# Top 50 Energy VC (Venture Capital) Funds in France in June 2026 ## Bpifrance - Type: VC Fund - Location: Maisons-alfort, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 49 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Health Care Bpifrance provides financial solutions for companies that are booting up the listing on the stock exchange and credit equity. It includes OSEO, CDC Entreprises, FSI, and FSI Regions to offer in your area of financial solutions at every stage of the life of your business. ## Demeter Partners - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 25 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Manufacturing, Energy, Information Technology Demeter is a major player in venture capital and private equity for the ecological transition. We invest from €1m to €30m to support companies at all stages of their development: innovative startups, high growth SMEs and infrastructure projects. ## Aster - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 19 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, Energy, Manufacturing Aster is a Venture Capital firm with offices in 4 major innovation hubs: Paris, London, Tel Aviv and San Francisco. Since 2000, they have partnered with more than 60 teams of entrepreneurs that are transforming markets with disruptive offers and technologies. They are always open to exploring new ideas related to mobility, energy and industrysectors that they have been covering until now. They invest in all stages, with a preference for the early phase.They are more than investors and they intend to act as an ally for entrepreneurs by connecting them to a valuable ecosystem of experts, influencers and business leaders. From marketing to executive talent, their commitment to the growth of their portfolio companies as well as the entire venture ecosystem also involves the commitment of their dedicated Operations team, their innovation strategy consulting firm (Aster Fab) and a crowdfunding branch to further expand opportunities (Aster Crowd).Some of their success stories include Solairedirect (acquired by Engie in 2015), Digital Lumens (acquired by Osram in 2017) and Avantium (IPOed in 2017). ## Demeter - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 18 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Manufacturing, Software, AgTech Demeter is a major player in venture capital and private equity for the energy and ecological transition. They invest from 500 K€ to 30 M€ to support companies at all stages of their development: innovative startups, high growth SMEs and infrastructure projects. ## Starquest Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 13 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Manufacturing, Information Technology High Tech, Low Carbon: crafting tomorrow, today. We finance innovation to make tomorrow happen today. Starquest is a Montefiore Company. ## Paca Investissement - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 13 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Internet, Manufacturing Paca Investissement is specializes in investing in startups and developmental stages. The fund invests in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region. ## Banque des Territoires - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 12 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Health Care Banque des Territoires is a Investment Firm. ## Kima Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 10 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, SaaS, Artificial Intelligence Kima Ventures promotes the growth of startups, supporting them in the fastest and most effective ways. ## CEA Investissement - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 10 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Manufacturing, Biotechnology, Semiconductor CEA Investissement (SA), founded (as CEA Valorisation) in 1999, is a subsidiary of the CEA, a major player in technological research, development and innovation. The central mission of CEA Valorisation is to create economic value based on technological innovations. To fulfill this mission, they have developed two main activities: Investmentin seed capital in innovative start-ups / start-ups active in the technology areas of CEA. The Licensing of advising companies and public laboratories of innovation in creative strategy development and marketing rights to patent or know-how belonging to the CEA, other research organizations or innovative companies. In addition, CEA contributes to the financing of national investment in seed technology (activity "Fund of Funds"), this activity is developed through particular Emertec management and funds managed by this company (FCPR Emertec 2 Emertec Energy and Environment), the FCPR managed by ACE Security Management SA, an investment company in seed priming Minatec SAS. Their areas of technological expertise are mainly micro-and nanotechnology, health technologies, the New Technologies for Information and Communication (NTIC), advanced materials and technologies for energy. ## Région Sud Investissement - Type: VC Fund - Location: Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France - Relevant deals: 9 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Manufacturing Région Sud Investissement is an investment Firm. ## Supernova Invest - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 9 