Daphni
ActiveVenture Capital
Updated: ·
Financial History
Total Raised
N/A
Valuation
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Leadership Team
Key people at Daphni.
Key people at Daphni.
Daphni is a Paris-based, mission-driven venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in European technology startups with strong international ambitions. Founded in 2015, it manages over €500 million in assets and invests across sectors such as technology, digital transformation, sustainability, deep tech, climate innovation, and consumer technology. Daphni focuses on backing companies that create positive social and environmental impact, emphasizing innovation that contributes to a better future. Its investment philosophy is sector-agnostic but prioritizes singular projects with disruptive potential, particularly those aligned with sustainability and scientific advances in biology, chemistry, physics, and life sciences. The firm supports startups through a unique blend of digital tools and a collaborative community, fostering growth and impact within the European startup ecosystem[1][2][4].
Daphni was founded in 2015 in Paris by a team including Pierre-Eric Leibovici, Marie Ekeland, Mathieu Daix, Pierre-Yves Meerschman, and Willy Braun. The firm evolved from earlier funds (Purple in 2016 and Yellow in 2020) and has progressively refined its focus toward sustainability, deep tech, and inclusive innovation. Its founding partners brought diverse backgrounds in venture capital and entrepreneurship, aiming to create a new model of VC that combines technology-driven investment processes with a strong community ethos. Early traction came from successful investments and exits in companies like Back Market and Blablacar, which helped establish Daphni’s reputation for backing impactful, high-potential startups[1][3][4].
Daphni rides the global trend toward sustainable and impact-driven innovation, particularly in Europe’s growing deep tech and climate tech sectors. The timing is favorable due to increasing regulatory and investor focus on ESG, the rise of scientific entrepreneurship, and the digital transformation of industries. By combining technology-enabled venture processes with a strong community and ESG framework, Daphni influences the broader ecosystem by setting a standard for responsible investing and supporting startups that address urgent societal challenges. Its pan-European approach helps bridge regional innovation hubs and scale companies globally, contributing to the competitiveness and sustainability of the European tech landscape[1][2][4].
Looking ahead, Daphni is positioned to expand its impact by closing its third fund, Daphni Blue, focused on climate and sustainability, with a target of €250 million. The firm’s emphasis on scientific innovation and inclusive entrepreneurship aligns with emerging global priorities around climate action and social equity. Trends such as increased digitalization, ESG regulation, and the rise of deep tech startups will likely shape Daphni’s journey. Its influence may grow as a model for combining technology, community, and impact in venture capital, potentially inspiring other firms to adopt similar hybrid approaches. Daphni’s commitment to meeting founders “where they are” and supporting diverse talent will remain central to its evolving role in the European and global startup ecosystem[1][2][4].
Key people at Daphni.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2025 | Comet | $11.0M Venture Round | — | Frst, Pareto Holdings |
| Oct 1, 2024 | Hubcycle | $16.0M Series A | — | 50 Partners Impact, Bleu Capital, DN Capital, eFounders, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Thibaud Elziere |
| Jan 1, 2024 | Electra | $330.0M Series B | — | 50 Partners Impact, eFounders, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Thibaud Elziere |
| Feb 1, 2023 | Agua Blanca | $3.0M Seed | — | 50 Partners, Thibaud Elziere |
| Dec 1, 2022 | URBAN CUISINE | $1.0M Seed | — | Kima Ventures |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Jolimoi | $8.0M Series A | — | 50 Partners Impact, eFounders, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Thibaud Elziere |
| Mar 1, 2022 | Athenian | $6.0M Seed | — | 20VC, 468 Capital, B Capital Group, Craft Ventures, Crowberry Capital, Eight Roads, Felix Capital, Frst, Kima Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, LombardStreet Ventures, Mischief Venture Capital, Pareto Holdings, Peak State Ventures, Point Nine Capital, #SecretFund, Spark Capital, Susa Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Alexandre Cognard, Didier Valet, Florian Douetteau, Julius Genachowski, Ken Howery, Michael Pennington, Paul Forster, Zack Kanter |
| Mar 1, 2022 | Vendredi | $5.0M Series A | — | 50 Partners, 50 Partners Impact, Bleu Capital, DN Capital, ISAI, Sonorcap, Thibaud Elziere |
| Dec 1, 2021 | Aria | $5.0M Seed | — | 50 Partners Impact, eFounders, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Steegmann, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Thibaud Elziere |
| Nov 1, 2021 | Muzzo | $2.0M Seed | — | 50 Partners Impact, Amazon Alexa Fund, Basecase Capital, Breega, Eclipse Ventures, eFounders, Kima Ventures, M13, Pareto Holdings, Rainfall Ventures, #SecretFund, Sequoia Capital, Serena Capital, Speedinvest, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Dan Siroker, Darius Contractor, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Humberto Ayres Pereira, Karl Jacob, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Scott Belsky, Thibaud Elziere, Tom Williams |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Witco | $14.0M Series A | — | ISAI, Kima Ventures, Cyril Grislain, Jean-David Blanc |
