are.
Portfolio
Companies I've invested in or advised at their earliest stage.
Funds I back as an LP
Just as I like to back entrepreneurs, I also back first-time and emerging fund managers with a focus on early-stage investing.
Co-investors
Some of the VCs I've co-invested with.
Pitch me
Building something with a market worth at least $1bn and a small, exceptional core team? Share your deck.