From lab coats to unicorns: French VC Daphni Blue closes €260 million fund to turn science into startups
Paris-based venture capital firm daphni has successfully closed its latest fund, daphni Blue, at €260 million, significantly exceeding its initial target. This substantial capital infusion is earmarked for transforming Europe's robust scientific research into globally competitive startups, with a focus on addressing critical environmental and societal challenges. The fund's strategy centers on leveraging deep scientific breakthroughs as a foundation for long-term value creation. Daphni Blue has already begun deploying capital, with nine early-stage, science-based startups already receiving investment. The firm is actively exploring additional TechBio investments, signaling a clear commitment to sectors driven by biological and technological innovation. This strategic focus highlights a growing trend in European venture capital towards supporting foundational research and development as a key differentiator in an increasingly commoditized technology landscape. The €260 million raised by daphni Blue contributes to a broader surge of investment in European DeepTech and climate-focused strategies. Over 2025 and 2026, other firms like Footprint Fund I (€76 million), b2venture (€150 million), U2V (€60 million), and Armilar Venture Partners (€120 million) have also announced significant capital raises. Collectively, these announcements represent approximately €666 million flowing into research-intensive innovation, underscoring a strong institutional appetite for long-horizon, science-driven ventures across the continent.
Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.
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