HAND PARTNERS

What HAND PARTNERS does

HAND PARTNERS is a French private investment fund headquartered in Lyon, founded in 2021 by Stanislas Canova and structured as a partnership of engaged investor-partners. It operates as a hands-on partner-investor ("partenaire-investisseur hands-on") for SME entrepreneurs, providing capital combined with proactive operational accompaniment across Strategy, Business Development and Finance. The fund targets three primary segments: startups (seed to Series A, €200K–€3M revenue), Micro-Small Cap businesses (€1M–€5M revenue, capital développement or transmission), and PME-PMI / Petit Small Cap (€5M–€20M revenue, LBO/transmission), with base ticket sizes of €100K–€1M scalable up to 5x via co-investors. Geographically it operates across France with concentration in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Grenoble, Annecy, Chambéry, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon), Paris region and Grand-Est (Nancy, Strasbourg, Metz, Reims, Mulhouse). The current portfolio comprises six disclosed companies: Revcoo (Cleantech / CO2 capture using proprietary CarbonCloud cryogenic technology), Show You (PropTech SaaS), APREX Solutions (industrial computer vision / AI), Tabsters (collaborative project management SaaS), Dare Done (consulting network), and Rutile (e-bike reconditioning).

The fund's core "product" is its Hands-on Accompaniment Methodology — a structured on-demand competency framework with co-defined milestones covering 360° market analysis and strategic positioning, CRM implementation and sales methodology, business plan elaboration and financial modeling, and working capital optimization. Hand Partners does not develop proprietary technology; its IP is the operational playbook and the team's functional expertise. Capital is supplied by approximately 50 private investors (tickets up to €500K each) and by co-investment partners including Kreaxi, Demeter, Ventech / AFI Ventures, Crédit Agricole Création, Bpifrance, and HOLNEST.

Revenue is generated through capital gains on equity exits and dividend distributions from portfolio companies, supplemented implicitly by management fees on committed capital. The fund's ecosystem extends beyond investors to competitiveness clusters (AXELERA, Minalogic, Dynergie), industry associations (France Digitale, Collectif Startups Industrielles, Lyon Place Financière) and professional service partners (EY, BM&A, Plasseraud IP, Akilys, Chammas & Marcheteau, Orial, Fifty Bees, Viajuris), which provide deal flow and value-added support to portfolio companies. Since launch in mid-2022, six investments have been disclosed and the fund targets twelve investments by end of 2026.

Name

HAND PARTNERS

Legal name

HAND PARTNERS

Website

https://handpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hand Partners is a Lyon-based private investment fund founded in 2021 that provides equity capital (€100K–€1M tickets) and hands-on operational accompaniment in Strategy, Business Development and Finance to French startups, small businesses and PME-PMI across Industry and Digital sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity & Venture Capital Investment

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)

Keywords

• Private equity investment
• Venture capital funding
• Growth capital investment
• Operational advisory services
• SME investment partnership

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Capital Investment Returns: HAND PARTNERS generates returns through equity investments in portfolio companies. They invest in startups (seed/scale-up, Serie A), small businesses (Micro-Small Cap, capital développement), and SMEs (Petit Small Cap, LBO/transmission). Revenue comes from capital gains on exits and dividend distributions from portfolio companies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HAND PARTNERS is a French private investment fund that provides equity capital and hands-on operational accompaniment to SME entrepreneurs across the Industry and Digital sectors. They deploy tickets ranging from €100K–€500K for startups (seed/Series A), €300K–€800K for small businesses (development capital), and €500K–€1M for SMEs (LBO/transmission), supplemented by proactive functional expertise in Strategy, Business Development, and Finance.

Product overview

HAND PARTNERS is a French investment fund (fonds d'investissement) that provides capital and hands-on operational partnership to entrepreneurs of SMEs. Their core offering is not a software product but rather an investment vehicle combined with proactive advisory services in Strategy, Business Development, and Finance. They invest across three main segments: Startups (Seed/Series A, €200K–€3M revenue, €100K–€500K tickets), Micro-Small Cap (capital development/transmission, €1M–€5M revenue, €300K–€800K tickets), and Small Cap PME-PMI (capital development/LBO, €5M–€20M revenue, €500K–€1M tickets). Their portfolio companies include: REVCOO (Cleantech, CO2 capture using cryogenic technology), SHOW YOU (SaaS for new-build property customization and buyer modification management), APREX Solutions (Industrial Computer Vision and AI for quality control), Tabsters (Collaborative project management SaaS), DARE DONE (Strategy consulting network), and RUTILE (Sustainable mobility, e-bike reconditioning). HAND PARTNERS does not offer a standalone software product — its 'products' are investment services and portfolio companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Startup Seed and Series A Investment Equity investment tickets of €100K to €500K (scalable up to 5x with co-investors) for mature startups in seed, scale-up, or Series A stages with €200K to €3M revenue. Targets entrepreneurs in Industry and Digital sectors.
• Development Capital for Small Businesses Equity investment tickets of €300K to €800K targeting small businesses (Micro-Small Cap) with €1M to €5M revenue and EBITDA ≥10%, for capital développement or transmission/reprise contexts.
• SMEs LBO and Transmission Capital Equity investment tickets of €500K to €1M for PME-PMI companies (Petit Small Cap) with €5M to €20M revenue, supporting capital développement or LBO/transmission scenarios.
• Hands-on Operational Accompaniment On-demand functional expertise provided to portfolio companies across three pillars: Strategy (co-strategic reflections, 360° market analysis, strategic positioning), Business Development (CRM implementation, sales methodology, negotiation support, growth hacking), and Finance (performance co-piloting, business plan development, financial modeling, working capital optimization).

