Aglaé Ventures

What they fund

Stage: From seed to pre-IPO, supporting founders through every stage of company building [1], Sector: Technology companies with global ambition, spanning consumer, fintech, enterprise, and AI [1], Geography: Primarily Paris, New York, and San Francisco, with a focus on Europe and the United States, plus Israel and Canada [1], Company Type: Category-defining companies with the potential to redefine entire industries [1]

Investment thesis

Aglaé Ventures invests behind bold entrepreneurs with global ambition, acting as a long-term partner for teams building category-defining companies. The firm leverages a combination of entrepreneurial experience and global networks to support founders from the first product launch through to global expansion and pre-IPO. The strategy is driven by long-term conviction, backing founders across stages, geographies, and market cycles to scale companies that redefine entire industries. Credibility: The firm's homepage outlines this philosophy, citing over 100 companies backed since 2014, including Airbnb, Revolut, Slack, Spotify, Stripe, and Wiz [1].

Value add

Aglaé Ventures provides entrepreneurial experience, global networks, and long-term conviction to help founders navigate every stage of company building. The firm acts as a long-term partner, supporting teams from the first product launch to global expansion. Fit verdict: Ideal for ambitious founders seeking a partner with deep operational experience and a global network to scale category-defining companies. Founder diligence script: 1. How does Aglaé's global network specifically accelerate our expansion into [Target Market]? 2. What is the typical decision-making process and timeline for follow-on investments? 3. How has Aglaé supported other founders in navigating market cycles or regulatory challenges? 4. What is the expected level of board involvement and strategic guidance?

Portfolio focus

Consumer & Marketplaces: Airbnb, Back Market, Revolut [1], Fintech: eToro, Revolut [1], Enterprise & AI: Slack, Stripe, Wiz, AMI Labs, X.ai [1], Media & Entertainment: Spotify [1]

Notable investments & exits

Airbnb: Backed by Aglaé Ventures, Airbnb went public in 2020 [1], Spotify: Backed by Aglaé Ventures, Spotify went public in 2018 [1], Stripe: Backed by Aglaé Ventures, Stripe remains a private unicorn [1], Slack: Backed by Aglaé Ventures, Slack was acquired by Salesforce in 2021 [1], Revolut: Backed by Aglaé Ventures, Revolut remains a private unicorn [1]

Strategic implications

Aglaé Ventures' strength lies in its ability to back category-defining companies from seed to pre-IPO, leveraging a global network and entrepreneurial experience. The firm's focus on technology and global ambition positions it well to capitalize on the next wave of tech unicorns. A key risk is the firm's reliance on a few high-profile exits to drive returns, as seen in its portfolio of Airbnb, Spotify, and Slack.

Where they could go further

Aglaé Ventures could expand its focus to include more emerging sectors like climate tech or health tech to diversify its portfolio. The firm could enhance its value proposition by offering more structured support for founders in specific regions, such as Israel or Canada. Aglaé Ventures could improve its transparency by disclosing more details about its fund vintages and check sizes to attract more LPs.