VC Directory

VCs in France Directory

Curated index of active venture capital funds investing in Europe and Israel. Track partners, stages, and check sizes.

CEA Investissement

Paris, FR

CEA Investissement was created in 1999 as CEA Valorisation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CEA, to support its policy of creating businesses. In 2008, it became CEA Investissement with the objective of taking direct stakes in companies leveraging CEA technologies, targeting patent valorization and investments in start-ups. Their specific aims include investing during the start-up creation phase (taking founder shares) based on innovations linked to CEA research, supporting the scientific and commercial development of young companies originating from the CEA's spin-off policy or connected through research contracts, benefiting from financial returns in case of success, and maintaining control, even indirectly, over technologies originating from CEA laboratories. Beyond participating in creation, CEA Investissement has developed an investment activity in the best projects in its portfolio, supporting the initial rounds of many companies. In 2013, with the implementation of new state support mechanisms for start-up seed funding (Fonds National d’Amorçage), CEA Investissement initiated the raising of its first seed fund, ATI (Amorçage Technologique Investissement). CEA Investissement is the primary subscriber to this fund, alongside Bpifrance and several industrial partners, providing CEA-related start-ups with enhanced support opportunities in their initial development phases. In partnership with Amundi (Groupe Crédit Agricole), and leveraging its investment team's expertise, CEA Investissement created Supernova Invest in 2017, an AMF-approved management company. This was done to develop its fund-of-funds activity and expand its intervention capabilities towards deeptech start-ups originating from the CEA or the best French laboratories, at all development stages. CEA Investissement invests in the Supernova 2 (75 M€), Supernova Innovation 3 (74 M€) seed funds, and the Supernova Ambition Industrie growth fund which closed in 2023 at 204 M€. Through these "fund of funds" interventions, CEA Investissement has the capacity to support start-ups valorizing CEA technologies, from their creation to growth capital, including seed and private equity stages. Since 1999, CEA Investissement has financed and supported around a hundred start-ups, following the CEA's innovation policy across life sciences, energy, microelectronics, materials, and industrial equipment.

Pre-seed, Seed, GrowthLife sciencesenergy

CEMAG Invest

FR
C

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

CNP

FR
C

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

CNP Assurances

Paris, FR

Based on the provided content, CNP Assurances appears to be a large insurance group primarily focused on providing insurance and savings solutions to individuals. They partner with distributors to offer products across various life stages, including retirement planning, savings, capital transfer, health coverage, credit insurance, and dependency anticipation. A key focus appears to be on accessibility and clarity in insurance, as demonstrated by their partnership with a comedian to explain social protection concepts. They also engage in social responsibility initiatives through their Foundation, addressing issues like screen time for adolescents and cyberbullying. The firm aims to simplify access to insurance, particularly for individuals facing health challenges such as prostate or testicular cancer. Their strategy seems to center around comprehensive life-stage financial security and risk management, with a strong emphasis on customer education and social responsibility.

Not mentioned, likely late stage or public equity given the company profile.InsuranceSavings

Candice du Fretay's solo fund

FR
C

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

CapDecisif Management

FR

CapDecisif Management invests in early-stage European tech leaders in digital health, NewSpace, and digital sectors, providing capital and networks to drive impact and growth.

Seed, Series A, Series B

Capital Croissance

Paris, FR

Capital Croissance is positioned as an entrepreneurs' club that invests in and supports fast-growing startups and SMEs. Their investment strategy targets ambitious development projects led by talented managers across all sectors. They aim to invest alongside entrepreneurs and families in growth companies, supporting them towards sustainable and shared performance. The firm emphasizes ethics, social responsibility, and employee development. Capital Croissance provides access to a network of over 500 entrepreneur-investors who contribute their expertise to help portfolio companies scale. With an independent team passionate about entrepreneurial ventures, the firm focuses on providing 360-degree support to its portfolio companies.

GrowthAll sectors

Capital Grand Est

Strasbourg, FR

Capital Grand Est is a venture capital firm focused on supporting the development and success of dynamic startups and SMEs in the Grand Est region of France. They invest across various stages of maturity, providing capital to help companies grow and scale. Their approach emphasizes active support, due diligence, sharing, listening, development, regional roots, and international reach. They see capital investment as a human adventure and prioritize building relationships with the leaders of today and tomorrow, acting as a catalyst for success for companies in the Grand Est region. Capital Grand Est aims to play a vital role in the regional economy by providing capital and support to businesses across a wide range of sectors. The firm focuses on creating value not only through financial investment but also through active engagement with their portfolio companies. They appear to offer a combination of financial support and strategic guidance, aimed at maximizing the growth potential of their investments. They emphasize the importance of regional roots alongside international ambitions, which likely means they look for companies with a commitment to the Grand Est region but also possess the potential to expand internationally. This focus suggests they are looking to foster regional economic development while also aiming to capture broader market opportunities through their investments. Overall, the firm's investment strategy is centered around fostering growth and success in the Grand Est region through a combination of financial investment, active support, and strategic guidance. Their regional focus, coupled with their emphasis on international expansion, makes them a key player in the regional venture capital ecosystem.

