LIFTT has invested €300,000 in Habacus, a company innovating Italy's student loan market to improve access to education financing.

Target Overview

Habacus was founded in 2017 by Paolo Cuniberti, who brings nearly three decades of experience from the international finance and investment banking sectors. The company aims to innovate the student loan model for individuals seeking both basic and advanced education in Italy. Unlike many Western countries, Italy's student loan landscape lags significantly behind European standards, with financing agreements before university enrollment being virtually unknown.

In Italy, students primarily rely on family welfare, which necessitates academic expenditures ranging from €34,000 to €45,000 for three years at public universities, and even higher costs at private institutions. The expense of education is among the highest in Europe, compounded by a limited and uneven distribution of scholarships. As a result, student loans remain an underexplored option, creating barriers to post-secondary education access and negatively impacting both the economy and future opportunities in the country.

Industry Overview

The education sector in Italy faces significant challenges, with rising tuition costs and limited financial support creating a gap in educational attainment compared to other Western nations. This scenario has led to increasing concerns about social mobilit