Daphni

Daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm established in 2015, known for its distinctive approach to early-stage investing. The firm positions itself as a 'VC as a platform,' integrating a human-driven, community-powered, and tech-augmented model. They prioritize real shifts—scientific, societal, and environmental—over fleeting trends, backing technologies that regenerate, include, empower, and scale across various sectors. Daphni is also a B Corp certified company, embedding sustainability and impact at the core of its investment strategy and operations.

The firm was co-founded by Pierre-Yves Meerschman and Pierre-Eric Leibovici, who bring extensive experience in finance and venture capital. Daphni's investment thesis is grounded in supporting user-oriented European startups with global ambitions, particularly those built on fundamental research and scientific breakthroughs. They leverage a community of over 400 entrepreneurs, operators, researchers, artists, and advisors, known as 'daphnipolis,' to provide a unique advisory ecosystem and foster collaboration among their portfolio companies.

Daphni has made over 160 investments, with a portfolio that includes notable companies such as BlaBlaCar, Swile, and Back Market, with three of their investments achieving unicorn status. Recent investments include companies like Sereact, Generare, and TerraSpark. The firm focuses on early-stage startups, typically participating in Seed and Series A rounds, and has expanded its reach with three active funds, each with distinct strategies, including a generalist fund for Europe, a dedicated digital retail fund with Carrefour, and a fund to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in France.

The team at Daphni comprises a diverse group of professionals with backgrounds spanning venture capital, finance, technology, and sustainability. Key team members include co-founders Pierre-Yves Meerschman and Pierre-Eric Leibovici, along with partners like Sofia Dahoune, who brings deep tech venture capital expertise, and Damien Didier, who leads sustainability initiatives. This collective expertise, combined with their community-driven and data-enhanced approach, aims to drive long-term, systemic change in the startup ecosystem.