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William Hillgarth founded Etrus Capital with the goal of aligning his path with that of a single high-potential Italian SME, supporting its long-term, sustainable growth. He raised the capital required for his SF in under four weeks and is backed by a network of Italian and international investors with extensive experience in SME acquisitions, including JB46, Istria Capital, Innesto Partners, Relay Investments, Valmaris Private Investors, Inseta Partners, Legate Partners, Eureka! Venture, Search Capital Partners, SFClub, Collective XP, Iberica Investment Partners, Marco Bartomeus, Juergen Rilling, and Visconti Capital.
William is a strategy professional with over a decade of international experience across finance, industry, and consulting. After graduating from Bocconi University, he began his career with a range of early experiences in investment analysis and entrepreneurship, including roles in private equity, public equities, and SME investing, as well as co-founding a Milan-based venture where he was responsible for commercial development. He then joined General Electric, where he built a strong operational and financial foundation through rotational programs in corporate finance and supply chain, working hands-on in factories and across multiple international markets. He later moved to Kearney, where he progressed to Principal, leading complex strategy, growth, and M&A projects, managing cross-functional teams, and acting as a trusted advisor to top management. Known for his pragmatic and impact-oriented approach, William combines strategic thinking with executional rigor and has consistently focused on delivering tangible business results while developing people and fostering strong relationships.
He is seeking a solid company with a distinctive history and strong potential for tangible and sustainable growth—one he aims to develop further while fully respecting its heritage and identity. He will focus on B2B services (meeting the typical SF criteria), with particular interest in companies in the Water Infrastructure, Test, Inspection & Certification, and Facilities Management sectors.
