Paris-based Axeleo Capital secures €125 million for its new Green Tech Industry fund | EU-Startups

Axeleo Capital, an independent French venture capital firm, has announced the first closing of its new €125 million Green Tech Industry I fund. The fund is backed by three major investors: the Révolution Environnementale et Solidaire fund, Bpifrance, and the Fonds National de Venture Industriel (FNVI).

Founded in 2017 and with nearly €300 million in assets under management, AXC is taking a new step forward by positioning itself to become one of the major players in Europe in the financing of industrial innovation and is pursuing its VC strategy of developing thematic funds.

A new strategy supported by a multidisciplinary team

Today, financing the first facilities of industrial and innovative start-ups lacks resources and specialised players capable of addressing their unique industrial and commercial risks.

At the initiative of Guillaume Sarlat and Marc Lechantre, this ‘Green Tech Industry I’ fund is inherently impact-driven and classified as Article 9, aiming to finance innovative and resilient green technologies in Europe. By combining financial and industrial expertise, the goal is to provide start-ups and their founders with decisive support at the critical stage of establishing their first facilities and scaling up their operations.

Guillaume has over 20 years of experience in tech and Greentech as an investment banker and investor. Marc spent more than 16 years in the automotive industry with the Stellantis group, in roles spanning production, strategy, and international management.

With the operational involvement of Mathieu Viallard, co-founder of Axeleo Capital, the GTI I team was recently joined by Sandra Dubos as Investment Director. With a degree in biochemistry, Sandra has over 15 years of experience in tech, including six years in venture capital, particularly in deep tech, chemistry, and healthcare.

A European ambition for the Greentech industry

With a final target of €250 million, GTI I aims to make 15 to 20 investments in Europe, with lead tickets ranging from €3 million to €10 million across sectors such as energy (new renewable energies, storage, etc.), chemicals and materials (biomaterials, plastics recycling, etc.), agriculture and food (bio-based fertilisers and pesticides, etc.), and mobility (electric motors, decarbonisation of air and sea transport, etc.).

Eric Burdier and Mathieu Viallard, co-founders of Axeleo Capital stated: “Following the success of our Software B2B strategies, the launch of GTI I represents a major step in the development of our management company. In line with our values and our entrepreneurial DNA of supporting founders, this fund allows us to address a field of major innovations around decarbonisation, green technologies, and the renewal of industrial sectors in Europe.”

Guillaume Sarlat and Marc Lechantre said: “With the entire Axeleo Capital team, we are delighted with this first closing, which allows us to act now. The support of our sponsors and investors, whom we thank for their confidence, reinforces our collective ambition to contribute to the emergence of tomorrow’s European and green industrial sectors.”