1521 Ventures is the family office of Paolo Privitera — a global tech entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience, calling Silicon Valley home for the past 20 years. At 16, he founded his first internet company in Venice, Italy. He has founded 6 companies with 4 successful full exits, over 20 exits to date including 3 direct M&A transactions, and raised over $300M. Through direct investments, SPVs, and LP positions in 23 venture funds, the family office holds a portfolio of 284 startups.
Paolo holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and was granted U.S. citizenship in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the technology sector. His latest company Evensi, the world's largest events platform, was acquired by Events.com — now preparing for an IPO at Nasdaq. Paolo serves on the Board of Directors at Events.com (Nasdaq Pre-IPO, ticker RSVP) and Streamplay (public company ASX:SP8).
Beyond managing the family office (1521.Capital), 1521 Ventures creates syndicated investment vehicles — SPVs and funds — that allow a curated network of qualified investors to co-invest alongside Paolo. From venture-backed startups to pre-IPO secondaries, every deal offered is one where the Privitera family has committed its own capital first.
Paolo is actively involved in M&A and Corporate Development, having led and participated in multiple M&A transactions. He assists companies with global scaling, fundraising, and achieving successful exits.
He mentors and advises at 500 Startups, Google Launchpad, Alchemist, Create Cures Foundation, Health Wildcatters, INNOVIT, China Accelerator, Startup Chile, Nana Bianca, The Vault Korea, Galvanize, and more.
He is the founding General Partner at 1521 Ventures, investing in exceptional startups and funds with a strong moat that tangibly enhance people's lives. Over his career he has made 200+ direct investments; today the family office's portfolio spans 284 startups — held directly and through LP positions in 23 venture funds — across the frontier of AI, climate tech, space, healthcare, and deep tech.
The name 1521 is the class code for Paolo's MIT Executive MBA cohort — in MIT tradition, every class is identified by a unique number. 15 stands for MIT Sloan School of Management, 21 for the graduation year. Paolo's first limited partners were his own classmates, making the name both a tribute and a founding story.
Paolo is passionate about giving back and helping entrepreneurs across the globe. His core values: kindness, integrity, network, speed, and resilience.