Fabio Mondini de Focatiis is the Founding Partner of Growth Capital. He has extensive experience in venture capital, strategic advisory, and entrepreneurship. A former venture partner at Eurazeo and senior advisor to the EIF, he has led high-growth ventures and founded companies. He holds degrees from INSEAD, MIT, and Federico II University
Through this article, Fabio Mondini de Focatiis highlights how successful international fundraising goes beyond securing capital. Drawing on his experience advising high-growth tech companies, he outlines practical steps founders can take from preparation and investor targeting to end-to-end deal management to achieve faster closings, stronger terms, and lasting strategic partnerships.
Role in European Tech: Fueling growth through cross-border deals
Growth Capital is a European tech-focused investment bank with offices in Milan, Madrid, and London. We advise startups and scaleups on cross-border fundraising (€5M–€50M) and M&A transactions with enterprise values of €10M–€100M. Our team also works with corporate investors, family offices, private equity firms, and venture capital funds to source high-potential technology opportunities. At the core of our work is helping innovative companies scale, providing strategic financial solutions that enable them to reach their next growth stage.
Approaching Global Investors: Lead with preparation and timing
Preparation is everything. Start by researching your target investors—understand their typical check size, market focus, and how they operate post-investment. In parallel, build a standout investor package: a crisp pitch deck, a strong business plan, a dynamic cap table, and clearly defined KPIs. When you land a meeting, your first two slides should answer the key questions: why this market, this team, and why now. And don’t wait until the last minute—start building relationships 6 to 9 months before you plan to raise.
Fundraising Pitfalls: Clarity and fit are non-negotiable
One of the biggest mistakes is approaching the wrong investors for your stage—Series B VCs won’t fund a Seed-stage startup. Another is assuming a strategy that works in your home market will translate globally. Founders also tend to underestimate the level of polish required. You need absolute clarity on your numbers, metrics, and governance model. And in the rush to close, many skip careful negotiation of terms like governance, control rights, and liquidation preferences— details that can cause significant problems later. In cross-border deals, precision is nonnegotiable.
“From day one, we work with founders to build a tailored fundraising or M&A strategy and manage the process end-to-end so they can focus on running the business”
International Fundraising Best Practices: Aim for strategic value beyond capital
First, define your objectives clearly. You’re not just looking for capital — you’re seeking strategic value critical to your success, whether market access, technology partnerships, global reach, or board-level expertise. Second, make sure your KPIs are crystal clear. Investors are inherently data-driven, so demonstrate traction with a potent mix of complex data and vision. Third, be proactive in networking. Warm introductions, VC referrals, and strategic partnerships will open doors far faster than cold outreach. And finally, listen. Every meeting, even a rejection, is an opportunity to refine your pitch with insights from people who have analysed many of your competitors.
Supporting Founders: End-to-end deal management for better outcomes
We’re not just advisors — we’re partners. From day one, we work with founders to build a tailored fundraising or M&A strategy. We help shape the story, design the investor package, and precisely target the right international investors. We save founders and management teams hundreds of hours by managing the entire process — from introductions and roadshow coordination to data room setup, Q&A, due diligence, term sheet negotiation, and closing. Whether it’s a €5M Series A or a complex cross-border M&A deal, we handle it end-to-end so founders can focus on running the business. The outcome is faster closings, stronger terms, and the right partners onboard for long-term success.
Closing Thought:
In today’s market, raising capital from international investors isn’t just about money - it’s about credibility, execution, and strategic alignment. With Growth Capital’s pan-European presence and deep transactional expertise, Fabio and his team remain key behind the most ambitious tech deals across the continent.
