What: Unseenlabs, a satellite network to enhance maritime security.
Why: Ships have ways to disable official tracking systems when doing clandestine or illegal activities. Unseenlabs' constellation of satellites is designed to detect ships.
Funding: €85 million (including 25%-30% debt)
Who: Co-Founders & Brothers CEO Clement Galic and CTO Jonathan Galic.
Investors: Supernova Invest, ISALT, and UNEXO led the funding round, which also included money from previous investors 360 Capital, OMNES, Breizh Up, S2G Ventures, and Bpifrance.
What's Next: The company has 11 satellites in orbit and will use this new financing to launch 10 more, which will allow for improved precision and boost the company as it expands into new markets.
What: Planity, a SaaS online beauty appointment booking platform.
Why: Enables beauty professionals (hair salons, beauty institutes, barbers etc.) to efficiently manage their activities and optimize their work agendas and time.
Funding: $50 million
Who: Co-Founders Jérémy Queroy, Antoine Puymirat, Paul Vonderscher
Investors: InfraVia Capital Partners, Revaia, Crédit Mutuel Innovation, & Digital Ventures (Bpifrance).
What's Next: The platform will use the cash to continue developing its product, expand its presence in the German and Belgian markets, make potential acquisitions, and invest in new verticals.
What: Photoroom, a GenAI-powered photo editor for small businesses.
Why: Revolutionize product image creation and management for businesses selling items online.
Funding: €43 million
Who: Co-Founders Matthieu Rouif & Eliot Andres
Investors: Balderton Capital, Aglaé, and YCombinator
What's Next: The new money will be used to accelerate the development of its Generative AI capabilities, including investing in more Graphics Processing Units (GPUs); secure imagery from leading image providers and photographers, and double the size of the team by the end of 2024.
What: Pennylane, an accounting software (SaaS) for in-house accountants and accounting firms.
Why: Enables accountants to gain productivity while ensuring the reliability of data collected in real time.
Funding: €40 million (for a valuation +€1bn). 🦄
Who: Co-Founders Arthur Waller & Alexandre Roquoplo
Investors: Sequoia Capital & DST Global
What's Next: The new unicorn is planning to use the cash to broaden the capabilities of its platform, adopting and rolling out a 5-year external growth strategy.
What: Bioptimus, a Generative AI platform for biotech.
Why: Digitize and accelerate biotech development with advanced fundamental AI models capable of delving further into the analysis of patient data at multiple levels, thereby uncovering previously unsuspected biological connections and hopefully paving the way to unprecedented personalized medicine
Funding: €35 million
Who: Co-Founders Jean-Philippe Vert, David Cahané, Rodolphe Jenatton
Investors: Sofinnova Partners, Large Ventures Fund (Bpifrance), Frst Capital, Cathay Innovation, Headlkine, Hummingbird, NJF Capital, Owkin, Top Harvest Capital & Business Angel/entrepreneur Xaviel Niel.
What's Next: This first investment will be used to fund the biotech's launch.
What: Boondmanager, a HR tech (SaaS) platform.
Why: Developing an all-in-one management tool enabling Digital Services Enterprises and consulting firms to save time and improve the performance of their recruiters, sales teams, and administrative staff.
Funding: €32 million
Who: Co-Founders & brothers Tanguy, Anthony & Loïc Lambert
Investors: Expedition Growth Capital
What's Next: The funding will be used to fuel growth and solidify their position.
What: Vibe, a platform to simplify advertising purchases on Connected TV and Over The Top media services.
Why: Democratize advertising to allow smaller businesses to reach audiences on larger platforms.
Who: Co-founders are Arthur Querou and Franck Tetzlaff.
Seed Round: $22.5 million
Investors: Singular led the round, which also included money from previous investor Elaia Partners, as well as Sequoia’s Scout Fund, Motier, and prominent Ad Tech Business Angles such as Benjamin Antier, Cyril Vermeulen, Laurent Asscher, Very Group, and Alain Roubach.
What's next: Vibe will use the money to expand its tech & machine learning department, increase its sales team, pursue strategic publisher deals, and grow from 40 employees to 110.
Chris O’Brien
What: Filigran, a cybersecurity platform that coordinates and simplifies threat management.
Why: Building a platform using innovative open-source solutions, designed specifically to address the complex challenges organizations face in anticipating cyber risks and threats.
Funding: €15 million
Who: Co-Founders Samuel Hassine & Julien Richard
Investors: Accel, Moonfire Ventures & Motier Ventures
What's Next: The funding will be used to fuel the cybertech's expansion to the US and Australia, further develop its open-source “eXtended Threat Management” suite, and grow its team.
Chris O’Brien
What: Groover, an all-in-one music promotion platform for independent artists
Why: Connects independent media and music professionals and experts ready to listen to their tracks and provide feedback.
Funding: $8 million
Who: Co-Founders Romain Palmieri & Dorian Perron
Investors: OneRagtime, Trind, Techmind, MozzaAngels, Partech,
Tech & Touch fund (Bpifrance), Verve Ventures & Frenchfounders.
What's Next: Already present in the US, Canada, Italy, Brazil, the UK, France, and Germany, Groover aims to develop an international expansion strategy to deepen its presence in Europe, North America, and Latin America.
