UU Invest Strengthens Its Team with a New Investment Manager

For a few months now, Uppsala resident Francesco Mazzotta has been the new Investment Manager at UU Invest—an assignment he genuinely enjoys. Both because it gives him the opportunity to contribute locally in the city where he lives and to open doors for researchers and companies to take their cutting-edge expertise to an international level.

Operating where you live while also acting on a larger international stage is an important combination and a strong driving force for Francesco Mazzotta, the new Investment Manager at UU Invest. In his view, these are also the two arenas where researchers and entrepreneurs must operate successfully in order to navigate the challenge of turning research into practical societal benefit.

An Encouragement to Think Internationally from the Start

Francesco holds a PhD in Physics and has extensive experience in commercial partnerships. Among many other achievements, he has in recent years built a cluster in Germany focused on the commercialisation of deep tech. His CV is extensive, spanning diverse backgrounds and roles including innovation, research, executive leadership, angel investing, and venture capital. Francesco’s advice to researchers and entrepreneurs is to think internationally right from day one.

“My role is to create opportunities and, right from the start, help companies set their sights and mindsets on a larger arena—to work globally. Working in clusters with other companies creates that opportunity. To go all the way, joint initiatives are needed. Early on.”

Giving Researchers a New Role in Society

For Francesco, it is essential to help create the conditions that enable researchers to find their own path—particularly paths beyond the traditional academic route. He believes that the challenges facing society today demand advanced expertise and new knowledge.

“We need to help build environments that provide researchers with new opportunities to operate in. Innovations are needed. Researchers are equipped to manage and develop solutions to complex problems, and to hit the milestones required. Our role is to provide the initial funding.”

Ultimately, as he sees it, it is about helping to consolidate strength and build collaborations across Europe. It is also about reflecting on and answering key questions: What is crucial, and what does it take for us to succeed with the challenges ahead? How do we secure welfare and jobs in Europe? We need collective efforts for scale-ups and to help establish companies capable of collaborating with others.

The Final Step in Local Innovation—and Often the First Investor

As part of a small team, Francesco works across the entire chain: from initial meetings with researchers holding business ideas to startup investments, advisory services, and board governance. Being the final step in the local innovation process means, in his view, equipping companies with what they need to stand on their own moving forward. In addition to refining their business model, the team must be strong enough to raise capital through the upcoming stages and phases of development. As he sees it, the focus must always be: What happens after me and after us? How can I/we contribute now to create the best possible conditions moving forward?

“UU Invest is often the final player in Uppsala University’s innovation support system. Future funding for these companies will likely come from external investors. This places a great deal of responsibility on us. We have fantastic research that provides an edge and opportunities for the companies. But it also means we have to be clear, challenge the team, and define what is needed to move forward. It is fun and inspiring work.”

A Dream Job Turned into Reality

Having a job where you get to see people find new roles and contribute what is needed to enable the next step—building towards Europe, not just Sweden, and finding the company’s place in the market—is what UU Invest’s new Investment Manager, Francesco Mazzotta, enjoys most about his new role.

Would you like to know more or get in touch with Francesco Mazzotta?

Send an email to: francesco.mazzotta@invest.uu.se