Polytechnique Ventures earmarks 5% of its €28M fund for pre-seed deeptech
What's the deal? Polytechnique VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → will dedicate 5% of its latest fund, Polytechnique Ventures II, to backing deeptech startups at the pre-seed stage. It will write cheques of €50,000 to €200,000 into these early rounds.
The fund's details: First closed at €21 million in 2025, the vehicle now stands at €28 million and targets a final size of €30 to €40 million. It has already backed five startups: bYoRNADealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Gobano RoboticsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, One BiosciencesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, PorelioDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and VSORA.
Who qualifies? Candidates must have a link to the École Polytechnique (X) ecosystem, an excellent team, deeptech, and a promise of industrial disruption. The firm has made a first investment of €150,000 in Qolombus, a quantum processor developer, as part of its €1.5 million round.
Why now? The pre-seed strategy, named the "Denis Lucquin Catalyst Initiative," honours co-founder Denis Lucquin, who died in 2026 at 69. A pioneer of French biotech investing, he led Sofinnova Partners and founded France BiotechDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
"This initiative aims to strengthen our capacity to make early bets on very young and ambitious deeptech startups," said Cécile Tharaud, co-founder and managing partner.
What's the endgame? Polytechnique Ventures II normally writes cheques of €250,000 to €1 million, rising to €2 million per company at Series A. The carve-out lets it back companies from their origins. The fund returns 10% of its gains to the Fondation de l'X and targets health, decarbonised energy, AI, fintech, and robotics.
The signal: The move fits a broader shift in French deeptech venture towards ever-earlier intervention, especially around grandes écoles ecosystems. By anchoring at the very start of the value chain, the firm signals its intent to lock in promising research spin-outs before rival funds move in.
Read more: Maddyness
