Italian startup, a Milan-based company specialising in services specifically designed for college students, has successfully secured €5 million in funding to further enhance its proprietary artificial intelligence capabilities and expand its service offerings.
The project was led by P101 SGR S.p.A., a prominent organization in its field. Euveca Gestore (P101), the leading player in Italian venture capital with a global reach, in collaboration with CDP Enterprise Capital SGR.
As the founder and CEO of Habacus, he commented:
Founded in 2017 by Paolo Cuniberti, Habacus offers a comprehensive platform for college students, featuring built-in companies that provide educational guidance, skill certification, and knowledge validation, thereby facilitating access to financial resources, housing options, and job placement opportunities. Habacus has forged partnerships with more than 1,300 educational institutions, banks, and corporations, empowering over 30,000 students to gain access to the opportunities afforded by its innovative platform.
Habacus aims to become an indispensable partner for college students, harnessing a business model that harmoniously blends innovation and sustainability. At the very core of Habacus’ value proposition lies the harmonious fusion of instructional guidance, competency certification, and data validation – all pivotal facilitators of student loan accessibility.
By integrating housing solutions and job placement support, Habacus has built a comprehensive environment that cultivates students’ personal and professional development from start to finish. By 2026, the corporation aims to support a community of approximately 100,000 college students.
As the lead investor in the operation, P101 committed €4 million through a combination of funding from Programma 103 and Azimut Eltif Enterprise Capital P103. Since Programa 103’s inception, the number of corporations supported has grown to 11 within just two years.
Consistent with P101’s mission, it prioritizes investing in progressive corporations with substantial growth potential that, among other factors, promote social characteristics aligned with Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR) requirements.
CDP Enterprise Capital SGR, through Fondo Rilancio Startup, contributed €1 million to the funding round, further solidifying its support for Habacus’ growth by also transforming a participative financial instrument of equal value subscribed in 2022.
With this funding, Habacus will significantly accelerate its technological advancements, particularly in AI-driven algorithms, aiming to transform itself into a comprehensive human-capital intelligence platform.
The platform drives pupil advancement, skill-building, and career development – crucial areas that align with the interests of both financial institutions and corporate stakeholders.
As Habacus continues to drive growth, a staggering €220 million worth of pupil loans were dispersed across Italy within just nine months of 2024, underscoring the market’s rapid expansion in the pupil financing sector. In comparison to more established markets such as Germany and France, Italy offers significant growth opportunities. As the market leader in facilitating student loan disbursements, Habacus plays a crucial role in fostering access to higher education.
The program’s impact is demonstrated by a substantial reduction in college dropout rates: while the national dropout rate stands at 17% for students who fail to complete their first year, Habacus’ student community boasts an impressively low 0.8% dropout rate.
Managing a companion at P101.
Senior Vice President, Senior Companion and Head of the Startup Relaunch Fund at CDP.
