Elaia
Elaia is a Paris-based venture capital firm founded in 2003 that invests across pre-seed to pre-IPO in European deep tech and B2B technology startups, managing €1B+ AUM across DeepTech Seed and Digital Ventures funds plus the Lazard Elaia Capital joint venture.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Elaia does
Elaia Partners is a Paris-headquartered venture capital firm founded in 2003 (AMF registration GP-03003) that operates as a full-stack European technology investor, deploying capital from pre-seed through pre-IPO with check sizes ranging from €1M to €15M. The firm runs a multi-fund platform organized around two complementary theses: DeepTech Seed (DTS) funds targeting pre-seed and seed-stage B2B startups in computing, life sciences, and industrial innovation, and Digital Ventures (DV) funds covering pre-seed through Series B for European B2B technology companies with strong intellectual property. The current vintages are DeepTech Seed 3 (€134M, closed March 2026) and Digital Venture Fund 5 (€120M first close, February 2026). In 2026 the firm also launched Lazard Elaia Capital, a joint venture with global investment bank Lazard that operates between traditional VC and private equity for established European software businesses, pushing total assets under management past €1B.
The firm monetizes through standard VC economics — annual management fees on committed/invested AUM plus carried interest on realized exits — drawing limited partners from French and European institutional investors including Bpifrance, MACSF, BNP Paribas, SMABTP, Arundo Re, and AG2R LA MONDIALE. Go-to-market is direct, relationship-driven enterprise sales into both entrepreneur-side deal flow (sourced through research partnerships with PSL, INRIA, CNRS, Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, and Max Planck Foundation) and LP-side fundraising through established European institutional channels. Operations span offices in Paris, Barcelona, and Tel Aviv, with portfolio companies across France, Germany, Spain, the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Israel, the US, and Canada. Over 20 years the firm has executed 100+ investments and 80+ exits, with notable portfolio companies including Mirakl, Shift Technology, Alice & Bob, Aqemia, SeqOne, Dexory, and Ornikar.
The partnership is led by co-founder and Managing Partner Xavier Lazarus alongside Managing Partners Anne-Sophie Carrese and Pauline Roux, with additional Partners Marc Rougier, Christophe Primault, and Sébastien Lefebvre, plus Investment Director Céline Passedouet and a team of venture partners and investment managers covering biotech, deep tech, and digital verticals.
Elaia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Elaia
- Legal name
- Elaia Partners
- Website
- https://elaia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Elaia is a Paris-based venture capital firm founded in 2003 that invests across pre-seed to pre-IPO in European deep tech and B2B technology startups, managing €1B+ AUM across DeepTech Seed and Digital Ventures funds plus the Lazard Elaia Capital joint venture.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Elaia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Impact / ESG Venture Capital (FSANAAAG), ESG Integration / Responsible Investment Funds (Broad ESG) (FSANAJAL)
Keywords
Where Elaia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Elaia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fund Management: Earns management fees from managed funds and carried interest from successful portfolio exits. Manages multiple fund generations including DeepTech Seed (DTS) and Digital Ventures (DV) series.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Elaia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Elaia is a Paris-based venture capital firm that deploys institutional capital into European technology and deep tech startups from pre-seed through Series B. The firm manages multiple fund vehicles including the DeepTech Seed series (focused on computing, life sciences, and industrial innovation) and the Digital Venture series (multi-stage B2B technology investments), plus the Lazard Elaia Capital joint venture targeting established European software businesses. Revenue is earned through management fees on assets under management and carried interest from portfolio exits.
