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CentraleSupélec Venture is an early-stage venture capital fund established in May 2023, designed to support high-potential startups founded by alumni or connected to the CentraleSupélec ecosystem. The fund is managed by TyGrow and operates under the FPCI (Fonds Professionnel de Capital Investissement) structure, which is regulated by the AMF. The fund's first close reached €12 million, with a target of €25 million anticipated by early 2025. This unique fund channels proprietary deal flow from a globally distributed network of technically sophisticated founders, ensuring that at least one co-founder of each startup has a connection to the CentraleSupélec community.
Located in France, CentraleSupélec Venture aims to back approximately 25 startups, primarily in the pre-seed and seed stages, with initial investments ranging from €150,000 to €500,000. The fund's alignment with the CentraleSupélec institution allows it to return a share of investment gains to the school, reinforcing a long-term relationship between the fund and its founding institution. This model not only supports the financial success of the fund but also enhances the entrepreneurial ecosystem surrounding CentraleSupélec.
CentraleSupélec Venture primarily invests in early-stage startups, focusing on pre-seed and seed stages, with potential support for Series A and beyond. The fund targets sectors including deeptech, health technologies, and environmental and industrial transitions. The investment strategy emphasizes backing startups with at least one co-founder from the CentraleSupélec community, which includes graduates, PhDs, and researchers. This community-gated approach ensures a unique deal flow and aligns the fund's interests with the long-term goals of the CentraleSupélec institution.
The initial investment amounts range from €150,000 to €500,000, with plans to support around 25 startups. The fund's thesis is to invest in innovation broadly, prioritizing projects that demonstrate significant potential in their respective fields. The focus on deeptech and health technologies reflects a commitment to advancing technology and sustainability, while the inclusion of industrial transitions highlights a broader vision for impactful investments.
CentraleSupélec Venture's portfolio includes five notable companies, each with a strong connection to the CentraleSupélec community:
These companies reflect the fund's commitment to supporting innovative solutions in deeptech, health technologies, and environmental transitions, all while ensuring that their founders are connected to the CentraleSupélec ecosystem.
Cédric Curtil - Managing Partner / Fund Operator. Cédric has extensive experience in managing funds and working with startups. He leads the day-to-day investment operations of CentraleSupélec Venture.
Jean-Marc Patouillaud - Co-Sponsor, pro bono. A co-founder of Partech Partners, one of Europe's leading VC firms, Jean-Marc is a prominent figure in French and European venture capital.
Pierre Martini - Co-Sponsor, pro bono. Pierre is a private equity and venture capital professional who co-sponsors the fund alongside Jean-Marc Patouillaud.
Jonathan Banon - CEO, Ed.AI. Jonathan leads the AI-focused education startup, which automates student work correction.
Cédric Bignon - CTO, Ed.AI. Cédric oversees the technology development at Ed.AI, focusing on AI applications in education.
Rémi Mazières - Chief Learning Officer, Ed.AI. Rémi is responsible for educational strategies and learning methodologies at Ed.AI.
Léa Gillet - Co-founder, Trace For Good. Léa plays a key role in developing the supply chain traceability tool.
Laura Bréban - Co-founder, Trace For Good. Laura collaborates with Léa to enhance the platform's capabilities.
Vivian Robert - Co-founder, Highcast. Vivian focuses on optimizing energy consumption for industrial sites.
Flore de Lasteyrie - Co-founder, Highcast. Flore works alongside Vivian to drive energy transition initiatives.
Guillaume Horréard - Co-founder, En Carta Diagnostics. Guillaume leads efforts in rapid diagnostics for Lyme disease.
Margot Karlikow - Co-founder, En Carta Diagnostics. Margot supports the development of diagnostic technologies.
Camille Bouget - Co-founder, Scienta Lab. Camille is involved in advancing precision medicine for autoimmune diseases.
Vincent Bouget - Co-founder, Scienta Lab. Vincent collaborates with Camille on AI-driven medical solutions.
Julien Duquesne - Co-founder, Scienta Lab. Julien contributes to the research and development efforts at Scienta Lab.
To pitch to CentraleSupélec Venture, founders must submit their proposals via email to contact@centralesupelec.venture.fr. The pitch should include a detailed overview of the startup, the founding team, and how the company aligns with the fund's focus on deeptech, health technologies, and environmental transitions.
There is no specific application form disclosed, and the application process is rolling. Founders should ensure that at least one co-founder has a connection to the CentraleSupélec community, as this is a strict eligibility requirement. While response times are not specified, it is advisable for founders to be concise and clear in their communications to facilitate a timely review.
In October 2024, CentraleSupélec Venture participated in a seed round for Highcast, contributing to the startup's efforts in energy optimization for industrial sites. The total round raised was undisclosed.
In September 2024, the fund participated in a seed round for Ed.AI, which raised a total of €1.7 million to further develop its AI-driven education platform.
In May 2024, En Carta Diagnostics secured €1.5 million in a pre-seed round led by CentraleSupélec Venture, aimed at advancing rapid diagnostics for Lyme disease.
Additionally, Scienta Lab raised €4 million in a seed round, with CentraleSupélec Venture participating alongside business angels.
Lastly, Trace For Good also secured funding in a seed round, although the specific amount remains undisclosed.
What are the investment criteria for CentraleSupélec Venture?
CentraleSupélec Venture invests in early-stage startups, particularly those in the pre-seed and seed stages, with a focus on deeptech, health technologies, and environmental transitions. A key criterion is that at least one co-founder must be connected to the CentraleSupélec community.
How can I pitch to CentraleSupélec Venture?
Founders can pitch by emailing their proposals to contact@centralesupelec.venture.fr. The pitch must include details about the startup, the team, and how they align with the fund's focus areas.
What makes CentraleSupélec Venture different from other investors?
The fund's unique community-gated deal flow provides access to a network of technically sophisticated founders, ensuring that investments are made in startups with strong potential. This model aligns the fund's financial success with the long-term interests of the CentraleSupélec institution.
What is the typical check size for investments?
CentraleSupélec Venture typically invests between €150,000 and €500,000 in initial funding rounds, with the potential for follow-on investments in later stages.
What geographic areas does CentraleSupélec Venture focus on?
The fund has a global investment focus, although the majority of its deal flow is expected to come from startups connected to the CentraleSupélec community, which is predominantly based in France.
What kind of support do portfolio companies receive post-investment?
Portfolio companies benefit from access to a vast network of alumni, mentoring, scientific coaching, and connections to industry experts, enhancing their growth potential and operational capabilities.
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