Venture Capital firm 360 Capital Partners and the business angels network Italian Angels for Growth injected €690,000 in the italian, an interesting hub for the world of cultural tourism and art events. The Milan-based startup has raised a total of 690 thousand Euros by IAG members, 360 Capital Partners and a third investor, amount that will be allocated to the development of Musement's app and platform, expanding the range of services provided, for the geographical expansion and strengthening of the structure and for marketing and communications activities. The startup showcases last 30th April, 2013 at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York, introducing its unique service of its kind with the target to emprove users experience in cultural tourism and art events.
Musement.com - which allows access to more than 60 museums, archeological sites and theaters in 25 cities in Italy and which will launch by the end of 2013 its offer abroad (France, UK and USA) and mobility services thanks also to the agreement with Charta (www.vivaticket.it) and Teleart, the ticketing firms of the Best Union group - is an Italian project, the brainchild of four entrepreneurs - Claudio Bellinzona, Paolo Giulini, Alessandro Petazzi , Fabio Zecchini - with the aim to bring together in one place all of the cultural market, which still can not "create a system". Its function is also to simplify the organization and thus improving the visit of many tourists traveling to cultivate their passions.
Musement.com is the first world online aggregator completely dedicated to cultural tourism in the world, a web platform that transforms the way in which people can discover artistic and cultural events, museums, monuments, tourist attractions and archaeological sites in different locations around the globe and go directly to booking and/or purchase of tickets, guided tours and other related experiences, as well as audio guides and additional services.
"Until today the world of arts and culture have tapped into a very partial and fragmented way the opportunities offered by digital technology to reach and engage their potential visitors (e.g.: every online active museum has in general its own website , its own app and its payment system and this often results in a frustrating experience for the visitor interested in having a full overview on the cultural offer of a particular city or nation).
But how does Musement.com works? Thanks to its very well organized and intuitive website, users can choose between the cities, the favorite time or the type of event that intends to attend. Then the system will select all the relevant initiatives matching the query and the user can then get a whole lot of technical information (such as costs, opening and closing times, addresses), but also cultural and historical insights .
After successful online purchase, users receive an email confirmation of the transaction, then that will be the only document required to access the event that was selected.
360 Capital Partners is an european early-stage venture firm based in Luxembourg, with offices in Paris, Milan and Munich investing in innovation at full scale, in Europe and mainly in France and Italy.
With over €300 million under management, the firm is managed by a consolidated team which has cumulated 60+ years of VC experience investing in, following-up and/or exiting from over 80 companies. The company which raised, at the end of 2012, a new fund reaching a first close of €70+ million, has funded since its inception in 1997 more than 200 founders and created more the 2,000 jobs, realizing investments and exits in different sectors and companies with different path such as Yoox and Venere.com (both becoming leaders in their e-commerce sector), Gruppo MutuiOnline S.p.A. backed from the the startup in 2000 until the IPO in 2007 and Co.Import and Erenis, generating growth and value and then successfully exited through excellent trade sales.
IAG - Italian Angels for Growth is the biggest angels network in Italy. Born in 2007 from the idea of nine founders, IAG counts today more than 100 members and represents one of the most solid realties of european angel investing. IAG focuses on investment opportunities in the range between €300,000 and €800,000 for innovative Italian startups scouting also international investments, thanks to the nature of the group and the international experience of the majority of its members. Overall, IAG members represent a potential capital of €20 million and have already effectively invested more than €8.5 million, spread over 32 investment rounds.
IAG members have contributed the the birth and growth of 22 innovative startups, excellence of Italian research and technological development, of Italian entrepreneurial spirit, among which Spreaker, Stereomood, ProxToMe, Biogenera, S5Tech, Eugea, Win, SediciDodici, Agroils, Ohikia, Margherita Fingerguard.