Various stages of maturityAll sectors

Captech Santé

FR
C

Based on the available information, Captech Santé is mentioned in an article on Maddyness as an investment fund. However, the provided context does not offer any specifics regarding their investment thesis, strategy, or fund specifics. The Maddyness website primarily serves as a media platform covering the French tech and startup ecosystem. While it mentions various investment funds and their activities, detailed insights into the investment strategy of Captech Santé, their preferred industries, investment stages, or check sizes are not disclosed in the current data. More in-depth research would be required to ascertain specific details about their investment approach.

Healthcare

Cassini

FR
C

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

Cathay Health

Paris, FR

Cathay Health invests globally at the convergence of life sciences, healthcare, and tech with the goal of improving human health. They focus on venture to growth stage companies, providing support with cross-border expansion, growth, and scaling. Cathay Capital, the parent organization, aims to invest for global, sustainable transformation, helping companies of all sizes expand beyond borders with global, digital, and sustainable growth. They operate as a global ecosystem linking investors, startups, established companies and leading corporations across industries and regions, sharing knowledge and unearthing unique business development opportunities to fuel the transformation of industries worldwide.

Venture, GrowthLife scienceshealthcare

CentraleSupélec Venture

FR

Based on the limited information available from the CentraleSupélec website, it is difficult to extract a detailed investment thesis and strategy. However, we can infer some potential aspects of a related investment approach. CentraleSupélec itself appears to be a leading engineering school focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. This suggests any related venture activity would likely focus on deep tech ventures arising from its research activities, alumni network, and related ecosystem. The school's emphasis on research, innovation, and entrepreneurship suggests it might support ventures that are working on technologically advanced solutions to significant societal challenges. Focus areas might include bioeconomy, digital health, and sustainable technologies, aligning with the highlighted news and research areas. An affiliated venture fund would likely seek out early-stage ventures demonstrating strong technological innovation and a clear path to commercialization, with a strong preference for ventures connected to the CentraleSupélec ecosystem. Given the school's presence in the Paris-Saclay area, the fund may also focus on supporting ventures in this region, potentially collaborating with other research institutions and companies in the area. The fund may adopt a patient capital approach, given the long development cycles often associated with deep tech ventures. The venture arm may focus not only on financial returns, but also on supporting the development of technologies with societal impact and fostering entrepreneurship within the CentraleSupélec community. In the absence of direct confirmation from a dedicated VC fund website, the summary offered above is speculative and based on the assumption that CentraleSupélec could have an affiliated investment arm or partner fund.

Pre-seed, SeedDeeptechBioeconomy

Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales

Paris, FR

The Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) is the French space agency, responsible for implementing France's space policy and supporting public policies that rely on the space sector. Their focus is on observing, exploring, and understanding the universe through scientific expertise. CNES supports a wide range of applications, including defense, territorial management, agriculture, health, telecommunications, and disaster response. The agency plays a pivotal role in the French space ecosystem, fostering collaboration between laboratories and industry.

nullSpaceDefense

Collateral Good

FR
C

Based on the provided content, Collateral Good is mentioned within an article on Maddyness, a French media outlet focused on the economy of tomorrow. The presence of the fund is found on the portfolio section. Maddyness' portfolio section aims to showcase the best startups, technologies, and innovative operations. A related article features a portrait of EDF Pulse Ventures, detailing their investment approach. Maddyness aims to assist entrepreneurs in finding the right investors by profiling various funds. The Sowefund article also shows the fund's participation in the financement of Anodine. However, specific details regarding Collateral Good's investment thesis, strategy, or sector focus cannot be extracted directly from the provided text. More information is needed from a dedicated Collateral Good page or website.

Crédit Mutuel Innovation

Paris, FR

Crédit Mutuel Innovation invests in innovative companies across Deeptech, Software & IT, and Health sectors, aiming to drive transformation and growth. Their strategy focuses on supporting companies that offer sustainable and profitable solutions within their respective industries. CMI seeks companies with groundbreaking technologies capable of revolutionizing their sectors while reducing environmental impact and improving operational efficiencies. As a mission-driven corporate bank, Crédit Mutuel Innovation prioritizes the impact and utility of their investments, emphasizing solutions that enable manufacturers to reduce operating costs while shrinking their environmental footprint. CMI focuses on scaling next-generation technologies globally, aiming to establish portfolio companies as global references in decarbonization and technological advancements within their respective fields. Their investment decisions take into account the potential for large-scale technological solutions with an immediate and measurable impact. They also look for companies that have a strong focus on expanding their product range and enhancing their competitiveness. They seek companies with existing partnerships and a clear trajectory for future partnerships, indicating a robust pipeline and ability to disrupt the status quo. These companies should be well-positioned to drive environmental sustainability and financial growth simultaneously. A key element of their strategy is partnering with key players in the chemical industry to speed up market penetration with textile brands, showing a commitment to creating a significant impact in specific sectors like the textile industry.