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Manufacturing, Health Care, Medical Device we believe that top scientists and ambitious entrepreneurs can build a world where cutting-edge technologies shape the next generation of industry leaders. ## Pays de la Loire Participations - Type: VC Fund - Location: Nantes, Pays de la Loire, France - Relevant deals: 8 - Stages: Seed, Private Equity - Focus: Manufacturing, Software, Information Technology Pays de la Loire Participations provides finance innovation, productivity and development, especially in a banking context that is increasingly constrained by standards and regulations.The Pays de la Loire region has created the "Pays de la Loire Participations" co-investment fund (PLP) intended for small and medium-sized companieswishing to strengthen their equity. By investing alongside private professional investors, it facilitates risk taking and helps anchor long-term skills on the territory and promotes job creation and wealth.With 14 million euros in capital (20 million in the long term), entirely contributed by the Region, the "Pays de la Loire Participations" fund co-invested an average of around 2.5 million euros annually. average of € 180 K per company. Its intervention as a co-investor is crucial because it allows the VSE / SME beneficiaries to obtain from private financiers and banks, 4 times the funds contributed by Pays de la Loire participations. ## GO CAPITAL - Type: VC Fund - Location: Rennes, Bretagne, France - Relevant deals: 8 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Biotechnology, Software, Health Care GO Capital is an independent management company and a major player in regional Seed and Venture Capital since 2003. With offices in Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Normandy, Centre-Val de Loire and the South of France, GO Capital contributes to the financing of responsible innovation in these regions. With a team of investors with complementarysectoral experience, we have a solid track-record in DeepTech. GO Capital has nearly 400 million euros under management, and mainly finances technology leaders in the digital and healthcare sectors and in the industry of the future. ## Sofimac Investment Managers - Type: VC Fund - Location: Clermont-ferrand, Auvergne, France - Relevant deals: 7 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Biotechnology, Health Care, Manufacturing Acteur incontournable du capital risque de proximité, SOFIMAC PARTNERS accompagne depuis maintenant plus de 30 ans les PME régionales dans le financement de leur développement à moyen / long terme. Répondant à la problématique de sous capitalisation des PME françaises, SOFIMAC PARTNERS intervient en fonds propres aux côtés des chefsd’entreprises quelle que soit leur problématique : Création, Développement, Transmission. Gérant 200 M€ d’actifs au travers de 16 fonds (FCPR, FCPI, SCR, FIP,…), notre groupe réalise ses investissements sur une grande variété de secteurs, couvrant aussi bien les activités traditionnelles que technologiques (chimie verte, éolien, chaudronnerie aéronautique, e-commerce, édition de logiciel, médecine nucléaire etc…) ## AFI Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 7 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A - Focus: GreenTech, Health Care, Environmental Consulting Alliance For Impact (AFI) is a category-defining structure for impact companies combining equity-free acceleration with first-ticket seed funding. ## Daphni - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 7 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Software, Information Technology, E-Commerce daphni is a venture capital based in Paris, firm investing in tech startups with a European DNA and a strong international ambition. ## Asterion Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 7 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A - Focus: Information Technology, SaaS, Software Asterion Ventures is dedicated to pre-seed and seed for impact and climate tech startups. ## BNP Paribas Développement - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 6 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Software, Health Care, Information Technology BNP Paribas Développement is the investment arm of BNP Paribas that specializes in SME development. It specializes in second stage, mezzanine, bridge, acquisition, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, recapitalization, special situations, and privatizations transactions.The firm considers investments in manufacturing, service industries,medicine, electronics, energy, chemistry, new materials, industrial automations, industrial goods and services, transportation, consumer goods, commerce and distribution, buildings and public works, wholesale retail, biotechnology, telecommunications, and information technology sectors.BNP Paribas Développement was established in 1988 and is based in Paris, France. ## Exergon - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 6 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series B - Focus: Energy, Nuclear, Renewable Energy We're Exergon, we are willing to accelerate the energy transition in order to shape the clean, secure and affordable energy system that we urgently need. ## Innovacom - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 6 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, Mobile, Telecommunications