Dealflow France #18: Fairmat raises €50m. Revaia closes a €250m growth fund. Mistral signs a €100m partnership wit…
- Chloé Merlet of Dealflow France <dealflowfrance@substack.com>
- Hidden Recipient <hidden@emailshot.io>
Dealflow France #18: Fairmat raises €50m. Revaia closes a €250m growth fund. Mistral signs a €100m partnership with CMA CGMWelcome to the 18th edition of the Dealflow France newsletter: we aim to be the best way to follow the French startup and VC ecosystem.
Welcome to Dealflow France! Startup funding news 💸Rounds of $15M+:
Rounds €5M to €10M:
Rounds €1M to €5M:
M&A transactions 🎊French digital health company Imagine Human has expanded internationally with the acquisition of Saphir Consult, a move that extends its reach to 40 countries. Specializing in mental health and well-being software for healthcare institutions and corporations, Imagine Human aims to scale its impact globally by integrating Saphir’s expertise in organizational consulting and international deployment. French polling giant Ipsos has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire rival BVA, aiming to strengthen its position in France and expand further into the UK and Italian markets. The deal marks a strategic rebound after Ipsos dropped its bid for Kantar Media in late 2024, and would bring under its umbrella BVA’s extensive market research expertise and brands such as Doxa, BDRC, and PRS IN VIVO. Investor & accelerator news 🚀Revaia, Europe's largest all-women-led venture capital firm, has finalized its second fund at €250 million to invest in European and Israeli startups at Series B and beyond, emphasizing B2B companies committed to sustainability. Despite a challenging fundraising environment, Revaia attracted new institutional limited partners, including JP Morgan and the European Investment Fund, with about 30% of its investors now international. Maddyness interviewed Julie Huguet, director of Mission French Tech, regarding the 2025 selection criteria for the Next 40/French Tech 120 program. Huguet emphasized a heightened focus on companies' innovation capacity, particularly in artificial intelligence, and their commitment to environmental and social responsibility. The application deadline is April 28, 2025. Startup news 💡French shipping giant CMA CGM and AI startup Mistral have entered a €100 million, five-year partnership to develop AI models aimed at enhancing customer service in shipping and logistics, as well as improving fact-checking processes in CMA CGM's media outlets, including BFM TV. This collaboration is expected to reduce response times for customer inquiries and demonstrates a commitment to integrating AI within organizations to boost Europe's competitive edge. French biotech startup Smart Immune, backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has entered judicial reorganization after running out of funds despite raising €30 million to develop its ProTCell therapy, aimed at rapidly rebuilding immune systems in leukemia and potentially HIV patients. With seven takeover offers already on the table, the company’s innovative but capital-intensive approach—requiring an estimated €250 million to reach market—highlights the deep funding gap facing biotechs in France during the critical transition from lab to viable treatment. Welcome to the Jungle has launched a new AI-driven talent sourcing tool to enhance personalization and efficiency in recruitment. Designed to support employer branding and provide actionable insights, the solution aims to tackle key challenges in attracting and engaging top candidates. Big company & policy news 💡A coalition of over 100 French media outlets, including TF1, Radio France, and Le Parisien, is preparing to sue Meta in Paris, accusing the tech giant of violating GDPR rules to unfairly dominate the ad market and causing hundreds of millions of euros in damages. The lawsuit adds to Meta’s mounting legal woes in Europe, where it faces potential fines of up to €6 billion and scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act for its data practices on Facebook and Instagram. The French Competition Authority has fined Apple €150 million for abusing its dominant position in mobile app advertising through its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature. Introduced in 2021, ATT requires apps to obtain user permission before tracking their activity, a move criticized for disproportionately affecting smaller publishers reliant on third-party data. The regulator stated that while ATT's goal of enhancing privacy isn't objectionable, its implementation was neither necessary nor proportionate, leading to an unfair advantage for Apple. Apple expressed disappointment with the decision but noted that no specific changes to ATT were mandated. Interesting reads 💡With the collapse of Sweden’s Northvolt, Sifted reports that all eyes are now turning to Verkor - France’s rising gigafactory hope - to see if it can succeed where its Scandinavian peer failed. Backed by Renault and bolstered by €2.6bn in financing, Verkor is betting on a focused, measured strategy: one factory, one core customer, and a clear roadmap - a stark contrast to Northvolt’s rapid-fire expansion and diversification. Positioned within France’s “Battery Valley” and supported by the French state, Verkor may be Europe’s best shot at building a homegrown battery champion - if it can navigate the shifting tech landscape and rising global competition. Maddyness interviewed Cyril Chiche, CEO of Lydia, who shared that the fintech is nearing profitability and open to all strategic paths over the next five years - including a potential IPO. Now operating under Lydia Solutions with its private banking app Sumeria, the company aims to become the go-to financial platform for young Europeans. |