In the dynamic and evolving landscape of venture capital (VC), female representation has been steadily gaining ground, with women assuming pivotal roles as decision-makers and investors. France, known for its vibrant startup ecosystem and entrepreneurial spirit, reflects this shift with a notable group of female venture capitalists (VCs) making significant contributions to the industry. This article aims to highlight and celebrate these talented women who are shaping the future of VC in France.

As we explore the list of female VC partners in France, it becomes apparent that their expertise spans diverse sectors such as technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and beyond. Each partner brings a unique perspective, background, skill set, and investment focus to the table, enriching the investment landscape and fostering innovation across various domains.

Let’s explore the profiles of these trailblazing women making waves in French venture capital.

Alice Albizzati - Founding Partner at Revaia

Alice Albizzati is the founding partner of Revaia, a venture capital firm she established in 2018. Before founding Revaia, she worked as a consumer growth investor at Verlinvest from 2015 to 2017 and as a private equity investor at LBO France from 2012 to 2014. Alice holds an engineering degree from l'École Polytechnique and an MSc in Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology from Bocconi University.

Amanda Gett-Chaperot - Partner at Kurma Partners

Amanda Gett-Chaperot is a partner at Kurma Partners, having joined the firm in 2023. Before her tenure at Kurma, Amanda spent seven years at Seventure Partners and seven years at Roche, accumulating extensive experience in venture capital and healthcare. She holds a Bachelor's and PhD from the University of Sydney, underscoring her deep academic foundation.

Anne Osdoit - Partner at Sofinnova Partners

Anne is a seasoned biomedical engineer, serving as a partner at Sofinnova and leading its MedTech accelerator, MD Start, since 2015. She is also the founding CEO of Moon Surgical and sits on the boards of SafeHeal and May Health, where she initially served as founding CEO. Anne's impressive academic background includes degrees from Ecole Polytechnique of Paris, France, and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Anne-Sophie Carrese - Managing Partner at Elaia Partners

Anne-Sophie joined Elaia Partners in 2017 to lead deep tech seed investments, launching the PSL Innovation Fund and the Elaia Alpha 2 Fund with INRIA. Before Elaia, she was an investment director at Bpifrance where she launched the Mezzanine Fund and structured the Ecotechnologies Venture Fund.

Anne-Sophie Saint-Martin - Partner at Newfund

Anne-Sophie, an engineer by training, started her career as a scientist at Cyclene Pharmaceutical before moving to Solvay's polyamide team as an innovation analyst. She later joined Bpifrance, where she provided financing to startups in the Paris region. Anne-Sophie studied at CPE Lyon and EM Lyon, combining technical and business expertise.

Armelle de Tinguy - Partner at Elaia Partners

Before joining Elaia in 2015, Armelle gained extensive experience in investment banking, focusing on large-cap and mid-cap operations. Notably, in 2013, she joined Bryan Garnier & Co's mid-cap team, specializing in digital & software, and executed numerous M&A and fundraising transactions.

Armelle holds a MiM from ESSEC Business School and a Master's degree from Sciences-Po Lille.

Audrey Soussan - General Partner at Ventech Capital

Audrey Soussan is a General Partner at Ventech Capital, having joined the firm in 2011 directly after getting her MBA from Essec. She invests tickets ranging from €100K to €6 million in Seed & Series A startups all over Europe with a focus on retail, e-commerce, and HRTech.

Camille Kriebitzsch - Partner & Co-founder at Eutopia

Camille is a Partner & Co-Founder at Eutopia, specializing in entrepreneurship and brand building. She graduated from ESCP-Europe business school and began her career as an analyst at Otium Capital in 2015, where she co-launched an investment thesis focusing on emerging brands in wellness and food. Camille has executed numerous deals and successful exits, including MÊME Cosmetics and HARI&CO.

