To establish itself on the international stage, French tech can rely on a network of experienced and committed investors. It was this crucial link in the innovation chain that Maddyness chose to recognise at the Maddy Invest Awards, held at the Dancing de la Coupole—an iconic Parisian venue—on Monday, 17 March.

Seven investment funds, management companies, and ecosystem partners were awarded across seven categories:

  • Investor Community
  • Family Office
  • Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)
  • Venture Capital (VC)
  • Private Equity Fund
  • Ecosystem Partner
  • Female Investor of the Year

Before the awards ceremony, Julie Huguet, Director of La French Tech, took to the stage to emphasise a key challenge: solution adoption. She highlighted that only 30% of large corporations currently use startup solutions. Addressing investors, she stated:

“You open doors—this business adoption is essential.”

Investor Community of the Year

Investor collectives are an essential part of the ecosystem, and this award went to Inovexus, represented by Philippe Roche, Founder & CEO. Initially an accelerator in 2018, Inovexus evolved into a club deal in 2021. Specialising in early-stage investments, it mobilises 1,000 investors around B2B tech companies with growth potential in Europe and the US. Its portfolio includes Underdog, Beev, Invyo, and Aive.

Family Office of the Year

Presented by Franck Sebag, Managing Partner at EY, this award recognised Evolem, the family office of Bruno Rousset, founder of April Group. Represented by Rémi Berthier, Director of the Start division, Evolem was praised for its startup investment strategy.

Sebag noted that while many funds are waiting for the right opportunities, 2025 is expected to be a stronger year for startup fundraising compared to 2024.

CVC of the Year

Corporate venture capital (CVC) plays a vital role in the ecosystem. Among the nominees FDJ Ventures, Orange Ventures, and Sopra Steria Ventures, the award went to Sopra Steria Ventures.
Receiving the prize from Julie Huguet, Socheat Chhay, Managing Director of the CVC, acknowledged his team’s efforts:

“This is a recognition of our mission: fostering collaboration between startups and large corporations.”

VC of the Year

Three impact-driven funds were shortlisted: Shift4Good, Serena, and Wind. The award went to Wind, co-founded by Thierry Vandewalle and Xavier Gury.

Expressing their joy on stage, they dedicated the win to their small but dedicated team, stating:

“This is a tribute to the people who work every day to identify the technologies that will shape our future.”

The award was presented by Elsa de Beauregard, Head of Scaleups & Investor Communities at France Digitale, who highlighted efforts to create a “28th regime” and a “European Tibi” to support startups’ international expansion.

Private Equity Fund of the Year

Recognising profitable startups—often overlooked in investment trends—Sagard NewGen took home this award. Guillaume Lefebvre accepted it, noting that France has a rich pool of both bootstrapped and VC-backed companies.

Ecosystem Partner of the Year

Essential incubators, accelerators, investment bankers, and legal advisors were also acknowledged. 2CGroup won this award, with Managing Partner Benjamin Bitton stating:

“We’re usually behind the scenes, but today we’re in the spotlight—this means a lot!”

Female Investor of the Year

The final award of the evening went to Rafaèle Tordjman, Founding Partner of Jeito Capital. A former medical doctor, she began her investment career at Sofinnova before launching her own biotech and medtech-focused investment firm. Today, Jeito Capital manages €500M in assets.

Tordjman emphasised:

“Our performance is driven by patient outcomes.”

A night to remember

The Maddy Invest Awards concluded with a celebratory evening at the Dancing de la Coupole, made possible by Maddyness’ partners:
Wilih, Cooley, 2CGroup, Clipperton, White & Case, Founders Future, and Invest Hub.

A remarkable night honouring the key players shaping the future of French tech investment.