Key Takeaways
- • Aquiti announced the final close of its AVA1 fund at nearly €60 million, targeting founders building across the Greater Southwest of France from pre-Seed onward.
- • AVA1 invests at pre-Seed and Seed with initial checks of €100k to €3 million, reserves for follow-on rounds, and a planned portfolio of 25 to 30 companies.
- • The fund is run by a five-investor venture team led by General Partner and AVA1 head Jean-François Cochy, within the 25-year-old private equity firm Aquiti Gestion, which manages over €230 million.
- • Aquiti has backed 13 companies to date, including Synboli and RelaiSanté, and previously invested in TreeFrog Therapeutics and CardNexus.
- • The close adds to €324 million in disclosed European early-stage fund capital announced in 2026, bringing the total to nearly €384 million including AVA1.
Summary
French venture investor Aquiti has announced the final close of its AVA1 fund at nearly €60 million, according to EU-Startups. The fund is designed to back founders building across the Greater Southwest of France, a region the firm positions as an alternative to traditional venture hubs. Through AVA1, Aquiti invests at pre-Seed and Seed stages, with initial investments ranging from €100k to €3 million and substantial reserves for follow-on rounds. The firm intends to build a portfolio of 25 to 30 companies.
Jean-François Cochy, General Partner at Aquiti and Head of AVA1, said founders should not have to choose between where they live and access to the capital, network and ambition needed to scale. The fund's stated goal is to be the first institutional partner for leading founders in the region and to remain involved as they grow.
Aquiti's venture arm was launched in 2018 by Aquiti Gestion, a French private equity firm that has supported Southwestern French businesses for over 25 years and manages more than €230 million across regional SMEs and corporate buyouts. The venture team of five investors focuses exclusively on pre-Seed and Seed investments in breakthrough technology, healthcare and climate startups. To date it has backed 13 companies, including Synboli, which works on AI-powered materials discovery, and RelaiSanté, which develops care coordination models for patients after hospitalisation. Étienne Boix, co-founder and CEO of RelaiSanté, praised the relationship with Aquiti, citing its close engagement and experience supporting companies as they scale. Aquiti also previously backed Bordeaux-based TreeFrog Therapeutics and CardNexus, per EU-Startups' earlier reporting.
The announcement comes amid a cluster of European early-stage fund closes in 2026. Paris-based Newfund closed its €60 million HEKA fund for BrainTech startups, 360 Capital announced an €85 million close for its Poli360 2 DeepTech fund, and Elaia closed its third DeepTech Seed fund at €134 million. Germany's Vanagon Ventures completed a €20 million pre-Seed fund, and Lithuania's FIRSTPICK launched a €25 million vehicle focused on Baltic founders. Together these announcements total €324 million in disclosed fund capital, or nearly €384 million including AVA1.
Jean-François Cochy, General Partner at Aquiti and Head of AVA1, said founders should not have to choose between where they live and access to the capital, network and ambition needed to scale. The fund's stated goal is to be the first institutional partner for leading founders in the region and to remain involved as they grow.
Aquiti's venture arm was launched in 2018 by Aquiti Gestion, a French private equity firm that has supported Southwestern French businesses for over 25 years and manages more than €230 million across regional SMEs and corporate buyouts. The venture team of five investors focuses exclusively on pre-Seed and Seed investments in breakthrough technology, healthcare and climate startups. To date it has backed 13 companies, including Synboli, which works on AI-powered materials discovery, and RelaiSanté, which develops care coordination models for patients after hospitalisation. Étienne Boix, co-founder and CEO of RelaiSanté, praised the relationship with Aquiti, citing its close engagement and experience supporting companies as they scale. Aquiti also previously backed Bordeaux-based TreeFrog Therapeutics and CardNexus, per EU-Startups' earlier reporting.
The announcement comes amid a cluster of European early-stage fund closes in 2026. Paris-based Newfund closed its €60 million HEKA fund for BrainTech startups, 360 Capital announced an €85 million close for its Poli360 2 DeepTech fund, and Elaia closed its third DeepTech Seed fund at €134 million. Germany's Vanagon Ventures completed a €20 million pre-Seed fund, and Lithuania's FIRSTPICK launched a €25 million vehicle focused on Baltic founders. Together these announcements total €324 million in disclosed fund capital, or nearly €384 million including AVA1.
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