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.

Venture CapitalFunderCommunityEvent hostPublisher

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

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

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
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.

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.

Next step

Keep comparing startup organizations

Return to the organization index or continue through a verified sector, place, peer, or program connected to this profile.

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.