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Show YoucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2023Hand Partners invested in Show You, a SaaS company providing digital solutions for managing buyer modifications (TMA) and decorative choices for property developers. Founded in 2016 in Lyon, Show You enables buyers to visualize photorealistic scenes of their future homes and select finishes.
• RevcoocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2022Hand Partners invested in Revcoo, a Cleantech company developing disruptive solutions for climate change through CO2 capture and valorization using their proprietary CarbonCloud® cryogenic technology. Revcoo raised €3.5 million in a round co-led with Demeter, Kreaxi, Ventech, and Crédit Agricole Création, with support from Bpifrance, Crédit Agricole, and Banque Populaire AURA.
• AXELERAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitiveness cluster for Chemistry and Environment in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Partner providing ecosystem connections, networking opportunities, and deal flow for industrial and Cleantech investments. Hand Partners actively participates in their events and network.
• MinalogiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitiveness cluster for digital technologies and embedded systems in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Partner providing access to digital/SaaS startups and innovation ecosystem connections for Hand Partners' digital sector investments.
• France DigitalemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench association representing digital startups and investors. Partner providing ecosystem networking and deal flow for Hand Partners' digital sector investments.
• Collectif Startups Industrielles (CSI France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational collective supporting industrial startups in France. Partner providing deal flow and ecosystem connections for Hand Partners' industry sector investments.
• DynergiemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network supporting business development and innovation in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Partner providing ecosystem connections for Hand Partners' investments.
• Lyon Place FinancièremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLyon financial ecosystem network bringing together finance professionals and investors. Partner supporting Hand Partners' access to regional financial expertise and deal flow.
• Plasseraud IPminorOthersIntellectual property consulting firm providing IP expertise support to Hand Partners' portfolio companies. Partner in the extended ecosystem.
• EYminorOthersProfessional services firm (audit, advisory) supporting Hand Partners' portfolio companies. Partner in the extended ecosystem.
• OrialminorOthersBusiness support organization in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Partner in the extended ecosystem providing support services.
• Fifty BeesminorOthersBusiness support organization. Partner in the extended ecosystem providing services to Hand Partners' portfolio companies.
• ViajurisminorOthersLegal services network. Partner in the extended ecosystem providing legal support services.
• Akilys AvocatsminorOthersLaw firm providing legal expertise to Hand Partners' portfolio companies. Partner in the extended ecosystem.
• Chammas & MarcheteauminorOthersLaw firm providing legal services to Hand Partners' portfolio companies. Partner in the extended ecosystem.
• BM&AminorOthersAudit and advisory firm. Partner in the extended ecosystem providing financial and advisory services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kreaxi: Regional venture capital firm focused on early-stage tech and innovative companies in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Direct co-investment partner of Hand Partners in deals like Revcoo and Show You, sharing similar ticket sizes and SME/startup focus.
• Demeter: French VC specializing in Cleantech and energy transition investments. Co-investor with Hand Partners in Revcoo, with comparable focus on cleantech SMEs and scale-up capital deployment in France.
• Ventech (AFI Ventures): Early-stage European VC with strong French presence. Co-invested with Hand Partners in Revcoo, operating in similar seed/Series A ticket sizes with French and European digital/industrial startups.
• Crédit Agricole Création: French regional venture capital arm of Crédit Agricole supporting business creation and development. Co-investor in Hand Partners' deals and operates similar capital développement thesis for SMEs in France.
• Capelia: French SME-focused investment fund providing capital développement and transmission support. Mentioned as part of Hand Partners' ecosystem, operating in a similar PME size tier and stage.
• HOLNEST: French impact investment platform supporting innovative startups. Co-invested with Hand Partners in Show You, with comparable ticket sizes and SME focus.
• AFI Factory: French early-stage investor focused on technology and industrial startups. Co-investor in Revcoo with Hand Partners, sharing similar seed-stage approach to French SMEs.

Broad incumbents

• Bpifrance: French public investment bank providing financing, guarantees, and equity across all stages of SME development. A co-investor in Hand Partners' portfolio, with much broader scale and stage coverage.

Regional players

• Newfund: French early-stage VC investing in startups across multiple sectors. Comparable model of small-ticket seed investments in French SMEs, though with a broader sector mandate.

Others

• GROUPE SECA (historical): French SME investment and management group led historically by Strategic Board member Michel-Pierre Deloche. Represents the lineage of French entrepreneurial capital that preceded Hand Partners' hands-on model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/handpartners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments5 records

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

Frequently asked questions about HAND PARTNERS