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
314 articles
Xoople raises $130 million to build Earth’s AI data infrastructure from space
Nazca Capital leads Series B as Spanish startup enters unicorn territory Europe’s space technology sector is experiencing a pivotal transformation, with artificial intelligence reshaping…
Covalo raises €3.5 million to build the data backbone for personal care
The personal care industry confronts a data infrastructure gap The global personal care industry, valued at approximately $3 trillion, faces a mounting challenge: an…
Octostar raises €6.1 million to scale sovereign AI intelligence platform across Europe
European demand for sovereign intelligence technology accelerates The geopolitical landscape reshaping European defence and security priorities is driving unprecedented demand for sovereign technology platforms…
Upvest raises $125 million to modernise Europe’s investment banking infrastructure
Europe’s fintech infrastructure race intensifies with major investment Europe’s financial technology infrastructure sector is undergoing a profound transformation as traditional banks increasingly seek API-first…
Lifebloom raises €8 million to deploy robotic exoskeleton walking therapy across France
Growing investment in rehabilitation robotics The funding, which closed in late March 2026, comprises €6 million in equity from a consortium of family offices,…
Enersweet raises €45 million to accelerate building energy transition through acquisitions
Europe’s building energy efficiency sector is attracting growing investor attention as tightening regulations force property owners to rethink how they manage energy consumption across…
Five Lives raises €1.7 million to advance digital therapeutics for cognitive decline
Strategic health investors back digital therapeutics for cognitive decline Europe’s digital health sector is witnessing a quiet but significant shift in investor appetite, with…
Nexus raises $4.3 million to scale enterprise AI agent deployment platform
General Catalyst leads seed round as enterprise AI agent adoption accelerates The enterprise AI landscape is evolving rapidly from experimental chatbot deployments towards autonomous…
TerraSpark raises €5 million to advance space-based solar power technology
Strategic investors fuel Europe’s space-based solar ambitions The global race to secure clean, uninterrupted energy sources is intensifying, and a growing number of investors…
Qover secures $12 million to accelerate embedded insurance platform as it marks 10 years
The European embedded insurance market is experiencing significant momentum, with market analysts projecting compound annual growth of 34.8 per cent through 2031, reaching $18.29…