Daphni
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $. – $.
- Stage
- Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+
- AUM
- €350M+
- Sectors
- Fintech, Consumer, Enterprise +1
- Founded
- 2015
- HQ
- Paris, France
About Daphni
Daphni is a Paris venture capital firm investing in tech startups with European DNA and strong international ambition, writing cheques from pre-seed and seed through Series A and later rounds. Its declared interest spans consumer, fintech and climate alongside adjacent categories, and the firm frames its thesis around disruptions with positive social and environmental impact, particularly those with a strong scientific angle.
The firm was founded in 2015 by Marie Ekeland, Pierre-Eric Leibovici, Pierre-Yves Meerschman, Willy Braun and Mathieu Daix. Three of the five stepped back in 2019 while staying involved in portfolio support, leaving Leibovici and Meerschman as co-founders and managing partners. Daphni raised its first fund, purple, at 170 million euros in 2016, backed by individuals, Bpifrance and corporate investors including Darty and Fnac. Yellow followed in 2020, after a merger with Marc Simoncini's Jaina Capital that took the firm past 350 million euros under management, and blue, the current generalist vehicle, came in at 260 million euros.
Daphni now runs several vehicles in parallel rather than a single line of funds: dastore, an 80 million euro digital-retail fund launched in 2022 with Carrefour covering e-commerce, grocery, data, financial services and robotics; time4, a 50 million euro fund targeting entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds in France; and rainbow, an endowment fund for social inclusion organisations. The portfolio runs to roughly 60 companies and includes Ledger, Spendesk, PayFit, October and Frichti, with exits including Shine to Societe Generale and Context to Integral Ad Science. That structure is the distinguishing feature: corporate-anchored thematic funds sitting beside a generalist flagship, which lets Daphni underwrite retail and inclusion mandates without bending the main fund's strategy.
Investment Thesis
“Invests in European technology startups with a focus on companies that leverage data and technology to create positive societal impact.”
Leadership Team
Pierre-Eric Leibovici and Pierre-Yves Meerschman are co-founders and managing partners, the two of the original five founders still running the firm; Marie Ekeland, Willy Braun and Mathieu Daix stepped back in 2019 to pursue other ventures while remaining available for portfolio support.
The partner group is broad for a firm of Daphni's size and notably balanced: Alexandra Dubar, Aurelie Van Peteghem, Claire Tanguy, Sofia Dahoune, Paul Bazin, Samir Matki and Shabir Vasram. Daphni also carries venture partners who bring corporate and entrepreneurial weight rather than fund experience, including Marc Simoncini, whose Jaina Capital merged into Daphni in 2020, Alain Dinin and Pauline Boucher. That mix reflects a firm that raises thematic vehicles with corporate anchors such as Carrefour and needs people who can open those doors for portfolio management teams.
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
Fund History
Daphni raised its first fund, purple, at 170 million euros in 2016, with capital from individual investors, Bpifrance and corporate backers including Darty and Fnac. Yellow launched in 2020 against a 150 million euro target; the merger with Jaina Capital, founded in 2010 by Marc Simoncini, took Daphni past 350 million euros under management by September 2020. Blue, the current generalist vehicle and successor to purple and yellow, raised 260 million euros and targets European scientific entrepreneurship addressing societal and environmental challenges.
Alongside the flagship line the firm runs dastore, an 80 million euro digital-retail fund launched in 2022 with Carrefour covering e-commerce, grocery innovation, data, financial services and robotics; time4, a 50 million euro inclusion fund targeting 100 million euros that backs entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds in France; and rainbow, an endowment fund created in 2024 for social inclusion organisations. Across all vehicles the portfolio numbers roughly 60 companies, with exits including Shine to Societe Generale and Context to Integral Ad Science.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does Daphni invest at?
Daphni primarily invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+ stages. This means they focus on companies that are at the earliest idea or prototype phase.
Where is Daphni located?
Daphni is headquartered in Paris, France. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
What sectors does Daphni focus on?
Daphni focuses on investments in Fintech, Consumer, Enterprise, Web3. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is Daphni's typical check size?
Daphni's typical investment check size ranges from $. to $.. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
How much does Daphni have under management?
Daphni manages approximately €350M+ in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.
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