Emblem
Emblem is a Paris-based, AMF-authorized venture capital firm founded in 2023 by Bénédicte de Raphélis Soissan and Guillaume Durao, managing $100 million to back European founders at the pre-seed and seed stages across France, Denmark, and Sweden.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Emblem does
Emblem is a Paris-headquartered, AMF-authorized venture capital firm (société par actions simplifiée, authorization GP-202228) that invests at the pre-seed and seed stages in European founders, with stated geographic focus on France, Denmark, and Sweden. The firm was founded in 2023 by Bénédicte de Raphélis Soissan and Guillaume Durao, both General Partners, and has raised $100 million in committed capital to back Europe's earliest-stage founders. Its stated thesis is to provide hands-on, decision-maker-led support with the goal of graduating every portfolio company to Series A, with flexible deal structures across equity stake, board seat, lead/follow role, and check size.
Emblem does not sell software or technology products. Its offering to founders consists of capital, mentorship, and network access — leveraging the partners' prior operating, investing, and investment banking experience. Portfolio companies span AI applications (Lovable, Opper, Phacet, Konvu, Pivot, Gladia, Altrove, Atech), vertical SaaS and operations (Pillar for construction, Volta for B2B commerce, Synq for data reliability, The Mobile First Company), and a historical book of European successes including Sorare, Happn, Lumapps, Peakon, and Secret Escapes. Distribution is direct via founder networks and referrals, with social channels (X and LinkedIn) used for top-of-funnel awareness.
The firm earns revenue through the standard VC model: management fees on committed capital to fund operations, and carried interest on successful portfolio exits. Fund terms are negotiated individually with portfolio companies and are not publicly disclosed. As a lean platform (1–10 employees, €285,000 share capital) executing a high-conviction, Europe-wide pre-seed strategy, Emblem's economic outcome is tied to portfolio graduation and realization vintage.
Emblem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Emblem
- Legal name
- Emblem
- Website
- https://emblem.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Emblem is a Paris-based, AMF-authorized venture capital firm founded in 2023 by Bénédicte de Raphélis Soissan and Guillaume Durao, managing $100 million to back European founders at the pre-seed and seed stages across France, Denmark, and Sweden.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Emblem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)
Keywords
Where Emblem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Emblem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Management Fees: VC firms typically charge management fees on committed capital to cover operations.
- Carried Interest / Investment Returns: Returns from successful portfolio company exits drive fund performance and carried interest distributions to the GP.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Emblem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Emblem is a venture capital firm that partners with European founders at the pre-seed and seed stages, providing investment capital (from a $100M fund), mentorship, and network access. The firm focuses exclusively on pre-seed company building and is committed to helping portfolio companies graduate to Series A funding rounds. Its portfolio spans AI/ML, B2B commerce, construction technology, data reliability, and application security.
Product overview
Emblem is a venture capital firm that partners with European founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. The firm has raised $100 million to back Europe's earliest-stage founders, focusing exclusively on pre-seed company building. Emblem provides portfolio companies with startup experience, network access, and support as entrepreneurs, VCs, business angels, and investment bankers. The firm does not offer software products or technology services; rather, it provides investment capital, mentorship, and operational support to early-stage startups. Emblem's portfolio spans various sectors including AI/ML, B2B commerce, construction technology, data reliability, and cybersecurity, with portfolio companies including Altrove, Konvu, Lovable, Opper, Phacet, Pillar, Pivot, Synq, and Volta.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Emblem
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Emblem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Emblem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Emblem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seedcamp: London-based early-stage venture fund investing across Europe at pre-seed and seed. Closely comparable in stage, geography, and check size, making it the most direct competitor for European pre-seed deal flow.
- Speedinvest: Vienna-based early-stage VC investing across Europe at pre-seed and seed, with sector-focused funds. Comparable in stage and pan-European scope, with similar AI/B2B thematic emphasis.
- LocalGlobe: London-based seed-stage investor with a similar thesis on European founder support and high-conviction early bets. Directly comparable in stage and LP structure.
- Alven: Paris-based early-stage venture firm investing in French and European founders at seed. Direct peer given co-investment activity in Emblem portfolio (e.g., Altrove) and overlapping French ecosystem focus.
- Kima Ventures: Paris-based pre-seed micro-VC backed by Xavier Niel, investing very early across Europe. Comparable in stage, French ecosystem focus, and high-volume pre-seed approach.
- Notion Capital: London-based VC investing in European B2B/enterprise software at seed and Series A. Co-led Emblem portfolio company Pivot's Series B, evidencing a directly comparable early-stage thesis.
- Earlybird Venture Capital: Berlin-based early-stage VC with seed and growth strategies across Europe. Comparable given co-investment with Emblem (Pillar seed) and overlapping pre-seed-to-Series A graduation focus.
Broad incumbents
- Atomico: London-based late-seed and growth-stage European venture firm founded by Skype's Niklas Zennström. Overlaps with Emblem at the upper end of seed but is materially larger and more established.
- Index Ventures: Global venture firm with significant European seed and early-stage activity. A larger, more established competitor that often leads or anchors the Series A rounds Emblem aims to graduate its portfolio into.
Regional players
- Bpifrance Digital Venture: French state-backed VC arm that co-invested in Emblem's portfolio (Altrove). Comparable in French seed-stage activity but structurally distinct as a government-backed investor rather than an independent GP.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Emblem social profiles
Digital presenceEmblem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Emblem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Emblem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Emblem M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments18 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Emblem
What does Emblem do?
Emblem is a venture capital firm that partners with European founders at the pre-seed and seed stages, providing investment capital (from a $100M fund), mentorship, and network access. The firm focuses exclusively on pre-seed company building and is committed to helping portfolio companies graduate to Series A funding rounds. Its portfolio spans AI/ML, B2B commerce, construction technology, data reliability, and application security.
Is Emblem a public or private company?
Emblem is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Emblem founded?
Emblem was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Emblem based?
Emblem is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Emblem make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest / Investment Returns.
Who are Emblem's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seedcamp, Speedinvest, LocalGlobe, Alven, Kima Ventures, Notion Capital and Earlybird Venture Capital. Broad incumbents are Atomico and Index Ventures. Bpifrance Digital Venture is listed as a regional player.
Does Emblem have an API?
No public API is recorded for Emblem.
What industry is Emblem in?
Emblem's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAA, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed), with a secondary code of FSANAAAI, Micro-VC & Angel Funds. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.