| Jul 1, 2021 | PowerZ | $7.0M Venture Round | — | 50 Partners Impact, eFounders, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Thibaud Elziere |
| Jun 1, 2021 | Electra | $18.0M Seed | — | 50 Partners Impact, eFounders, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Thibaud Elziere |
| Jun 1, 2021 | Memo Bank | $16.0M Series A | — | C4 Ventures, Index Ventures, Partech Ventures, Serena Capital, Bruno Maisonnier, Steve Anavi |
| May 1, 2021 | Ublo | $760K Seed | — | 50 Partners Impact, Diaspora Ventures, Kima Ventures, Left Lane Capital, Octopus Ventures, Origins, Singular, Y Combinator, Celine Lazorthes, Roxanne Varza |
| May 1, 2021 | Klub | $10.0M Seed | — | 50 Partners Impact, Antler, eFounders, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Shift Capital, Venture Catalysts | India's First Integrated Incubator, Alexis Bonillo, Amit Gupta, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Kunal Shah, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Owen Simonin, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Thibaud Elziere |
| Apr 1, 2021 | Expensya | $20.0M Series B | — | Abstract Ventures, Afore Capital, Core Innnovation Capital, Great Oaks Venture Capital, ISAI, Kima Ventures, Operator Partners, PS Investments, RiverPark Ventures, Rosecliff Ventures, Silicon Badia, Valar Ventures, Vouch Insurance, Cyril Grislain, David Yaffe, Dylan Field, Jean-David Blanc, Kelvin Beachum Jr., Siddharth Singhal, Vivek Garipalli |
| Mar 1, 2021 | Shadow | $160.0M Venture Round | — | Kima Ventures, Thibaud Elziere |
| Jan 1, 2021 | Aria | $400K Seed | — | 20VC, 50 Partners Impact, Bain Capital Crypto, Balderton Capital, Bungalow Capital, CRV, eFounders, Felicis Ventures, Kima Ventures, Night Capital, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, SNR, Adrien Miniatti, Antoine Martin, Charles Gorintin, Fareed Mosavat, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Jean Charles Samuelian, Mathilde Collin, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Pinto, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Roger McNamee, Thibaud Elziere, Yahya Mokhtarzada |
| Oct 1, 2020 | Beam | $4.0M Seed | — | 50 Partners Impact, ACME Capital, Alven, eFounders, EWA Capital, KB Partners, Kima Ventures, Moderne Ventures, Scott Sandell, Pareto Holdings, SeaX Ventures, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Spark Capital, Wayra Hispam, Adam Neumann, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Hugues De Braucourt, Jeronimo Uribe, Michael Benabou, Miguel Mc Allister, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Shervin Pishevar, Thibaud Elziere, Chapter One Ventures, Charlie Songhurst, Index Ventures, Indus Valley Capital, iNovia Capital, Jeff Morris, NFX, Redpoint Ventures, Stellar Capital, Uncork Capital |
| Sep 1, 2020 | PowerZ | $4.0M Seed | — | 50 Partners Impact, eFounders, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Franck Le Ouay, Guillaume Lestrade, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Thibaud Elziere |
| Sep 1, 2020 | Acquire App | $2.0M Seed | — | 2.12 Angels, 50 Partners, 50 Partners Impact, Aleph VC, Antler, Balderton Capital, Boldstart Ventures, Carya Venture Partners, Deep Insight, Diaspora Ventures, eFounders, Entrée Capital Ventures, Felix Capital, Founder Collective, Future Shape, General Atlantic, Gumi Cryptos Capital, HV Capital, Immeasurable, Interlace Ventures, Kearny Jackson, Kima Ventures, LeFonds, NewView Capital, Pareto Holdings, Quiet Capital, #SecretFund, Serena Capital, Seventure Partners, Sonorcap, Stripe, The Refiners, Y Combinator, YOBE Ventures, Alexis Bonillo, Antoine Martin, Clement Benoit, Franck Le Ouay, Greg Kidd, Guillaume Lestrade, Guillaume Luccisano, Guy Podjarny, Jean-Sébastien Wallez, Jonathan Swanson, Jonathan Widawski, Michael Benabou, Michel Meyer, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Rand Hindi, Scott Belsky, Thibaud Elziere, Thomas Rebaud, Youcef Es-skouri |
| Jun 1, 2020 | Memo Bank | $23.0M Series A | — | 11, 50 Partners Impact, AAF Management Ltd., Accel, Addition, Aglae Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Avalon Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, C4 Ventures, Conexo Ventures, Craft Ventures, Cusp Capital Partners, Dimension Capital, DN Capital, eFounders, Founder Collective, Founders Fund, Haun Ventures, ICONIQ Capital, In-Q-Tel, ISAI, Jetstream, John Paul, Khosla Ventures, Kima Ventures, LGF, Long Journey Ventures, Makers Camp, ManchesterStory Group, MMC Ventures, Motier Ventures, Paradox Capital, Pareto Holdings, Primer Sazze Partners, #SecretFund, Sequoia Capital, Serena Capital, TCV, The Hit Forge, Thomson Reuters Ventures, XStarPartners, Alexis Bonillo, Amjad Masad, Andrew Nutter, Andrew Robb, Anna Yuan, Antoine Martin, Bradley Horowitz, Bruno Maisonnier, Charlie Songhurst, Clement Benoit, David Mytton, Florian Douetteau, Franck Le Ouay, Frederic Montagnon, Guillaume Lestrade, Hugues De Braucourt, Julien Romanetto, Julie Zhuo, Michael Benabou, Nicolas Steegmann, Oleg Rogynskyy, Oleg Tscheltzoff, Omar El-Ayat, Paulin Dementhon, Pierre Valade, Roxanne Varza, Sam Altman, Steve Anavi, Thibaud Elziere, Thomas Vu, Tobias Lutke, Tony Xu, Young Song |
| Oct 1, 2019 | Athenian | $3.0M Seed | — | Frst, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, Alexandre Cognard, Didier Valet, Florian Douetteau |
| Feb 1, 2019 | Typology | $10.0M Seed | — | iNovia Capital, Kima Ventures, Pareto Holdings, Sapphire Ventures, #SecretFund, Trinity Ventures, Charlie Songhurst, Cyril Grislain, Erik Ford |
