Investors

FSN PME

The Fonds Ambition Numérique is an investment fund dedicated to innovative SMEs, intiated by the French State through its Long Term Investment Program (Programme d’investissement d’Avenir) and managed by BPI France. This 300M€ fund co-invests in SME’s with strong innovation and growth profile, developing new technologies, services or usages necessary to digital economy expansion

Iris Capital

Iris Capital is a pan-European venture capital fund manager specializing in digital economy. Since its inception in 1986, the Iris Capital team has invested more than €900 million in more than 200 companies. Iris Capital targets opportunities in service or technology companies, seeking growth capital in order to realize their strategy. It provides active support to its portfolio companies on the basis of its strong sector specialization and experience, and has offices in Paris, Düsseldorf, San Francisco, Montreal, Riyadh, Dubai, Beijing and Tokyo. In 2012 Iris Capital has entered into a strategic partnership with Orange and Publicis to manage their joint venture capital initiative.

 

ViVES

VIVES – Louvain Technology Fund (www.vivesfund.com) is a cross border private technology fund that invests in spin-offs from Université catholique de Louvain (UCL, www.uclouvain.be) as well as in technological start-ups. VIVES is a multi-sectorial fund with particular emphasis on eco- innovation projects. VIVES invests in companies at all stages of maturity: seed, start-up and growth. Created at the initiative of UCL in September 2011, VIVES closed its 1st financing round at € 43 million, making it the largest European investment fund ever initiated by a university. VIVES is managed by Sopartec (www.sopartec.com), UCL ́s technology transfer company and a member of the Louvain Technology Transfer Office (LTTO, www.ltto.com). Since more than 20 years, UCL, Sopartec and the VIVES fund have supported the creation of more than 60 spin-offs and startups, which currently employ over 3.000 people. VIVES is capitalised by leading national and European investors such as the European Investment Fund (EIF), SFPI-FPIM, Fortis Private Equity Belgium, CDC Entreprises (France), ING Belgium, Sofina, AXA Belgium, Belfius Bank, IRD (France), Nivelinvest, but also by Sopartec and its management team.

Capitalaria

CapitalAria is an independent French investment company with an international reach. We invest in selected companies which bring breakthrough technologies in fast growing global markets. Our investments encompass European and North American companies which typically are at go-to- market stage with a strong potential of value creation through rapid growth. We favor situations where we can build proximity and dynamic interaction with management teams which enables us to dedicate financial support to the companies until they reach a recognized market position.

 

Inovam

INOVAM is a regional seed capital that invests in early-stage growth companies in the North of France. INOVAM invests in the sectors of information technology (hardware and software), security, telecommunications, microelectronics, cleantechs and life sciences. INOVAM provides supports for companies via the IRD group (www.irdnpdc.fr) network of entrepreneurs. The deal flow of Inovam is ensured by the universities as well as by technological start-ups located in the North of France; Inovam is capitalised with € 10M by the following partners: IRD group; Conseil regional Npdc; Caisse d’Epargne; PRES; FPMEI-FCPR (CDC) et CRCI. Since its creation, INOVAM has invested 6 ME into 41 companies.

Rhône-Alpes Création

Since more than 20 years, Rhône-Alpes Création is the financing partner for early stage start- ups, investing in equity to help financing the initial phases of their development. Incepted by Région Rhône-Alpes with support of local banks and managing 44 m€, Rhône-Alpes Création is a privately held company playing a key role in the early stage financing ecosystem, at seed and venture capital levels, with more than 230 companies supported to date. With a team of 7 investment professionals, Rhône-Alpes Création currently manages a portfolio of 56 promising companies.

 

Alpes Développement Durable Investissement

Alpes Développement Durable Investissement (A2D-Invest) is with Expansinvest, one of the two proximity venture capital subsidiaries of the Banque Populaire des Alpes. A2D-Invest, founded in 2009, invests in Rhône-Alpes area in small and medium companies carrying projects bound to sustainable development, renewable energies, environmental protection or to projects evolving in medical progress and biotechnologies fields. Expansinvest has invested in about 60 companies, for about €14M.

Finorpa

The Finorpa group is the main investor in equity and quasi-equity in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. An investment capacity of about €20M every year is available through two investment vehicles: - Finorpa SCR invests in equity in SMB; it is active in seed capital but also in growth capital and LBO. Finorpa SCR has invested in 160 companies and manages about €60M. - Finorpa PP invests in quasi-equity through loans or securities in local SMB. With a portfolio of more than 200 companies, Finorpa PP manages an asset of more than €30M. Each vehicle can invest on its own or together with another tool of the group; it can also co-invest with other, national or local, investment fund.