Camille Lacourt Munier - Partner at Red River West

Camille is a Partner at Red River West in Paris, with over 15 years of investment experience in consumer-focused private equity. She started at Société Générale in project finance before joining L Catterton, where she excelled in mid-cap consumer deals. Camille also has experience in eco-sustainable agrotechnology from her time in California in 2017. She holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School and is a Board Director at Hôpital Léon Bérard, a non-profit private health center in France.

Catherine Boule - Managing Partner at Karista

Catherine began her career in molecular biology at Institut Curie before joining Karista in 2003 as Managing Partner of Healthcare. She leads firm operations and investor relations, focusing on Healthcare and Digital Health investments. Catherine represents Karista on boards of companies like Acticor Biotech and Eyevensys. She holds an MSc in Molecular Biology from University Pierre and Marie Curie and graduated in Innovation Management from AgroParis Tech.

Cécile Bassot - Co-founder at WinEquity

Cécile Bassot has a wealth of experience in marketing and sales across various companies, including SIAL Network, COMEXPOSIUM, SOPEXA, and KEA Partners. She holds a master's degree from GRoup IEA (Institut européen des affairs).

Cécile Dupont Redon - Partner at Sofinnova Partners

Cécile is a Partner at Sofinnova MD Start Strategy, joining in 2019. She currently serves as CEO of BrightHeart and contributes her operational expertise to Endoron, both Sofinnova portfolio companies. Cécile has extensive experience in clinical, regulatory, and market access roles within the medical device industry, having led successful projects in Europe and the US. She holds a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from UTC (France) and a degree in corporate finance from HEC Paris.

Claire Houry - General Partner at Ventech Capital

Claire Houry is a General Partner at Ventech Capital, having joined the firm in 2018. Previously, she served as Director of Infrastructure Fund at AXA Private Equity from 2005 to 2008 and as a Director at Credit Agricole Private Equity from 2000 to 2005. Claire holds an engineering degree from ISEP in Electronics and is an alumna of ESSEC Business School.

Clara Audry - General Partner at Jolt Capital

Clara Audry has been a General Partner at Jolt Capital since June 2022. Previously, she was a Partner at CapHorn, specializing in B2B tech investments. Clara also served as Vice-President at Onefinestay, leading its French market launch and European expansion before its acquisition by AccorHotels. She holds an MSc in Finance from Audencia Business School and is an alumna of the University of Ottawa. Clara is also a Vice-President of France Digitale and sits on the board of Interel.

Clara Cornu - Partner at 360 Capital

Clara Cornu, with a MiM from HEC Paris and an MSc dual degree from HEC and Polytechnique in Entrepreneurship, joined 360 Capital as an investor in 2021 and made partner in January 2024. She has made investments in startups like Via Sana and Callyope.

Coralie Chaufour - Partner, General Manager, & Founder at Entrepreneur First

Coralie is the General Manager of Entrepreneur First in France, joining EF from McKinsey where she was an Engagement Manager. Prior to McKinsey, she founded her own company and worked as corporate counsel at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Coralie holds degrees from Sciences Po Paris, Wharton, and Harvard Law School, and is a member of the New York Bar.

Elina Berrebi - Founding Partner at Revaia

Elina Berrebi co-founded Revaia in 2018 with Alice Albizatti. Before that, she worked at Eurazeo specializing in late-stage venture and growth equity, where she invested in notable startups including doctolib, Vestiaire Collective, and Content Square. Elina graduated from Polytechnique in 2009 with an engineering degree and from Columbia University in 2010 with an MS in Operations Research.

Élisabeth Moreno - Chairwoman at Ring Capital

Elisabeth Moreno, Chairwoman of Ring Capital, is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in business and technology. She previously served as a Minister in the French government and held executive roles at HP and Lenovo. She holds degrees from ESSEC Business School and the University of Mannheim, emphasizing her expertise in entrepreneurship and sustainability initiatives.