Innovacom provides new technologies, hardware, and software products. They focus on the creation of financial and strategic value through support, networking, and the search for the best industrial partners for our startups in a context of open innovation. ## UI Investissement - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 6 - Stages: Private Equity, Series A, Seed - Focus: Manufacturing, Software, Health Care Since 1967, the UI brand embodies a partnership with companies. Actor of the economy, UI has accompanied more than 120 SMEs over the last fifteen years, investing more than 550m € and giving substance to their development projects. Combining experience and corporate culture, UI has established itself as an involved and independent partner, able tocount on its shareholder leaders to favor, independently, the sustainable performance of the SMEs it accompanies. ## Crédit Agricole - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Seed, Debt Financing - Focus: Energy, Software, Health Care Credit Agricole is a banking corporation with focuses on corporate and investment banking, retail banking, and savings management. Crédit Agricole Group is a responsible, helpful bank serving 49 million customers, 7.4 million mutual shareholders, and 1.2 million shareholders. Crédit Agricole Group supports its customers in their plans and projectsin France and around the world, through its operations in all segments of the market including insurance, real estate, payment systems, asset management, leasing and factoring, consumer finance, and corporate and investment banking. Crédit Agricole also stands out for its dynamic, innovative corporate social responsibility policy serving the economy. This policy is based on a pragmatic approach that permeates throughout the entire Group and engages all its employees. Its recent inclusion in the Vigeo-NYSE Euronext extra-financial indices is recognition of this engagement. ## Elevation Capital Partners - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Information Technology, Software, Advertising The management company of the Inter Invest Group. ## Xerys - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, Recycling, Health Care Xery is a portfolio management Company specializing in Venture Capital - Biotech, Medtech, Cleantech, Technology ## Omnes Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, Biotechnology, Health Care Omnes VC is the Venture Capital arm of Omnes Capital, a leading private equity firm dedicated to energy transition and innovation with €4.8 billion in assets under management and a 20 year + experience in: venture capital, buyout & growth capital, private debt, renewable energy, co-investment, secondary funds of funds. Omnes Capital is fullyindependent.With 65 business sales including 14 IPOs carried out in 16 years, Omnes VC is one of the key players in France in financing innovative SMEs with expertise in both Technology and Healthcare sectors. Omnes VC has supported 120 companies and has invested more than €500M in businesses such as Scality, Novaled, BioVex, arGEN-X, Pixium, Blablacar. ## Eurazeo - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Series B, Seed - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Health Care Eurazeo is a private equity and venture capital firm that invests in SMEs and manages a diversified portfolio of assets.With its expertise in private equity, real estate, and private debt, the group supports companies of all sizes in their development commitment through the commitment of its 235 professionals. It provides companies with thenecessary investments needed to realize their growth potential.The firm was founded in 1969 and is based in Paris, Ile-de-France, France. ## Speedinvest - Type: VC Fund - Location: Vienna, Wien, Austria - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed - Focus: Software, FinTech, Financial Services Speedinvest is a globally active European venture capital firm built on a simple belief: many move more. From six offices across EMEA, our sector-focused investment teams back relentless founders from pre–Seed to Growth with long-term conviction, providing day-one access to our global network of corporate customers, experts, industry leaders, andtop-tier follow-on investors to scale smarter and faster. Building lasting companies like Bitpanda (Austria), Moove (Nigeria), Gigs (U.S.), Tide (UK), ARX Robotics (Germany), Wayflyer (Ireland), GoStudent (Austria), Seqera Labs (Spain), and Cylib (Germany) — together. Big ideas may start with one. But scaling and winning take The Power of More. ## Wind - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, Manufacturing, E-Commerce Wind Capital is a venture capital firm that offers support and funding to European innovators. ## Rhone-Alpes Creation - Type: VC Fund - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Environmental Engineering, Mobile, Medical Rhone-Alpes Creation is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments in software and biotechnology. ## BNP Paribas Private Equity - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Financial Services BNP Paribas Private Equity brings together the third party private equity teams of BNP Paribas Investment Partners. As of September 2008, this activity has EUR 817 million of assets under management, spread out over five different types of vehicles: funds of funds and investment management mandates, innovation funds (FCPI), local investment funds(FIP ISF), unlisted small cap funds and feeder funds.The asset management activities are supported by:- A strategy and development arm dedicated to the creation of new activities both in and outside France using BNPP IP's global network.