Stepping into Molten as our newest Senior Partner, Franco brings over 25 years of experience in financial services, including 18 years of investing in high-growth tech companies. We sat down with him to uncover what drew him to the firm, what he’s excited to build, and how he sees the tech landscape evolving in 2026 and beyond.
What attracted you to Molten?
It’s a combination of factors that developed over time as I got to know the firm. I was already familiar with Molten, but a few things really stood out as I met the broader team.
First, the track record, when you look at the investments Molten’s made over 20+ years and the ability to identify emerging themes and invest at inflexion points it’s an exceptional venture capital investor.
Second, the people. Over the last few months, I’ve gotten to know the team better, and I’d characterise them all as ambitious, highly professional, and excellent at what they do—while maintaining an understated, casual, and humble style. That resonated with me and felt like a place where I could thrive and add value as we continue to build the team’s capabilities.
Finally, it was about Molten’s investment thesis. It aligns closely with what I’ve been focused on for almost 15 years: European tech. I’m excited about the massive opportunity in that space, and I heard similar themes from the colleagues I met, so there was a clear alignment of interests.
What will be your main responsibilities at Molten?
The investment business is about people first and foremost, so I see continuing to build a strong team as my primary responsibility. Working closely together, building a shared track record, and being recognised as best-in-class by continuing to build on the strong foundation Molten as developed over two decades. In that context, I see my role as both the glue within our team and a partner to my colleagues as we build a great investment business, contributing leadership and experience.
In addition, I look forward to supporting our CEO and the executive team as we continue building the Molten platform as a leader in the European venture capital landscape.
In terms of 2026 trends, what are you already seeing in tech investment, and what are you expecting or excited to see?
Despite the uncertain geopolitical context, I hope we are at the end of what has been a very challenging period following the 2020/2021 peak. From fundraising to exits, it’s been a tough few years, but recent market activity suggests things may be headed in the right direction. When it comes to Europe specifically, there is a strong push to build resilience and capabilities in key sectors such as space and defence, which I see as a great opportunity for Molten; our recent investment in Isar Aerospace is a good example.
Over the next 12 months, I also expect much more clarity on AI. Artificial intelligence is already touching a lot of what we do as individuals and businesses, but so far adoption has been patchy and results fairly elusive. I expect that to change. At Molten, we genuinely believe AI is a transformational technology, and I think 2026 will be the year we start seeing demonstrable returns across many sectors.
From your prior career, what are you excited to bring into Molten?
I hope I can bring to fruition the experience I’ve built over almost two decades of investing at venture and growth stage. I’ve accumulated significant knowledge—not only in specific sectors such as fintech, enterprise software, and digital consumer, but also in recognising what “good looks like” at that stage. You develop pattern recognition: what makes a strong company, what questions to ask, and how to evaluate the key risks. I certainly hope to bring that to the team.
I also believe I can bring a truly pan-European dimension. Molten has a broad footprint and strong ambition in Europe, and I hope to build on that through my experience investing across multiple countries. I worked for a Swedish investment firm and know the Nordics well; in my last role as a partner with a French GP, I also spent significant time investing in France and Germany; and I am Italian and know that ecosystem too. I think this dimension will be important.
Finally, I aim to contribute my experience in fundraising. While Molten has operated through an evergreen capital model thanks to its listed status, there is a strong ambition to build third party capital strategies. That means interfacing with different types of investors and limited partners, and I hope I can add value there.
What was your favourite moment from 2025 from a personal perspective?
My personal standout moment in 2025 was completing my first ultramarathon. I do a lot of running, but crossing the 100km finish line felt like a real achievement. My immediate thought was, “That’s it, I’m done with running!”—but two hours later I was already thinking about what the next one would be, so of course I completed my second one in May this year!
These long races have taught me a great deal because they require commitment, discipline, and planning. Preparation is key—you just can’t improvise. You could argue it’s the same with investing.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received over the course of your career that’s stuck with you?
At the risk of sounding obvious, I’ll always remember a remark made to me by a former boss early in my career: “It’s always about the people.” No matter what line of business you’re in, people are always the decisive factor between success and failure. In venture capital, I’ve found this to be particularly true, and it’s been my north star when assessing investment opportunities and working with founders and team.
Thanks for sitting down with us today, Franco. To find out more about Franco and his investments you can check out his team profile page here.