Fanny Picard - Founder and CEO at Alter Equity

Fanny Picard has held key roles at Wendel and Danone, specializing in financial operations and mergers & acquisitions. She currently serves on the Supervisory Board of Tikehau Capital and the Board of Directors of GL Events, where she chairs the CSR Committee. Fanny is actively involved in social and environmental causes, serving as Vice President of the Mozaïk RH Foundation and the Siel Bleu Foundation. She is a graduate of ESSEC Business School and the French Society of Financial Analysts (SFAF) with expertise in law and sustainable development.

Fleur Pellerin - Founding Partner at Korelya Capital

Fleur began her career as a high civil servant with the French Court of Auditors. In 2012, she served as Minister of SMEs, Innovation, and the Digital Economy, launching the French Tech initiative. She later held roles as Secretary for Foreign Trade and Minister for Culture and Communication from 2014 to 2016. Fleur is currently the CEO of Korelya Groupe and founded Korelya Capital in 2016. She holds degrees from ESSEC, Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, and Ecole Nationale d’Administration.

Florence Richardson - Co-founder at WinEquity

Florence Richardson graduated from Centrale de Lille in 1986 and later earned an MS in Management of International Projects from ESCP. She began her career at Credit Lyonnais, where she held various positions, culminating in Director of Strategy until 2011. Subsequently, she worked as a consultant and served as President of one of the largest women business angel networks before founding WinEquity in 2021.

Henrijette Richter - Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners

Henrijette Richter is a Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners, specializing in early-stage biotech and medtech investments since 2014. She co-founded Novo Seeds previously and led investments in companies like Mozart Therapeutics and NodThera. Henrijette holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Copenhagen and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT.

Isabelle de Cremoux - CEO and Managing Partner at Seventure Partners

Isabelle is the CEO and Managing Partner at Seventure Partners, focusing on Life Sciences investments including Health/Nutrition/Microbiome and Blue Economy. With extensive international business development experience, she founded Seventure's Life Sciences division in 2001 and has a strong track record in global biotech and healthcare investments, particularly in the microbiome field. Isabelle holds an Engineering degree from l’Ecole Centrale Paris and plays key roles in the French Innovation Committee and the Private Equity Investment branch of the French AFG professional association.

Isabelle Drault Gallo - Managing Partner at SISTA Fund

Isabelle joined SISTAFUND at the end of 2023 as a Managing Partner, splitting her time between Barcelona and Paris. With seven years of Venture Capital experience, she specializes in Fintech and Insurtech. Previously, Isabelle served as Partner and Head of the Venture Fund at Breega, overseeing a portfolio of over €500 million and contributing to successful exits like Ubble, IBanFirst, and Gymlib. Before her VC role, she worked as a consultant at Bain & Company and founded two B2B AI and retail startups, Pepeats and Elsewher. Isabelle is an ESSEC Alumna.

Jamie Wong - Partner at Antler

Jamie Wong is a seasoned entrepreneur known for founding Vayable, a transformative global marketplace for travel experiences. After selling Vayable, Jamie transitioned to venture capital, serving as a Co-founding and Managing Partner at Narrative Fund in San Francisco and later as a Venture Partner at Entrepreneur First Paris. Jamie now serves as a General Partner at Antler, supporting innovative startups and entrepreneurs.

Julie Roze - Partner at Korelya Capital

Julie joined Korelya Capital in 2023, bringing over 20 years of experience in private equity and investment banking, specializing in consumer and technology investments. Before Korelya, Julie was a Partner at Aglaé, the venture arm of the LVMH Family Office, and spent 7 years at Manzanita Capital, focusing on consumer investments. She began her career at Goldman Sachs in 2003 after graduating from Sciences Po Paris.

Laia Crespo - Partner at Sanofi

Laia joined Sanofi Ventures in 2018 with deep experience in early-stage biotech investing. Previously, she was an Investment Director at Ysios Capital and worked in pharmaceutical business development at Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson). Laia holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona and an M.B.A. from Cambridge Judge Business School, with a focus on biotechnology, healthcare, and finance.

Laurence Mehaignerie - Co-founder and Partner at Citizen Capital

Laurence is a co-founder of Citizen Capital and oversees impact policy, client development, public affairs, and communication. She plays a key role in guiding strategic growth and sits on the Investment Committee for all Citizen's funds. Laurence is a prominent figure in France's impact investing sector, having co-founded the Communauté des entreprises à mission in 2018. With extensive experience in impact and CSR spanning over 20 years, she has been instrumental in promoting diversity initiatives in France.

Léa Verdillon - Partner at Aglaé Ventures

Léa Verdillon graduated from HEC Paris in 2015 with a Master's in Management (MiM) and began her career at SERENA as an investor, where she spent four years gaining experience. She then joined Aglaé Ventures as a Partner in 2020, a VC firm backed by “Groupe Arnaut”.

Litzie Maarek - Co-founder & Managing Partner at Educapital

Litzie Maarek has 14 years of private equity experience, initially in Leverage Finance at CACIB before co-founding Educapital with a focus on transformative education technologies. She holds a degree in Engineering and Finance from Ecole Centrale Paris and is a member of the Conseil National du Numérique.

Maina Bhaman - Partner at Sofinnova Partners

Maina is a Partner at Sofinnova Partners specializing in healthcare investments. Before joining in 2018, she led healthcare investments at Touchstone Innovations in London. Her background includes R&D roles at UK and US biotech firms. Maina holds a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Imperial Business School.

Manal Salah - Partner at Eutopia

Manal is a Partner at Eutopia with a background in finance and entrepreneurship. She began her career at Rothschild & Co. in M&A advisory before spending nine years at L Catterton, focusing on consumer goods investments in Europe and Iberia. Manal later founded Les Candides, a natural cosmetic brand emphasizing transparency and sustainability. She holds an MiM from ESCP Europe and a master's degree in business law from University Paris X.

Marianne Simeoni - Partner at Alter Equity

Marianne Simeoni is a Partner and Head of Investments at Alter Equity, having joined in 2017. Prior to this role, she served as Deputy CFO at Primaphot from 2013 to 2017 and as CFO at Assisteo from 2007 to 2013. Marianne graduated from HEC Paris in 2002.

Marie Brayer - Partner at Fly Ventures

Marie Brayer is a Software Engineer turned Venture Capitalist. She began her career at Chausson Finance, where she spent three years before joining Serena as a Partner. Marie is currently a Partner at Fly Ventures, investing in technical founders across Europe. She graduated from IMT Atlantique with a degree in IT engineering and holds an MSc in entrepreneurship from HEC Paris.

Marie Ekeland - Founder & President at 2050

Marie's journey within French Tech began at age 30 at Elaia Partners, where she discovered Criteo and supported it until 2016, three years after its IPO. She co-founded France Digitale to advocate for a nascent sector and became the first woman in Europe to establish a €150 million fund. In 2015, she launched Daphni with a distinct value proposition that set it apart in the market. Marie is now the founder and President of 2050, where she is focused on aligning capital for a fertile future.

Marie-Christine LEVET - Founder & Partner at Educapital

Marie-Christine Levet, a French internet pioneer, founded and led major companies like Lycos, Club-Internet, and Groupe Tests. She later co-founded Jaina Capital to support young CEOs and founded EDUCAPITAL, Europe's first Edtech fund in 2017. Marie-Christine is an HEC graduate with an INSEAD MBA, investing in companies like Manzalab, Student Pop, Digischool, and Livementor.

Marion Chanéac - Partner at Alter Equity

Marion Chanéac, with a master's in Business Economics from PSL and a master's in Financial Engineering from Emlyon, began her career at PwC in Strategy and Valuation. She then co-founded Smart Flows in 2011 and later became a partner at CapHorn Investment before joining Alter Equity in 2022. Marion is also a coach for good, supporting young social entrepreneurs in developing their projects.

Mary McCarthy - Partner at Sofinnova Partners

Mary joined Sofinnova Partners in 2023 as a Partner in the Industrial Biotech Strategy team. Previously, she managed the BVP Renewable Chemistry Fund at Brightlands Venture Partners and held roles at SABIC for 15 years. Mary's focus is on identifying early-stage companies developing biotech-enabled sustainable solutions. She holds a PhD in chemistry from University College Dublin and completed postdoctoral fellowships in the Netherlands and Germany.

Maya Ghayad - Partner at id4 Ventures

Maya Ghayad graduated from Saint Joseph University of Beirut in 2015. She started at ID4 as an analyst in 2017 and rapidly progressed through the ranks to become a partner in 2023.

Olivia Mark - Partner at Daphni

Olivia is a partner at Daphni. Before her career in investing, Olivia gained experience in both B2B and B2C startups in the US and France. She worked at Quidsi, where she managed a book and toy site, and at Gilt Groupe. During her tenure at Blue Apron (IPO), Olivia launched and scaled a wine club while also producing and tasting wines from vineyards worldwide. Olivia holds a BA in Economics from Georgetown University.

Pauline Roux - Managing Partner at Elaia Partners

Pauline joined Elaia from investment banking, specializing in tech corporate finance at Bryan, Garnier & Co. She began as an Equity Research Analyst covering European midcap tech stocks at Crédit Agricole Cheuvreux and Genesta Finance. In addition to her role at Elaia, Pauline is actively involved in the venture capital community, serving on the Venture Council of Invest Europe, and co-presiding over the Venture & Growth commission at France Invest. Pauline holds an MSc in Management from EM Lyon Business School and has expertise in AI, SaaS, Ad/MarTech, HR Tech, and AgTech.

Pia d'Iribarne - Co-founder and Managing Partner at New Wave

Pia d'Iribarne, previously a partner at Stride.VC and Vice President at Accel co-founded New Wave with French entrepreneur and investor Xavier Niel in 2020. She began her career as a management consultant at McKinsey after graduating from HEC Paris before transitioning into the venture capital world.

Rafaèle Tordjman - Founder and CEO at JEITO

Rafaèle Tordjman, MD PhD, is the Founder & CEO of Jeito Capital, a biopharma investment firm that raised €534 million ($630 million) in 2021. With 20 years of life sciences investment experience, she began at Sofinnova Partners as an analyst in 2001, then became co-leader and Managing Partner with €1.5 billion in assets under management until 2017. Before joining Sofinnova Partners, she worked as a physician and researcher in haemato-oncology.

Rania Belkahia - Partner at EQT Ventures

Rania joined EQT Ventures from Afrimarket, her e-commerce startup in West Africa that she scaled to 250+ employees and €20 million in funding. With degrees from Telecom ParisTech and HEC Paris, she's passionate about entrepreneurship and backs French founders at EQT Ventures. As a Deal Partner, she drives investments in France, leveraging her B2C e-commerce expertise.

Samantha Jerusalmy - Partner at Elaia Partners

Samantha started her career at Eurogroup as a consultant in the Bank and Finance division before joining Clipperton Finance, specializing in high-tech growth companies. She then joined Elaia Partners in 2008 as an analyst in 2008 and became Partner in 2014. She serves on the boards of France Digitale and StartHer, promoting digital entrepreneurship and women's initiatives. Samantha holds degrees from EDHEC Business School, Schulich Business School of Toronto (Bachelor), and Loyola University of Chicago (MBA).

Sarah Jallot - Partner at Teampact Ventures

Sarah Jallot is an accomplished professional with a diverse educational background. She holds a Master of Science (MS) in Data Science for Business from École Polytechnique, graduating as valedictorian. Sarah also earned a Master in Management from HEC Paris, where she was recognized on the Dean's List. She currently serves as a Partner & Investor at Teampact.ventures in Paris, specializing in investing in mission-driven startups and leveraging sports expertise to build exceptional teams.