- A comprehensive fund administration service. ## CapHorn Invest - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Series A, Series B, Seed - Focus: Software, SaaS, Artificial Intelligence CapHorn Invest is an independent Venture Capital Firm launched in 2010. The company invests in B2B digital companies. CapHorn Invest currently manages 180 million euros across two funds and has a portfolio of more than 20 companies. They invest in B2B startups that drive digital transformation. They mainly focus on Series A & B in roundsranging from 2 to 20M€. ## MAIF Impact - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Retail, Children, Recycling MAIF Investissement Social et Solidaire finances projects that are innovative, committed, and civic. The MAIF group demonstrates its ambition to support its driving role with companies in the social and solidarity economy. MAIF has supported the development of companies created to meet societal needs, and not simply to generate profits. ## EDFI ElectriFI - Type: VC Fund - Location: Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Debt Financing, Series A - Focus: Energy, Solar, Renewable Energy Impact investment in sustainable energy ## Better Angle - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Artificial Intelligence, Software, Information Technology We back the companies of tomorrow before it's obvious. Strategic venture capital firm committed to building lasting partnerships with exceptional founders. ## Newfund - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, SaaS Newfund is a $300M entrepreneurial VC firm dedicated to pre-seed and seed investments in France and North America, in companies driving global change. The company is always looking for founders who are driven to realize a vision that will significantly alter the world in which we live. In order to appreciate what entrepreneurs are creating andutilize their strengths, Newfund aims to comprehend entrepreneurs as unique individuals. ## BNP Paribas - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Debt Financing, Post-IPO Debt - Focus: Financial Services, Information Technology, Software BNP Paribas provides banking, financing, investment, savings, and protection solutions. The Group's three operational divisions are mobilized to support each type of clientele in their growth and development projects including corporate and institutional banking, commercial, personal banking, investment and protection services. The companyprovide financing and investment services to retail customers, associations, businesses, and corporations. ## Serena - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Series A, Seed, Series B - Focus: Software, Internet, Information Technology Serena is one of Europe's leading venture capital funds, with $750m under management. Founded in 2008, Serena invests at early stages, from seed to series B, and supports the success of innovative and ambitious entrepreneurs to service a better world. Born of the profound conviction that a venture capital fund should be at the service of itsportfolio companies, Serena has set up the largest operational support team in Europe and the most active startup community, the Serena Squad, with more than 550 active C-levels. Serena has a strong focus on AI, SaaS, Climate Tech, Digital Transformation, and Impact. Serena has invested in more than 100 startups with several international success stories such as Dataiku, Malt, The Fork, Electra, Descartes Underwriting, Accenta, Lifen, and AramisAuto. Combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, promoting sustainability, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of Serena's DNA. ## Karista - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, Biotechnology, Health Care Karista is an early-stage venture capital firm created in 2001 investing in Health, Digital, Tech, and NewSpace. ## Otium Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Health Care, E-Commerce In 2015, two independant investment teams were created in Paris inside Otium Capital, Pierre-Edouard Stérin's family office:* Otium Venture, focused on Seed investments in Tech companies (€40m invested in 14 companies among which Payfit, Doctrine, Owkin...)* Otium Brands, focused on Seed & Series A investments in Consumer GoodscompaniesIn 2019, the two teams spun off to become independant investment firms:* Otium Venture became frst* Otium Brands became Eutopia ## AQUITI Gestion - Type: VC Fund - Location: Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Biotechnology, Software, Manufacturing Floated in 1998, thanks to the local authority "Conseil Régional d’Aquitaine" and the "Caisse des dépôts", our venture, growth and LBO funds (Aquitaine Amorçage, ACI, Aqui-Invest) now benefit from the support of public and private influential shareholders and sponsors.Up to now, AQUITI GESTION has invested in more than 200operations contributing to the creation and development of about 150 companies and thousands of jobs.Currently, ACI and Aqui-Invest manage a portfolio gathering 50 companies which revenues scale from 0 € (early stage) to 30 M€. ## A Plus Finance - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, E-Commerce, Telecommunications A Plus Finance, which is headquartered in Paris (France), is an independent trust company specialising in the management of Common Investment Fundsfor Innovation (FCPI) and Proximity Investment Funds (FIP). A Plus Finance is involved in all innovative sectors, particularly in the IT, media and security fields.The A Plus Finance team includesfinanciers and entrepreneurs, thus providing companies with both an awareness of the daily constraints of management and a long-term perspective on the development of their business. Managing funds amounting to nearly €220m, A Plus Finance invests between €1 million and €4 million per project.per ## KREAXI - Type: VC Fund - Location: Limonest, Rhone-Alpes, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, SaaS, Health Care Kreaxi is a management company specializing for over 30 years in investing in the capital of innovative and technological startups with high potential. ## Alter Equity 3P - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Energy, Fashion, Renewable Energy Alter Equity 3P specializes in growth capital and buyout investments. ## Safran Corporate Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Aerospace, Software, Manufacturing Established in 2015, Safran Corporate Ventures is the Group's corporate venture capital arm. It funds startups that have developed breakthrough or disruptive technologies or business models which will help Safran to address the challenges of the aerospace, defense or security markets. Safran Corporate Ventures will help agile,innovation-driven companies by funding their growth. These companies will also benefit from: • Access to an international network of leading technology experts in Safran's business sectors.• The global commercial and industrial reach of Safran companies.• Commercial and development agreements to be implemented between such startups and Safran's own entities. ## Emertec - Type: VC Fund - Location: Grenoble, Rhone-Alpes, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Energy, Software, Electronics EMERTEC’s experienced investment team has developed proven track record and has been able to develop close ties with major industrial players, many of them also being investors in their funds.These close ties are extremely valuable as to understand medium and long-term requirements of major order placers and high-level commercial opportunities.This brings visibility and confidence for entrepreneurs as well as for its investors.Their objective is to create value by turning ground-breaking technological innovations into commercial and financial successful companies. ## Eiffel Investment Group - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Debt Financing, Seed - Focus: Software, Renewable Energy, Financial Services Eiffel Investment Group is a portfolio manager with €4 billion assets under management*. Eiffel’s investor base consists of large institutional investors (insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds, banks, large family offices, public investors) as well as individual investors via retail distribution channels. Backed by the Impala groupfounded by entrepreneur Jacques Veyrat, Eiffel Investment Group leverages its strong corporate expertise particularly in the field of energy transition, but also in the health, agri-food, and information & communication technology sectors.Eiffel finances companies and their assets through four main strategies: private debt, private equity, energy transition infrastructure, and listed equities and credit. Eiffel Investment Group’s mission is to invest for a sustainable world. Its investment strategies aim to generate not only a strong financial performance but also positive and measurable social and environmental impacts. The Eiffel Investment Group has brought together a team of around 80 talented professionals based mainly in France (Paris) but also in The Netherlands (Amsterdam) and in the USA (New York).* early 2022, including uncalled commitments. ## Lowercarbon Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: New York, New York, United States - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: Renewable Energy, Energy, Biotechnology Lowercarbon Capital backs kickass companies slashing CO2 emissions, sucking carbon out of the sky, and buying us time to unf**k the planet. ## Celeste Management - Type: VC Fund - Location: Genève, Geneve, Switzerland - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Series A, Series B, Series C - Focus: Medical, Hardware, Health Care Celeste Management is a Swiss family office. ## Polytechnique Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Biotechnology, Robotics, Information Technology Polytechnique Ventures support entrepreneurs from the School's ecosystem. ## Siparex Groupe - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Private Equity, Seed - Focus: Manufacturing, Software, Electronics Siparex, France,s first multi-sectoral private equity investment company, is founded in Lyon.It was a start-up at a time when the spirit of enterprise was flagging. It emerged in one of France's regions, listed the shares of the original company one of its main vehicles on the stock market, grew internationally, and has become one of theindependent groups in its line of business in the space of 30 years.