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Italy has become one of the most active European markets for new searchers this year. Luca Birbes recently launched Leonessa Capital, the first SF based in Brescia, one of Europe’s most industrialized cities, to offer an entrepreneurial alternative focused on encouraging generational transition, management professionalization, and the consolidation of family-owned businesses. His investment partnership is backed by top institutional investors, entrepreneurs, and managers from both Italy and abroad, including Novidam, Cabiedes Inversiones, Caldwell Capital Group, Loris Lanzellotti, Paolo Guida, Max Birbes, SFClub, Moonbase Capital, Secways, Michele Ventura, Athena Family Holdings, and Ryton Equity Ltd.
Luca began his career as a process engineer at DN Automotive, where he specialized in designing and starting up production for molds, fixtures, and assembly lines. He later transitioned to the commercial sector, taking on the role of Key Account Manager, overseeing the entire sales process for all platforms within the FCA group. In 2017, he embarked on a new journey at Carlisle Brake & Friction, managing the sale of off-highway components to OEM customers globally. He moved into middle management in 2020 when he was appointed Customer Quality Manager. Additionally, Luca gained experience in composite materials and medical devices through collaborations with LoSon in Milan and Ilara Health in Nairobi.
After obtaining an MBA from IESE Business School, Luca entered the SF world as an Investment Associate at Cassandra Investments before deciding to launch his own fund. Leonessa Capital is now seeking to acquire a B2B goods or services provider with an annual turnover between €10M and €20M and a minimum EBITDA margin of 10%, operating within a fragmented market characterized by high barriers to entry. His search will focus primarily on SMEs in northern Italy in sectors such as Manufacturing, Healthcare, ICT & Technology, and Food & Beverage.
