Daphni
Venture capitalParis · Seed–Growth · 40 people tracked
Investment thesis
Daphni positions itself as a venture capital firm that rejects rigid formulas and algorithms in favor of people, vision, and deep engagement. It emphasizes a human-driven, community-powered, and tech-augmented approach, building tools, conviction, and a community to keep learning quickly and to drive long-term, systemic change rather than chasing short-term trends.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 40 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 30 of 47 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×15Deep Tech ×9SaaS ×8Biotech ×5Climate Tech ×5Enterprise Software ×5Cleantech ×4Energy ×4
HQs:France×11United States×2Austria×1Brazil×1United Kingdom×1Netherlands×1
Investments · 47 tracked
founders shown can be your intro path
Pasqal is a quantum computing company that develops high-performance quantum systems using neutral atom technology and software for optimization, simulation, and artificial intelligence applications across industry, science, and government sectors.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareQuantum ComputingFrance, FR
Lithosquare is an AI platform for mineral discovery and exploration that uses geological expertise and machine learning to identify mineral deposits up to 10 times more efficiently.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate TechDeep TechHardwareCambridge, GB
Xavier Moya(Founder & CEO)Giles Rodway(CTO)Aymeric Préveral-Etcheverry(CEO)Simon Leclair(COO)
EdTechSan Francisco, US
Julien Barbier(Executive Officer, Director)Sylvain Kalache(Former Director)Eustache Besancon(Director)Marie Ekeland(Director)Manoel Lemos(Director)Marc Verstaen(Director)
Board seatMarie Ekeland· per SEC Form D
AMI Labs develops advanced AI systems that understand the real world through world models and action-conditioned architectures, enabling intelligent agents with persistent memory, reasoning, and safety controls for industrial automation, robotics, and healthcare applications.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechRobotics
Yann LeCun(Founder)
Ankar builds an operating system for innovation that helps R&D and patent teams accelerate their work through tools for idea generation, drafting, prosecution, and protection.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLegalTechSaaS
Back Market is an online marketplace specializing in refurbished electronics.
Circular EconomyConsumerE-commerceMarketplacesParis, FR
BACTA is an AI-powered bioproduction company that uses microorganisms to produce industrial ingredients such as astaxanthin for cosmetics, human nutrition, and animal nutrition markets.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep Tech
Kerys develops YS::Desktop, a workstation virtualization platform designed for field maintenance teams in industrial environments.
Advanced ManufacturingCybersecurityDeveloper ToolsEnterprise Software
Lithosquare develops an AI platform for mineral exploration that uses physics-based modeling of ore body formation rather than statistical pattern matching.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnergy
Lovable is an AI-powered platform that enables users to build web applications and websites through conversational chat interactions with artificial intelligence.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingDeveloper ToolsSaaS
Fabian Hedin(Executive Officer, Director)Anton Osika(Executive Officer, Director)
Memo Bank is an API-first French bank authorized by the European Central Bank that enables high-volume transaction companies to process payments in real-time and at scale without internal recruitment through direct API, EBICS, or file integrations.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSFrance, FR
Clément Buffet(Co-founder)
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Neotis develops immunotherapies to counteract age-related tissue decline by directing the immune system, with an initial focus on fibrotic disease.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechLongevityMedical Devices
Cathal Meehan, PhD(CEO)Michael Saitakis, PhD(CSO)
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NG Cash is a Brazilian payment institution authorized by the Central Bank that operates as an electronic money issuer and provides banking correspondent services for bill payments, utilities, taxes, and credit products.
Fintech
Luis Sao Thiago de Carvalho(Director)Rodin Spielmann de Sa(Director)Mario Augusto Pitanga de Sa Filho(Director)
Wilgo is a free AI-powered educational platform that helps French middle and high school students with homework and exam preparation using official national curriculum materials, practice exams, interactive quizzes, and personalized learning paths.
AI & Machine LearningEdTech
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Daphni invest at?
- Daphni invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth stages.
- What is Daphni's typical check size?
- Daphni typically writes checks of $540K – $6.5M.
- What sectors does Daphni focus on?
- Daphni focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Climate Tech, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, E-commerce, Fintech, FoodTech, Impact & Social Good, Retail Tech, Robotics.
- Where is Daphni located?
- Daphni is headquartered in Paris, FR.
- Does Daphni lead rounds?
- Daphni typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamSantiTV - Interview#1 Paul Bazin partner chez Daphni - YouTube
SantiTV · Paul Bazin
Le VC-as-a-Platform avec Pierre-Eric Leibovici (daphni) - YouTube
Finscale · Pierre-Eric Leibovici
Pierre-Eric Leibovici (Daphni) - Comment t'as fait pour monter le VC Daphni et digitaliser ce mar... - YouTube
Julien Hatton · Pierre-Eric Leibovici
Pierre-Eric Leibovici (Daphni) - The current state of French tech startup scene? - YouTube
0100 Conferences · Pierre-Eric Leibovici
Pierre-Eric Leibovici (Daphni) - “Daphnipolis” - YouTube
0100 Conferences · Pierre-Eric Leibovici
Images
Co-investors · 14
Index Ventures is a venture capital firm that backs founders across the globe, investing in the people behind ideas from early through later stages.
FJ Labs is a venture capital firm specializing in marketplaces and network-effect businesses, having built a large portfolio of marketplace startups with over 30 becoming unicorns.
Partech is a global investment firm that supports founders at every stage through dedicated teams and multiple funds across several continents.
50 Partners is a French startup accelerator and investor run by entrepreneurs, operating multiple acceleration programs across tech, impact, health, and Web3, alongside dedicated funds.
ISAI is a French investment firm founded and backed by tech entrepreneurs, offering multiple strategies including early-stage VC, corporate VC, growth & buyout, and growth lending.
Elaia is a venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs from company inception through to market leadership, supporting them across their growth journey.
Singular is a boutique European VC fund founded by former top-tier partners from Alven and Index Ventures who deliberately cap fund size and portfolio companies to maintain high partner-to-founder bandwidth, positioning themselves as performance-obsessed return-maximizers rather than thesis-driven generalists. The firm backs European founders with global ambitions across all sectors and stages using a single flexible fund, while maintaining an unusually low-profile, founder-centric reputation that relies on performance narratives and founder references rather than public marketing.
Newfund Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm operating from Silicon Valley and Paris, backing entrepreneurs and helping startups scale through networking and growth support.
Serena is a France-based venture capital firm founded in 2008 by entrepreneurs to support founders, with more than half of its team being operators who have founded or led companies.
Frst is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies in France.
Emblem is a European venture capital firm that has raised $100m to invest exclusively at the pre-seed stage, backing early-stage founders and helping them reach Series A.
C4 Ventures is an operator-led venture firm that backs entrepreneurs building global companies with a European foundation.
▶2 more co-investors
Firms observed investing alongside Daphni, from public investor directories.
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