General topics
Obloo is a deep-tech venture capital firm based in Milan, Italy. It operates as a comprehensive ecosystem designed to transform groundbreaking scientific research into disruptive industrial companies. Obloo provides capital, strategic guidance and access through a curated network of researchers, corporations and LPs — from the earliest seed stages through to late-stage growth.
Obloo focuses exclusively on deep tech. Its core verticals are Aerospace, Computing, Energy & Resilience, AI & Cyber, Robotics and Smart Materials. These sectors sit at the frontier of science and engineering and Obloo deliberately targets areas where technological complexity creates durable competitive moats.
Unlike generalist VCs, Obloo combines deep scientific expertise with investment experience. Over 60% of the team holds a PhD and the firm brings together 75+ years in venture capital, 40+ years in top international research centers and 120+ years in multinational corporations. This unusual blend allows Obloo to evaluate technology at a fundamental level, not just on market hype or financial metrics.
Yes. Collaboration with academic institutions is central to Obloo’s model. The firm partners with institutions such as AI4, BI-REX, the Lean Experience Factory (a joint venture between McKinsey and Confindustria Alto Adriatico), RINA, Chips-IT and MIB Trieste School of Management, giving portfolio companies access to real-world testbeds, technical validation and specialized expertise. These partnerships support the journey from scientific discovery to market-ready product.
Obloo is headquartered in Milan, but that’s just home base. The firm’s reach extends to Rome, Trieste and Turin across Italy and all the way to Miami on the other side of the Atlantic, keeping Obloo close to founders, research centers and industrial partners wherever the science is happening.
Technology
Obloo is drawn to enabling technologies, meaning those that don’t just improve existing products but redefine entire industrial systems. This includes advanced computing architectures, aerospace propulsion and navigation, next-generation energy systems, AI-driven cybersecurity, autonomous robotics and novel smart materials. The common thread is a strong scientific foundation paired with real industrial applicability.
Yes, AI & Cyber is one of Obloo’s defined investment verticals. However, Obloo is specifically interested in AI that is deeply integrated with hardware, complex systems, or scientific domains, not generic software applications. The team looks for AI capabilities that are technically differentiated and defensible, often emerging from research environments.
Obloo evaluates innovation across three dimensions: scientific robustness (is the underlying technology real and differentiated?), engineering feasibility (can it be built at scale?) and market relevance (does it address a genuine industrial need?). With over 7.000 deals analyzed and a team with extensive PhD and R&D backgrounds, Obloo goes where most investors lack the technical depth to venture.
Absolutely. Technology transfer — from university lab or research center to commercial venture — is at the heart of what Obloo does. The firm was built precisely to bridge this gap, combining investment capital with hands-on operational support, design thinking and direct access to computing infrastructure, industrial testbeds and engineering validation through Italy’s world-class innovation ecosystem.
Obloo is comfortable investing at early technology readiness levels, including seed and pre-seed stages. In practice, the technology may still be in proof-of-concept or early validation phases. What matters most is that the underlying science is solid and the team is capable of driving it forward.
Business
Obloo operates as a multi-stage investment platform, covering the full deep-tech journey from seed to late stage. It engages through both primary investments and secondary transactions. This continuity allows Obloo to build lasting relationships with founders and maintain a coherent portfolio strategy across different growth phases.
Obloo backs visionary founders who combine scientific or technical depth with the ambition to build industrial champions. Ideal founders are those willing to engage intensively with the investment and development process, understand the complexity of deep-tech commercialization and are open to structured support. Global thinkers from Europe, North America, Japan, or South Korea are particularly encouraged to apply.
Great science needs more than capital to become transformative innovation. Obloo partners with Italy’s world-class ecosystem to give portfolio companies direct access to computing infrastructure, industrial testbeds, manufacturing expertise and advanced education — including big-data and AI research support (with AI4 and BI-REX), real-scale technology validation environments (through the Lean Experience Factory), certification and engineering validation (with RINA), semiconductor and chip expertise (with Chips-IT) and executive education programs focused on innovation leadership (with MIB Trieste). Founders working with Obloo also gain direct access to seasoned VCs and tailored growth plans.
Yes. Obloo actively collaborates with LPs, corporations and co-investors who share its commitment to deep tech. The firm’s multi-stage and secondary transaction capabilities make it a flexible partner for syndicates. Its positioning as a specialist deep-tech investor also makes it a natural complement to generalist or later-stage funds looking for technical due diligence and domain credibility.
No. Obloo describes itself as a global platform and actively seeks international startups. Obloo actively welcomes founders from Europe, North America, Japan and South Korea. The firm’s ambition is to build global deep-tech champions, not just Italian ones — as evidenced by its milestone of backing Italy’s first deep-tech unicorn.
Pitch
You can submit your application following this link
A pitch to Obloo should clearly articulate the underlying technology and its scientific differentiation, the target industrial market and its scale, the team’s technical credentials and execution capacity, the current stage of development (including any IP, prototypes, or early validation) and the funding ask with intended use of capital. Given Obloo’s deep-tech focus, the technical section of your pitch should be substantive, not just a summary slide.
Obloo places the highest value on the depth and credibility of the technology, the quality and complementarity of the founding team and the clarity of the path to industrial adoption. With a team that has analyzed over 7.000 deals and holds extensive PhDs and research experience, Obloo will probe the science rigorously. Founders who can engage at that level — and demonstrate they understand both the technical and commercial challenges — make the strongest impression.
Obloo has a natural affinity for founders with academic or research backgrounds, given its own team’s profile and its mission to transfer science into industry. However, academic pedigree alone is not sufficient. What Obloo looks for is a combination of scientific credibility and commercial ambition. Teams that blend scientific expertise with business and operational experience are particularly compelling.
IP is highly important in the deep-tech context, where proprietary technology is often the primary source of competitive advantage. Obloo will assess the strength, scope and ownership of any patents, trade secrets, or exclusive licenses as part of its evaluation. Founders should be prepared to discuss their IP strategy clearly, including what is protected, what is pending and how the IP landscape compares to potential competitors.
Currently, Obloo’s highest-conviction areas for new investments are Aerospace, Computational Sciences (including quantum, HPC and advanced semiconductors) and Energy & Resilience, along with AI & Cyber, Robotics and Smart Materials. We look for technology breakthrough and exceptional teams!