BlackSheep MadTech Fund was awarded the Best VC Team of the Year prize at the Finance Community Awards 2022 — recognition of the team's track record, thesis, and contribution to the European venture capital ecosystem.
The Finance Community Awards recognize excellence in the Italian financial industry, spanning banking, insurance, private equity, and venture capital. BlackSheep's win in the VC category reflects:
- Pioneer positioning — BlackSheep was one of the first vertical and specialized Venture Capital funds in Europe, with a dedicated focus on MadTech, AI, and Big Data well before these became mainstream investment themes.
- Portfolio performance — the fund's investment track record, including exits via acquisition by Nasdaq-listed and strategic acquirers, demonstrated that focused vertical VC investing in Europe can deliver institutional-grade returns.
- Operator-investor model — the award recognized the team's unique background as former entrepreneurs and operators, and the differentiated value they bring to portfolio companies beyond capital.
This recognition followed the team's other industry award: the Premio Demattè 2023 from AIFI, Italy's Private Equity and Venture Capital association, for the Roibox exit to Jakala.