Product overview
Elaia is a Paris-based venture capital firm offering a full stack of investment products spanning multiple fund generations and partnership structures. Its core products include DeepTech Seed 3 (DTS3), a €134 million deep tech seed fund investing in pre-seed to seed-stage B2B startups across Europe focusing on computing, life sciences, and industrial innovation; Digital Venture Fund 5 (DV5), a €120 million multi-stage fund covering pre-seed to Series B for European B2B technology companies; and Lazard Elaia Capital, a joint venture with Lazard operating between venture capital and private equity for established software businesses. The firm also manages the Alpha II Fund (digital seed, €77M final close) and operates in partnership with European research institutions including PSL, INRIA, CNRS, and Barcelona Supercomputing Centre. With over €1 billion in assets under management, Elaia partners with entrepreneurs from inception to leadership across France, Germany, Spain, UK, Switzerland, and other European markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DeepTech Seed 3 (DTS3)
- Digital Venture Fund 5 (DV5)
- Lazard Elaia Capital
- Elaia Alpha II Fund
Quantifiable outcome
- 80+ successful exits
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Elaia
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Elaia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Elaia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres)coreAcademic partnership with PSL University for the DeepTech Seed 3 fund, enabling access to cutting-edge research and spin-off opportunities in deep tech sectors.
- INRIAcorePartnership with French national research institute for DTS3 fund, focusing on deep tech startup creation from research institutions.
- CNRScorePartnership with French National Centre for Scientific Research for technology transfer and startup formation.
- Barcelona Supercomputing CentrecoreInternational research partnership for access to HPC and computing startups through DTS3 fund.
- Max Planck FoundationcorePartnership for accessing German deep tech research and startup ecosystem through DTS3.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Elaia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Atomico: London-based European tech VC founded by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström, investing from Series A onwards across European technology. Directly comparable as a pan-European tech investor with similar stage focus and LP base.
- Index Ventures: London/San Francisco/Geneva-based VC investing across European and US tech from seed to growth. Closely comparable in stage breadth and European deep tech/B2B focus, with similar institutional LP relationships.
- Earlybird Venture Capital: Berlin-based European VC investing in technology across seed, growth, and health-tech funds. Comparable as a multi-fund European tech investor with deep tech and digital exposure similar to Elaia's DTS and DV series.
- Speedinvest: Vienna-based European early-stage VC with sector-focused funds in fintech, deep tech, health, and industrial tech. Directly comparable multi-fund structure and stage range to Elaia's pre-seed to Series B coverage.
- Balderton Capital: London-based European tech VC focused on early to growth-stage software investments. Comparable as a pan-European Series A/B investor with similar B2B technology thesis.
- Notion Capital: London-based European VC focused on B2B/enterprise SaaS companies from seed to Series B. Highly comparable thesis and stage to Elaia's Digital Ventures fund.
Broad incumbents
- Accel: Global VC with strong London presence, investing from seed through growth across European and US tech. Broader incumbent with larger fund sizes but comparable early-stage European activity and similar LP base.
- AXA Venture Partners: Paris-based VC arm of AXA investing across European growth and late-stage tech. Comparable French/European footprint and LP-style institutional backing, with deeper pockets for growth-stage deals.
Regional players
- Octopus Ventures: UK-based VC investing across multiple European geographies in B2B tech and deep tech from seed to growth. Comparable fund structure and stage range, though primarily UK-focused.
Others
- Bpifrance: France's public investment bank and major LP in Elaia's funds. Relevant as a deep tech investor itself and as the principal institutional backer across the European VC ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Elaia social profiles
Digital presenceElaia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Elaia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Elaia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Elaia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments229 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Elaia
What does Elaia do?
Elaia is a Paris-based venture capital firm that deploys institutional capital into European technology and deep tech startups from pre-seed through Series B. The firm manages multiple fund vehicles including the DeepTech Seed series (focused on computing, life sciences, and industrial innovation) and the Digital Venture series (multi-stage B2B technology investments), plus the Lazard Elaia Capital joint venture targeting established European software businesses. Revenue is earned through management fees on assets under management and carried interest from portfolio exits.
Is Elaia a public or private company?
Elaia is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Elaia founded?
Elaia was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Elaia based?
Elaia is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Elaia make money?
One revenue line is on record: fund Management.
Who are Elaia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Atomico, Index Ventures, Earlybird Venture Capital, Speedinvest, Balderton Capital and Notion Capital. Broad incumbents are Accel and AXA Venture Partners. Octopus Ventures is listed as a regional player. Bpifrance is listed as an others.
Does Elaia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Elaia.
What industry is Elaia in?
Elaia's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B), with a secondary code of FSANAAAG, Impact / ESG Venture Capital. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.