The Italian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (AIFI) was created in 1986, in order to promote, develop and represent institutionally the venture capital and private equity activity in Italy. The Association is an organization composed of different entities which, throughout direct investment of their own funds or through the management and advisory of independent funds (closed-end funds) are private equity and venture capital investors with the objective of purchasing, managing and divesting in unquoted companies.

Membership has been evolving together with the growing importance of the private equity and venture capital industry. Full members matrix is quite heterogeneous, including as full members Italian and international banks and their subsidiaries, industrial and private investment companies, Italian closed-end funds, international closed-end funds advisory companies as well as public operators and financial institutions linked to the co-operative system. Associated members are Italian and foreign associations as well as institutions and companies interested in the development of the venture capital industry in Italy.

In developing and co-ordinating its members' activity in Italy and Europe, the AIFI collaborates actively with the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA).