daphni secures €260M Blue fund for deeptech venture push
French venture capital firm daphni, an early backer of quantum computing scaleup Pasqal, has closed its new €260 million Blue fund, aiming to turn cutting-edge laboratory research into high-growth startups across Europe. The fund targets founders working on breakthrough technologies in areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, climate tech and advanced materials science.
From research labs to market-ready companies
The Blue fund is designed to bridge the persistent gap between academic research and commercial deployment. By focusing on spinouts from universities, research institutes and deeptech labs, daphni plans to provide both early capital and hands-on support to help scientists become entrepreneurs.
In line with its track record with Pasqal, a leading European quantum computing company, the firm will prioritise startups with defensible intellectual property and clear industrial applications, from energy and mobility to healthcare and financial services.
Strategic focus on European deeptech
Backing complex technologies with patient capital
The Blue fund will typically invest from seed to early growth stages, recognising that deeptech ventures often require longer development cycles than traditional software startups. The strategy includes follow-on investments to support companies through prototyping, industrialisation and early commercial rollout.
daphni also intends to leverage a network of corporate partners, industrial groups and public research bodies to help portfolio companies validate use cases, secure pilot customers and access specialised infrastructure.
Strengthening Europe’s innovation ecosystem
By closing a fund of this size focused on deeptech, daphni reinforces the growing role of European venture capital in strategic technologies. The Blue fund aligns with broader efforts across the continent to maintain technological sovereignty in fields like quantum technologies, AI algorithms and climate innovation.
With the new capital, the firm is expected to expand its portfolio of highly technical founders and strengthen Europe’s position in the global competition for breakthrough innovation, following the path set by success stories such as Pasqal.