# Matthieu van der Elst

> Matthieu van der Elst is a Series B investor at Cathay Capital backing Chemical and Recycling. See 1 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: Angel Investor
- Fund: [Cathay Capital](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/cathaycapital)
- Total investments: 1
- Last investment: Apr 2020
- Lead investor: 100%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthieuvanderelst

Matthieu van der Elst is a Series B investor at Cathay Capital focused on Chemical and Recycling. Matthieu has founded the Venture Capital initiative for the Michelin Group, with a target to detect, understand and support startups developing sustainable innovative technologies and new business models in the materials and mobility arena. Startups have the DNA to solve the world's most pressing challenges: the ability to grow fast, breakingsilos, and getting impact at a global scale for the vaster majority of people. Therefore, Michelin Ventures is relying on two pillars: firstly a ‘fund of funds’ approach covering several sectors and geographies, working alongside some leading VC funds worldwide; secondly a direct investment vehicle 'Michelin Ventures' targeting the strategic axes chosen by the Group. [Prior to that, after 15 years as consultant in several companies (PWC, WPP …) always with an innovation & strategy focus, Matthieu joined Michelin to head several functions in France and in China.]

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chemical | 1 | 100% |
| Recycling | 1 | 100% |
| Waste Management | 1 | 100% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pyrowave | Pyrowave is a pioneer of the Plastic-to-Plastic microwave-based chemical recycling technology that allows post-consumer and post-industrial plastics to be regenerated and restored to their full value. Its patented high-power microwave catalytic depolymerization technology platform is the most advanced worldwide and is now at the forefront of thenew generation of plastics. By bringing plastics back to their molecular state identical to virgin materials, Pyrowave technology allows infinite recycling of plastics. |  | Series B | Apr 30, 2020 |  |

1 of 1 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [Ecofuel](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/ecofuel) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Rogue Insight Capital](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/rogue-insight-capital) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Sofinnova Partners](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/sofinnova-partners) — VC Fund, 1 deal together

## About Cathay Capital

VC Fund · Paris, France

Cathay Capital is a leading international private equity firm active in cross-border investment. It supports the international expansion of middle-market companies in North America, China and Europe. Its team of 60 professionals based in New York, Shanghai, Beijing, Paris, Munich, and Silicon Valley leverages Cathay's business model andplatform to create value for companies. With more than $1.5 billion in assets under management, Cathay Capital has completed buyouts and growth capital investments in 59 platform companies across three continents.

5 contacts available at Cathay Capital.

| Name | Title | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Matthieu van der Elst | Chief Impact Officer | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/matthieu-van-der-elst |
| Mingpo Cai | Founder & President | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/mingpo-cai |
| Stephan Torra | Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/stephan-torra |
| Stephen Oesterle | Venture Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/stephen-oesterle |
| Zhao Jing | Managing Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/zhao-jing |

## Similar investors

### Similar stage
- [Alumni Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/alumni-ventures-group) — VC Fund
- [General Catalyst](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/general-catalyst-partners) — VC Fund
- [FJ Labs](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/fj-labs) — VC Fund

## FAQ

### What does Matthieu van der Elst invest in?

Matthieu van der Elst invests primarily in Chemical, Recycling and Waste Management startups, most often at Series B stage. Most of the 1 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in Canada. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### When did Matthieu van der Elst last invest?

The most recent investment recorded for Matthieu van der Elst closed in Apr 2020. Shizune tracks 1 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

# About Shizune
Shizune.co is an investor database. Core features:
- 48,091 startup investors (angels, VCs, accelerators, and others)
- Email, phone, LinkedIn (for intros), socials, and other contact data
- Updated daily from public funding news
- CSV and Excel export

The User can access the full database FOR FREE after signing up: shizune.co