Time4: a fund by daphni, HEC Paris, Les Déterminés, and Live for Good

How Venture Capital Can Support Underrepresented Entrepreneurs and Build a More Inclusive Startup Ecosystem

Venture capital funds can support underrepresented entrepreneurs by combining funding, mentorship, and network access, while partnering with academic institutions and ecosystem builders to identify overlooked talent and create a more inclusive startup ecosystem.

Introducing Time4: A Venture Fund for Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Time4 is a venture fund created by daphni, in partnership with HEC Paris (academic partner), Les Déterminés, and Live for Good.

The fund focuses on supporting entrepreneurs across France whose backgrounds, experiences, or career paths fall outside traditional venture capital networks. Many of these founders come from underrepresented communities or have non-traditional entrepreneurial journeys.

The goal is simple: unlock overlooked entrepreneurial talent and make startup funding more accessible.

Supporting Founders Beyond Capital

Time4 aims to support around 60 startups through a comprehensive approach that goes beyond financial investment.

The fund provides:

• Startup funding to accelerate early-stage growth
• Mentorship from experienced founders, investors, and operators
• Access to powerful networks across the tech ecosystem

This combination helps entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of building and scaling companies.

A Collaborative Approach to Venture Capital

One of Time4’s key strengths is its multi-partner structure, which brings together different types of ecosystem actors:

• Venture capital investors
• Academic institutions
• Nonprofit organizations supporting entrepreneurs
• Community ecosystem builders

By combining these perspectives, Time4 aims to identify and support founders who are often overlooked by traditional venture capital pipelines.

Revealing Untapped Entrepreneurial Talent

Many talented entrepreneurs remain underrepresented in the startup ecosystem because they lack access to:

• Investor networks
• Mentorship and guidance
• Early-stage funding opportunities

Time4 seeks to change this by actively identifying promising founders across France and helping them transform their ideas into scalable startups.