Organization · Venture Capital
Elephants & Ventures
Elephants & Ventures is a regulated asset management company based in Paris, focusing on early-stage investments in hardware and hardtech startups through its community-based venture fund, Hardware Club.
Overview
What Elephants & Ventures does
What Elephants & Ventures is
Elephants & Ventures is a regulated asset management company based in Paris, focusing on early-stage investments in hardware and hardtech startups through its community-based venture fund, Hardware Club.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community 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
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community
- Last reviewed
- May 6, 2026
Official channels
Find Elephants & Ventures elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Elephants & Ventures as a funder
Investment thesis
HCVC backs early-stage companies that automate and digitize the physical world, focusing on hardtech startups with long-term competitive advantages through technical defensibility.
Focus narrative
Elephants & Ventures invests primarily in hardware companies through its community-driven venture fund, Hardware Club. The organization is focused on supporting startups that are innovating in the hardware space, particularly those that are addressing complex technological challenges.
Value beyond capital
Elephants & Ventures provides significant value to its portfolio companies by leveraging its community of hardware innovators and experts. The firm facilitates connections, resources, and support that help startups navigate the challenges of scaling their technologies and accessing markets.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $100,000–$2,500,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Sectors
- Robotics & Autonomous SystemsClimate & SustainabilityBiotech & Life SciencesEnergyDefence Tech
- Regions
- Europe · North America · Global
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies include: Navier: Developing AI agents for hardware design and CAD-to-simulation automation. Cosmic Robotics: A robotics platform that accelerates solar panel deployment at utility-scale sites. Chiral: Innovating next-generation chips with nanomaterial-based transistors. Dyna Robotics: Creating robotics foundation models for customer environments. Lendurai: Specializing in autonomous navigation for GPS-free drones. Kyron.bio: A precision glycan engineering platform for antibody drugs. Renaissance Fusion: Working on fusion reactor technology with stellarators and liquid metal shielding.
Capability profile
Elephants & Ventures as a community
Community overview
Elephants & Ventures is a regulated asset management company based in Paris, France, focused on supporting the hardware sector through its community-based venture fund, Hardware Club. Founded as a French SAS, it operates under the accreditation of the French Financing Authority and is registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Register. Elephants & Ventures is the sole operator of the Hardware Club and HCVC funds, which are dedicated to venture funding for hardware companies.
Community focus
The organization primarily invests in hardware companies, emphasizing the importance of community in the venture funding process. Elephants & Ventures aims to support founders working on innovative hardware solutions that can drive technological progress.
Member value
Members of the Hardware Club community gain access to a network of like-minded entrepreneurs and investors, opportunities for mentorship, and potential pathways to funding through the HCVC fund. The community fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among its members, enhancing their chances of success in the hardware sector.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Benefits
- network-access and mentorship
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- application
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Regions
- EuropeNorth America
Community activity
Events and activity
Hardware Club hosts member-only community events that facilitate networking and collaboration among founders and industry experts. These events are designed to strengthen the community and provide valuable insights into the hardware sector.
Notable members
The community includes notable figures such as Alexis Houssou, the founder and managing partner of HCVC, and other experienced partners with backgrounds in technology and venture capital.
Common questions
What to know about Elephants & Ventures
Upseed classifies Elephants & Ventures under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and community 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
May 6, 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.