News Summary

Emblem, a new European venture capital firm based in Paris, successfully closed its first fund at €80 million (approximately $85 million). Despite a challenging funding environment, marked by a decline in European venture funding and a lack of acquisitions and IPOs, Emblem reached its hard cap. Founded by Bénédicte de Raphélis Soissan and Guillaume Durao, the firm focuses on seed investments, aiming to make 25 to 30 investments with ticket sizes ranging from €500,000 to €3 million. Emblem has already invested in 16 startups across various sectors and geographies, including France, the Nordics, the U.S., and Italy. The firm is backed by over 200 limited partners, including family offices, tech entrepreneurs, and sovereign funds like EIFO and Bpifrance.