Health Angels Rhône-Alpes

What Health Angels Rhône-Alpes does

Health Angels Rhône-Alpes (HARA) is a Lyon-based non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2012 that operates as a regional Business Angel network exclusively dedicated to the health and life sciences sector. The organization functions as an intermediary that connects early-stage startups in biotechnology, MedTech, animal health, and e-Health with individual business angel members who make their own investment decisions. It does not operate a technology platform; instead, it leverages human expertise, member networks, and a structured screening process (30-day initial response, plenary session presentation, due diligence, and 60-day investment decision) to source, evaluate, and co-invest in deals alongside its members.

HARA's business model is that of an investor network rather than a product company. It generates no product or service revenue; the association itself is funded through membership contributions, and returns to members come from capital appreciation on minority equity stakes held in portfolio companies, typically exited via trade sales or secondary buyouts within a 5-10 year horizon. Since inception, HARA has supported 14 startups and facilitated approximately €4.9 million in cumulative investment across portfolio companies including Allogenica, Anaquant, Axolis, Etisense, Gaoma, Kairos Discovery, Lyophitech, and Neomedlight. Marketing and deal-sourcing rely on regional ecosystem partnerships (Lyonbiopole, Pulsalys, Angelor, Angel Santé, CIC, PBA), word-of-mouth referrals, and two to three plenary sessions per year where entrepreneurs pitch members and partner investors simultaneously.

Name

Health Angels Rhône-Alpes

Legal name

Health Angels Rhône-Alpes

Website

https://health-angels-ra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Health Angels Rhône-Alpes (HARA) is a Lyon-based non-profit Business Angel network founded in 2012 that finances early-stage startups in health and life sciences across the Rhône-Alpes region, having supported 14 companies with €4.9 million cumulatively invested.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Capital Gains from Portfolio Companies: HARA generates returns through capital appreciation when portfolio companies are acquired by industrial buyers or acquired by funds. Business Angels hold minority stakes in investee companies and exit through trade sales or secondary buyouts within a 5-10 year timeframe.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Health Angels Rhône-Alpes (HARA) is a non-profit association (loi 1901) operating a regional business angel network that provides seed and early-stage equity financing, sector expertise, advisory, and networking contacts to innovative startups in health and life sciences, including biotechnology, MedTech, animal health, and e-Health services. Individual business angel members make investment decisions through a structured process involving screening, plenary session presentations, due diligence, and shareholder agreements.

Product overview

Health Angels Rhône-Alpes (HARA) is a nonprofit association (loi 1901) that operates as a business angel network focused exclusively on financing innovative startups in the Health and Life Sciences sector. The organization does not offer a technology product or platform; rather, it provides angel investment services including capital deployment, expertise, advisory support, and networking contacts to early-stage companies. HARA's investment portfolio spans multiple health technology verticals including Biotechnology, MedTech (medical devices, innovative drugs, diagnostics, consumables, instruments), animal health, and e-Health services. The association has supported 14 startups since its founding in 2012, with a total of 4.9 million euros raised across its portfolio companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 startups supported and 4.9M euros invested since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LyonbiopolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLyonbiopole is a biomedical innovation cluster in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. As a strategic partner, Lyonbiopole likely refers qualified health and life sciences startups to HARA and provides ecosystem connections within the regional biomedical community.
• PulsalyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPulsalys is a technology transfer and innovation acceleration organization in Lyon. The partnership likely involves sourcing early-stage technology ventures from research institutions for potential investment by HARA members.
• AngelorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAngelor appears as a partner organization. The nature of the partnership is likely related to the broader Business Angel ecosystem, potentially for member referrals, joint events, or networking within the regional investor community.
• Angel SantéminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAngel Santé appears as a health-focused partner organization. Given the name similarity and health sector focus, Angel Santé likely collaborates on deal sourcing, investor networking, or co-investment in health sector startups.
• PBA (Probably Pole Bio Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPBA appears as a partner logo. This may refer to a regional business or innovation association that collaborates with HARA on ecosystem development and deal flow within the health and life sciences sectors.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Angelor: Lyon-based Business Angel network covering broader sectors but using the same association-based model, geographic overlap and partner status with HARA. Comparable in structure if not in sector specialization.
• Investessor: West-France based Business Angel association following the same loi 1901 association model with plenary session deal flow. Comparable as another French regional BA peer.
• Nord France Angels: Regional French Business Angel network with similar structure, screening process and member-driven investment model. Comparable as a geographically anchored alternative for cross-regional deal sharing.
• Paris Business Angels: One of France's largest Business Angel associations, operating the same loi 1901 model with structured deal screening and plenary sessions, but at a national scale and across multiple sectors. Useful comparison for what HARA could look like at scale.
• Capitole Angels: Toulouse-based French Business Angel association using the same screening, presentation and co-investment model as HARA. Comparable as a French regional BA network with sector breadth rather than specialization.
• Angel Santé: French national Business Angel network dedicated to health and life sciences, closely mirroring HARA's sector focus and BA-network model. Already a partner of HARA, making it the most directly comparable peer.

Others

• Lyonbiopole: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes biomedical innovation cluster and HARA strategic partner. Comparable as a key ecosystem enabler that influences HARA's deal sourcing rather than as a direct investing peer.
• Pulsalys: Lyon-based technology transfer and seed acceleration organization, partner of HARA. Comparable as the upstream feeder of academic spinouts that may become HARA portfolio companies.

Emerging players

• WiSEED: French investment platform enabling equity crowdfunding and angel participation in startups, including health ventures. Comparable as an emerging alternative funding channel competing for the same entrepreneur audience.

Broad incumbents

• Business Angels des Grandes Écoles (BAdGE): Largest French Business Angel network in terms of membership, with national reach across multiple sectors and a more institutionalized investment process. Comparable as a larger-scale BA alternative.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Health Angels Rhône-Alpes