Early Revenue, Scaling, Growth, Pre-IPOSaaSMarketplace

Decathlon Pulse

FR

Based on the limited crawled page, Decathlon Pulse's investment thesis seems to revolve around partnering with companies that are 'changing the game'. However, without further information on their investment focus, specific sectors, and stage preferences, it is difficult to provide a comprehensive investment thesis. The imagery suggests an association with sports, fitness, or outdoor activities.

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Defense Innovation Fund

FR
D

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

Definvest

FR
D

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

Demeter

Paris, FR

Demea Sustainable Investment focuses on supporting the energy and ecological transition by investing in companies and projects that contribute to a sustainable future.

Early Stage, Late StageEnergy TransitionEcological Transition

Demeter Investment Managers

Paris, FR

Demea Sustainable Investment is a major European player focusing on venture capital, private equity, and infrastructure investments within the energy and ecological transition sectors. Their investment strategy encompasses supporting companies at all stages of development, from innovative startups to small and mid-cap companies, and infrastructure projects. The firm aims to finance a sustainable future by allocating capital to businesses contributing to the energy and ecological transition. They actively participate in responsible and committed investing, demonstrated by their signatures on initiatives like PRI, CDP, iC20, The Shift Project, and gender diversity initiatives such as the France Invest gender equality charter, SISTA, and The Billion Dollar Fund for Women.

Venture Capital, Private Equity, InfrastructureEnergy transitionecological transition

EIT Manufacturing

Paris, FR

EIT Manufacturing is a public-private partnership, co-funded by the European Union and established in 2019. It is one of the nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Their purpose is to improve people’s lives through sustainable manufacturing, connecting manufacturing players by promoting talent and entrepreneurship to accelerate sustainable innovation in Europe. They bring together a growing network of top-tier industrial partners, leading academic and research institutions from across the region, and innovative startups, scaleups and SMEs. EIT Manufacturing transforms knowledge into value by overcoming the fragmented nature of many innovation networks, connecting and integrating education, innovation, and business creation. The aim is to ensure that innovations reach the market, industry has the right talent, and entrepreneurs can thrive. They focus on solutions to high-value manufacturing challenges and supports projects that turn research into industry-ready solutions. Their operational budget is largely dedicated to projects turning research into industry-ready solutions. EIT Manufacturing's Regional Innovation Scheme is designed to overcome disparities between regions, strengthening local innovation ecosystems in countries that are moderate or modest innovators. This is achieved by offering dedicated programs and building links between key innovation actors. They strive to accelerate faster innovation, helping to meet Europe’s ambitious climate goals, and ensuring that its workforce is ready for tomorrow’s challenges. They are building a network of innovators to overcome barriers, challenge convention and take action to put innovative products and services into the hands of those that need them the most.

Startups, Scaleups, SMEsManufacturingSustainable Manufacturing

Eiffel Essentiel

FR
E

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

Eiffel Investment Group

FR

Investing for a sustainable world by financing energy transition and impact-driven companies and assets across private debt, equity, and infrastructure strategies.

Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture

European Space Agency (ESA)

Paris, FR

The European Space Agency (ESA) is not a venture capital firm but rather an intergovernmental organization dedicated to space exploration and development. Its primary focus is on shaping the development of Europe's space capabilities and ensuring that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA's strategy, outlined in 'Strategy 2040', revolves around five encompassing goals: protecting our planet and climate, exploring and discovering, strengthening European autonomy and resilience, boosting growth and competitiveness, and inspiring Europe. ESA works with various stakeholders including member states, industry partners, research institutions, and the public to achieve its goals. They offer business opportunities for companies seeking to work on space-related projects through open tenders and other initiatives. ESA's approach involves a broad range of activities, including scientific research, technology development, mission operations, and international cooperation. Their work spans various domains such as Earth observation, space science, human and robotic exploration, satellite navigation, space transportation, and space safety. Key programs include Copernicus for Earth observation, Galileo for satellite navigation, and various exploration missions like Juice and collaborations on projects such as the James Webb Space Telescope. ESA fosters innovation through initiatives like ESA BICs (Business Incubation Centres) and supports the commercialization of space technologies. Furthermore, they aim to provide secure and resilient space-enabled connectivity, focusing on European autonomy in critical technologies. ESA collaborates with industry partners to bring innovative space technologies to market, driving economic growth and competitiveness. It offers various ways for businesses to get involved, including responding to open tenders, participating in technology development programs, and partnering on commercialization efforts. They provide access to funding opportunities and resources through platforms such as ESA-STAR and emphasize the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the space sector. Recent initiatives include challenges and funding for smoother connectivity solutions through collaborations like ESA and GSMA Foundry. ESA also promotes industry events and provides tools like the REACH tool to assist businesses in complying with regulations on hazardous chemicals in the space industry. In summary, ESA aims to advance space technology and exploration, support innovation, and drive economic growth within its member states. They do this by setting strategic goals, funding research and development, collaborating with industry, fostering education, and promoting the benefits of space to society. While ESA does not operate as a venture capital firm in the traditional sense, it functions as a pivotal enabler and investor in the European space sector, stimulating innovation and commercial opportunities for companies that partner with the agency.

nullSpace scienceHuman and Robotic Exploration