Daphni announces the launch of Blue, a new investment fund in line with its previous vehicles, aimed at supporting high-potential European startups. Staying true to its mission, Daphni continues to invest in companies that create both financial and extra-financial value, convinced that Europe holds a major competitive advantage in sustainability compared to the Chinese and American ecosystems. After supporting leading startups like Back Market and Swile, Daphni aims, with Blue, to accelerate the emergence of new global leaders by leveraging a still underutilized driver of innovation financing: European scientific ingenuity.
Unleashing scientific potential to build the champions of tomorrow
Europe boasts an excellent academic ecosystem, with world-renowned research centers and passionate researchers. Traditionally siloed, the academic world is evolving: new generations of researchers, supported by laboratory directors open to innovation, now aspire to see their work recognized beyond their peers. This transformation opens up unprecedented opportunities for the development and commercialization of breakthrough innovations in a landscape where digital technology is the common denominator across all industries, and where generative AI is reshaping the innovation landscape. AI acts as a superpower, enabling the expansion and acceleration of digital services. In this context, technological breakthroughs will take on a new form, driven primarily by the sciences: life sciences, biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
Initiatives like Airthium, Moonwatt, Pasqal and Pruna AI which Daphni has been supporting for several years, illustrate this paradigm shift and demonstrate the immense potential of synergies between research and entrepreneurship. This new vehicle, Blue, aims to support these scientist-entrepreneurs, whose technologies often help build a more sustainable world, thereby contributing to sovereignty, European competitiveness, and the climate transition.
"Europe has a unique opportunity. By connecting the academic world with entrepreneurial innovation, we can foster the emergence of global champions capable of addressing tomorrow's social and environmental challenges. Blue is a tool designed to accelerate this momentum and support the entrepreneurs who share this ambition," says Pierre-Eric Leibovici, founder and partner at Daphni.
With Blue, Daphni continues its commitment to bold and sustainable European entrepreneurship.
A closing target of €250M
The goal is to reach a final closing of the Blue fund at €250M by the end of the year, in order to support around 40 entrepreneurs developing projects that contribute to the transition toward a sustainable world. The first €200M has been raised from numerous longstanding partners, including Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, Bpifrance (which invests in equity, and through the Multicap Croissance 4 fund, managed on behalf of the French government as part of the France 2030 plan), European Investment Fund, PRO BTP, and SWEN Capital Partners, as well as several family offices that have already supported previous fund generations and many tech entrepreneurs.
About Daphni
Founded in 2015, Daphni is a mission-driven venture capital firm certified B Corp, investing in breakthrough technologies and sustainable projects. Supported by a community of 400 experts, it leverages Flamel, its proprietary technology platform. Daphni also manages Dastore, a fund dedicated to tech retail in partnership with Carrefour, and announced the launch of project Time4 at the end of 2024, a fund dedicated to entrepreneurs from diverse and rural backgrounds. In parallel, its endowment fund Rainbow supports social inclusion initiatives.
Discover Les Echos' article: https://www.lesechos.fr/start-up/ecosysteme/french-tech-la-science-nouvelle-religion-des-fonds-de-capital-risque-2155899
