
Organization · Venture Capital
daphni
Daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm founded in 2016, focusing on early-stage European startups with a commitment to sustainability and social impact. The firm manages over €500 million across multiple funds and is B Corp-certified.
Overview
What daphni does
What daphni is
Daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm founded in 2016, focusing on early-stage European startups with a commitment to sustainability and social impact. The firm manages over €500 million across multiple funds and is B Corp-certified.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community and event host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Venture Capital
- Founded
- Founded in 2016
- Approximate age
- About 10 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community · Event host · Publisher
- Last reviewed
- March 16, 2026
Official channels
Find daphni elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
daphni as a funder
Investment thesis
Invests in user-oriented, early-stage startups with European DNA and strong international ambition. Technology should be invisible to users; usage is driven by people and emotions.
Focus narrative
Early-stage (Seed and Series A) with European roots and international expansion plans. Sector and model agnostic but deep expertise in enterprise apps, consumer, fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, SaaS, proptech, climate/deep tech. Daphni Blue fund targets deep tech and sustainability.
Value beyond capital
Community of 300+ experienced entrepreneurs and advisors (Daphnipolis). Digital platform for efficiency and transparency. Strategic support for European companies with global reach.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $225,000–$11,290,000
- Sweet spot
- $3,000,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Seed · Series A · Series B
- Sectors
- SaaS & Cloud SoftwareFintechHealthcareConsumerCommerce & RetailClimate & SustainabilityReal Estate & Property TechFood & AgricultureArtificial Intelligence
- Regions
- Europe · Global · Western Europe
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 108
- Investments in the last 12 months
- 9
- Last recorded investment
- January 31, 2026
- Recorded notable exits
- BlaBlaCar, Swile, Back Market, Epic, and Fretlink
Portfolio context
108 companies, 3 unicorns (Swile, Back Market, BlaBlaCar), 1 IPO, 22 acquisitions. 37 enterprise apps, 33 consumer. Recent: Kleio, Zoe, Typology, Pasqal, Hubcycle. Daphni Blue EUR260M closed Jan 2026.
Capability profile
daphni as a community
Community overview
daphni is a venture capital firm founded in 2016 and based in France. The organization focuses on investing in technologies that promote sustainability and social impact, particularly in sectors such as climate, deeptech, retail, and inclusion. daphni is a B Corp certified company, emphasizing its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
Community focus
daphni invests in various sectors, including climate technology, deeptech, retail, and inclusion. The firm operates three active funds with distinct strategies: a generalist fund focused on disruptions with positive social and environmental impacts, a dedicated digital retail fund supporting innovations in e-commerce, and a fund aimed at supporting entrepreneurs from unique and underrepresented backgrounds across all industries.
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Sectors
- Climate & Sustainability
Community activity
Events and activity
daphni hosts various community events and initiatives to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders.
Notable members
Key team members include Pierre-Eric Leibovici, Pierre-Yves Meerschman, Anita de Voisins, Samir Matki, Claire Tanguy, Etienne Renoux, and Jocelyn Fournier.
Capability profile
daphni as an event host
Event focus
Daphni invests in various sectors, including climate, deeptech, retail, and inclusion. The firm has three active funds: the Generalist Fund, launching in 2025, focuses on disruptions with positive social and environmental impacts, particularly in scientific fields such as biology and chemistry; the Digital Retail Fund, launched in 2022, targets innovations in the retail space, including e-commerce and financial services; and the Support Fund for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs, which aims to assist entrepreneurs from unique and underrepresented backgrounds across all industries.
Participant value
Daphni aims to support entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and operates with a commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
Format and cadence
- Startups can present
- No
Availability
- Registration state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Sectors
- Climate & Sustainability
- Regions
- France
Capability profile
daphni as a publisher
Editorial focus
daphni is a venture capital firm that invests in technologies promoting sustainability and social impact. Founded in 2016 and based in France, daphni emphasizes environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles through its investments in sectors such as climate technology, deeptech, retail, and inclusion.
Audience value
daphni offers a unique approach to venture capital by focusing on investments that create positive social and environmental impacts, supporting entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and fostering innovation in sustainability.
Format and cadence
- Content formats
- podcast and newsletter
- Primary platform
- Spotify, Apple Podcasts
Availability
- Guest pitch state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and focus
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
Flagship work and coverage
Flagship properties
daphni produces podcasts including 'Movers & Shakers' and 'Venturing Abroad', available on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, as well as newsletters providing updates and insights into the venture capital landscape.
Connected ecosystem
Continue from daphni
These links use structured organization type, sector, and regional relationships. They do not imply endorsement or commercial similarity.
Same organization type
Structured sector focus
Structured regional focus
Common questions
What to know about daphni
Upseed classifies daphni under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, community, event host, and publisher capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 16, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.