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Startup funding news 💸

Rounds €10M to €50M:

• 4elements raises €27.4M to advance climate-focused venture building. The round was led by the European Investment Fund, with support from French Tech Accélération 2, Greenpact, and family offices. Funds will support launching 10 startups addressing ecological challenges.

• HEXANA raises €25M to develop its RNR Sodium reactor for industrial decarbonization. Investors include Blast Club, Eren Industries, and Bpifrance.

• Kraaft raises €13M to digitalize construction. The round was led by Dawn Capital with funds supporting product development and expansion in the UK and Germany.

• Aisprid raises €10M to expand its robotic solutions for greenhouse farming. The Series A round was led by Innovacom, with support from Bpifrance, Demeter, GO Capital, and others. Funds will boost production capacity, R&D, and international expansion.

Rounds €5M to €10M:

• Karmen raises €9M to expand its financing solutions for SMEs. The round was led by Seventure Partners, Financière Arbevel, and Bpifrance. Funds will support product development, including a modernized factoring solution, and international expansion.

Rounds €1M to €5M:

• Cosima raises €2M to develop shared housing solutions for elderly individuals with 24/7 support. The round was led by Blast Club, founded by Anthony Bourbon.

• Enogrid raises €1.4M to expand self-consumption solutions in France. The round was led by LITA.co with support from Schneider Electric and ENGIE.

Other rounds of funding:

• Kuantom raises funding to scale its connected cocktail machines for professionals. The round included investments from SEB Alliance and SOCADIF.

M&A transactions 🎊

Clementine, an online accounting startup based near Nancy, has been acquired by TeamSystem, a European leader in accounting and billing solutions. Bootstrapped since 2013, Clementine grew to 10,000 clients without external funding.

Altares Dun & Bradstreet acquires Companyweb to strengthen its position in the Benelux market and expand services to Belgian SMEs. Companyweb will retain its brand and management, benefiting from Altares' expertise in data science and AI. Financial terms remain undisclosed.

Investor & accelerator news 🚀

Shift4Good closes a €220M fund to support sustainable transport decarbonization. Backed by Renault Group, EIF, Bpifrance, and family offices, it will fund Series A and B rounds (€3M-€20M) in startups across rail, road, air, and maritime sectors.

BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund closes at €172M, exceeding its target. Backed by BNP Paribas, Solar Impulse Foundation, and others, it will invest in 15 startups tackling ecological transition in energy, agriculture, circular economy, and more.

The EIF commits €75M to the Vesper Next Generation Infrastructure Fund I to support sustainable infrastructure across Europe, focusing on clean energy, mobility, and circular living.

Lauxera Capital Partners invests €50M in Acandis, a German neurovascular medical device company focused on stroke prevention and treatment. This marks the first investment of Lauxera Growth II, supporting Acandis’ global expansion and U.S. market entry.

Cambon Partners launches Cambon Pulse, a program to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in tech. Developed by the Cambon Foundation, the initiative offers coaching, networking, and financial backing to founders from modest backgrounds, aiming to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Jean de La Rochebrochard, a key figure in French Tech, joins Cassius, a U.S.-based VC fund founded by Emmanuel Seugé, while continuing his role at Kima Ventures. Cassius focuses on early-stage investments in the U.S. and Europe, managing a $50M fund.

Raise Sherpas launches Raise Sherpas Associations, providing financial aid (€30k-€40k/year) and mentorship to six associations annually, focusing on environmental and social impact.

Startup news 💡

Younited lists on Euronext Paris, following its earlier listing in Amsterdam, and announces a €152.6M capital injection. Founded in 2012, the fintech operates in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, specializing in instant consumer credit with over €6B in loans financed.

Lucca partners with Swan to launch a professional payment card, streamlining expense management and enhancing real-time financial control for businesses.

Angell Bike, the French electric bike company founded in 2019 by Marc Simoncini, has announced its closure due to financial and hardware issues. The company, which faced repeated product recalls and customer complaints, is filing for bankruptcy with €13M in debts. Customers express concerns over unusable bikes and lack of spare parts, with some considering legal action.

Royaltiz gains SEC approval via Manse USA LLC to launch its first U.S. ROY contracts tied to tennis player Nick Kyrgios. Founded in 2021, the French startup enables investments in talent and reported €7.8M in 2023 revenue.

Big company & policy news 💡

France sets a record with 1.1M new businesses in 2024, up 5.7% from 2023, despite economic uncertainty, according to INSEE. Growth was driven by micro-entrepreneurs, representing two-thirds of new ventures, particularly in transport, hospitality, and industry. Business failures also rose by 16.8%, reflecting a post-COVID adjustment.

Interesting reads 💡

Jean de La Rochebrochard shared "It’s Always Day 1: Joining Forces With CASSIUS". He reflects on his 10-year venture capital journey and announces his partnership with Emmanuel Seugé to lead CASSIUS. Together, they aim to back global-minded European founders through Cassius 3 and beyond.