Sarra Zayani - Partner at Hedosophia

Sarra Zayani, Partner at Hedosophia since 2023, previously served as a partner at Global Founders Capital and an investor at Greycroft. She has diverse international experience spanning the UK, UAE, US, and France. Sarra holds a Master's degree in strategic management from HEC Paris and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sofia Hmich - Founder at Future Positive Capital

After graduating from HEC Paris in 2011, Sofia began her career at Deezer, initially as a financial project manager and later as a global strategy manager. Sofia then transitioned to Index Ventures as an early-stage investor before launching Future Positive Capital in 2017. She is also a founding partner of CDL Paris, a seed-stage program for science-based companies.

Sophia Martin - Partner at Raise Ventures

Sophia joined RAISE after more than 8 years in Venture Capital, including roles at 360 Capital Partners, CM-CIC Capital Privé, and Ardian, where she was involved in over fifteen key transactions. She also held an operational role at Amazon, managing a supplier portfolio of over €130 million. Sophia contributed to launching RAISE's Impact Investing activity in 2019 and then joined RAISE Ventures as an Investment Director, overseeing deal origination, execution, and portfolio management. She holds degrees from Toulouse Business School and the University of Plymouth.

Sophie Duval - Partner and General Counsel at Founders Future

In 2021, Sophie Duval joined Founders Future as Head of Legal Affairs after working as a lawyer at Coblence Avocats, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and private equity. She spent two years as Head of Legal before becoming Partner and General Counsel in 2023. Sophie is a graduate of Toulouse Capitole University.

Sophie Paturle Guesnerot - Founding and Managing Partner at Demeter

Sophie Paturle Guesnerot is a co-founder of Demeter Investment Managers, where she brings extensive experience gained from roles at BTP Capital, Crédit du Nord, and Société Générale before co-founding Demeter in 2005. Before her venture into the investing world, Sophie worked as an auditor at PwC. She holds a Master’s degree in economics from Sciences Po Paris, along with a DECF qualification.

Stephanie Hospital - Founder and CEO at OneRagtime

Stéphanie Hospital, Founder and CEO of OneRagtime, previously led Orange's Digital Business Unit, a top European telecommunications provider. She spearheaded notable mergers and acquisitions, including DailyMotion, and forged partnerships with tech giants like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft. Stéphanie also serves on the board of France Digitale, a prominent European Venture Capital & Startups association. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Marketing from Grenoble Ecole de Management.

Celia Hart - General Partner at Supernova Invest

Celia Hart is an experienced investor in life sciences with over 15 years of deeptech experience, complemented by a strong operational background in the biotech industry at Cambridge Antibody Technology/Medimmune). She holds a BSc and MSc in Chemistry from the University of Geneva and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Oxford University. She joined Supernova Invest in 2017 and became a General Partner in 2020.

Tatiana Jama - Founding and Managing Partner at SISTA Fund

Tatiana is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the technology industry. She co-founded Dealissime, Selectionnist, and Levia.ai. Since 2011, Tatiana has invested as a Business Angel in over 30 companies, including Resilience.care and Armis. In 2018, she co-founded SISTA to empower diverse leaders in the digital economy. Four years later, she co-founded SISTAFUND to further support this mission. Tatiana is actively involved in the FrenchTech ecosystem, serving on various councils and boards. She holds degrees from HEC Paris, New York University, and the Paris Bar.

Wendy Wattebled - Partner at Convivialité Ventures

Wendy brings extensive startup experience as an entrepreneur, operator, and investor. She started her VC journey at Breega Capital, a 150M€ early-stage fund, before leading C.Entrepreneurs at BNP Paribas Cardif. There, she fostered fintech and insurtech innovation, supporting companies like Curve, Kueski, and Another Brain through strategic partnerships. She holds an MiM from ESCP Europe.

The presence and impact of female VC partners in France exemplify a significant shift towards greater diversity and inclusion within the venture capital ecosystem. These women are not just participants but key decision-makers driving investments, fostering innovation, and paving the way for future generations of entrepreneurs and investors. By highlighting their achievements and contributions, we celebrate their success and acknowledge the transformative role they play in shaping the future of entrepreneurship and investment in France. As the landscape continues to evolve, the continued growth of female representation in VC promises a more inclusive and dynamic startup ecosystem for all.