Stéphane Paillard
Covering European fundraising, first-time fund managers, and the founders behind the rounds. Previously built event and community products across the French tech ecosystem; now runs Sesamers and hosts the Sesame Summit.
Latest from Stéphane
522 articlesWeek 45 funding recap: €202.0M raised, two thirds in Wessling and Munich
Europe's startups announced 16 equity rounds worth €202.0M between 31 October and 6 November, 80% less money than the previous seven days.
Week 44 funding recap: €164.8M raised, led by London
European startups announced 13 equity rounds between 24 Oct and 30 Oct 2026, raising €164.8M. That is 79% less money than the previous seven…
Startup Equity and Dilution: What Every Founder Must Know
Equity and dilution are the twin forces that shape every founder’s economic outcome. From the moment a startup issues its first shares to the…
Startup Runway: How to Calculate, Manage, and Extend It
Runway - the number of months a startup can operate before it runs out of cash - is the most fundamental metric in startup…
Startup Valuation: Methods, Benchmarks, and How to Negotiate
Startup valuation is one of the most debated and least understood aspects of the fundraising process. Unlike mature companies that can be valued based…
Venture Debt for Startups: When and How to Use It
Venture debt has emerged as one of the most important complementary financing tools in the European startup ecosystem. Unlike equity funding, which requires founders…
Cap Table Management: The Complete Guide for Startup Founders
A cap table - short for capitalisation table - is the single most important financial document a startup founder will maintain from day one…
SAFE Notes, Convertible Notes & Term Sheets: A Founder’s Guide
Early-stage fundraising rarely begins with a traditional priced equity round. Instead, most pre-seed and seed investments are structured using one of two instruments: SAFE…
How to Raise a Seed Round in Europe: The Complete Guide
Raising a seed round in Europe has never been more accessible - or more competitive. The continent’s seed ecosystem has expanded dramatically over the…
Series A Funding: The Complete Playbook for European Founders
Series A funding represents the most critical inflection point in a startup’s journey - the moment when a promising early-stage company must prove it…