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Family HoldingAllocates capital directlyActive · deal in last 18 monthsLAST VERIFIED Oct 2026 · 10 SOURCES

Evolem

Also known as EVOLEM, Evolem Start, Evolem Plateforme

Lyon family office and holding of APRIL founder Bruno Rousset, founded 1997; majority stakes of up to €40M in SMEs, startup investments (Evolem Start), real estate and philanthropy.

USEFUL FOR Founders · Business owners seeking a long-term partner · Co-investors

Family & background

FAMILY
Rousset (Bruno Rousset)
WEALTH ORIGIN
APRIL (insurance brokerage group founded 1988)
HEADQUARTERS
Lyon, France
FOUNDED
1997
OUTSIDE CAPITAL
No — own capital only

Investment approach

SECTORS
Industrial & ManufacturingSoftware & SaaSConsumer & E-commerceFintechHealthTechReal Estate & PropTech
GEOGRAPHY
France
STAGES
Pre-SeedSeedSeries ABuyout
ROUTES
Direct investments
STRATEGIES
Private equityVenture capitalReal estate
TICKET
Up to €40M
LATEST DEAL
Reecall (€3.5M round led by Founders Future (Evolem as existing investor)) · Sep 2026

Overview

Evolem is the investment holding that Bruno Rousset, founder of the insurance broker APRIL, created in Lyon in 1997; it describes itself as a family office, now chaired by Guillaume Rousset with a supervisory board of Rousset family members. Its Plateforme business takes majority stakes of up to €40 million in French SMEs with €10–100 million of revenue, with no imposed exit horizon. Evolem Start invests in startups in their commercial-acceleration phase and reported 58 holdings at the end of 2025; the family also runs a real-estate business and philanthropy through the Evolem Citoyen and Domorrow endowment funds.

Investment thesis

Long-term, active shareholder alongside management with no imposed exit horizon: majority deals in SMEs (€10–100M revenue, proven brand- or innovation-led model, often ahead of a succession), external growth, prudent leverage and ESG roadmaps; evergreen minority tickets in startups aligned with its values.

Holdings & investments (105)

INVESTMENT ARMS & VEHICLES

  • Evolem Plateforme
    Majority investments of up to €40M of equity in SMEs with €10–100M revenue, to grow them into mid-caps
  • Evolem Start
    Startup investments in their commercial-acceleration phase: €100k–€3M tickets in pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds, as lead, co-lead or follower (evergreen family-office capital)
  • Evolem Immobilier
    Real estate held to meet portfolio companies’ property needs
  • Evolem Citoyen / Domorrow
    Endowment funds carrying the family’s philanthropy

HOLDINGS & INVESTMENTS · MOST RECENT FIRST

  • AprilNOTABLE
    Fintech · since 1988 · Listed under Plateforme past investments (réalisations)
  • Apperton
    since 2025
  • Nubevia
    Software & SaaS · since 2025
  • Groupe Investronic
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2025
  • Jobo
    Software & SaaS · since 2025
  • Kimialys
    Biotech & Life Sciences · since 2025
  • Sirius NeoSight
    HealthTech · since 2025
  • Ed AI
    Education · since 2025
  • Fungu'it
    Food & Agriculture · since 2025
  • GlobalPack Solutions
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2024
  • HYDRUP (Hydroprocess)
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2024
  • Kor
    HealthTech · since 2024
  • Kotzilla
    Software & SaaS · since 2024
  • Kolus
    Software & SaaS · since 2024
  • Groupe NA
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2023
  • Axeptio
    Software & SaaS · since 2023
  • Crealo
    Software & SaaS · since 2023
  • Sopht
    Climate & Energy · since 2023
  • Rainbow Standard
    Climate & Energy · since 2023
  • Fairlyne
    Software & SaaS · since 2023
  • Packmind (ex Promyze)
    Software & SaaS · since 2023
  • Jimini AI
    Artificial Intelligence · since 2023
  • Kresus
    Fintech · since 2023
  • Abraxio
    Software & SaaS · since 2023
  • Wineriz
    Software & SaaS · since 2023 · Exited 2026 (stake sold as Inqom by Visma entered the capital)
  • Bravas
    Software & SaaS · since 2023 · Exited 2026 (sold to Remote)
  • Mediflash
    HealthTech · since 2023 · Ceased trading 2026
  • 50inTech
    Software & SaaS · since 2023 · Exited 2025 (sold to Q7 group)
  • Roof
    Real Estate & PropTech · since 2023 · Exited 2025
  • Komeet
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • Oplit
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • Nudj
    Food & Agriculture · since 2022
  • Socium
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • Hey Pongo
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • La Solive
    Education · since 2022
  • Nectargo
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • Futurz
    Fintech · since 2022
  • Reflect
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • Hupso
    Education · since 2022
  • Omi
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • Benefiz
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • ClimeFi
    Climate & Energy · since 2022
  • Popwork
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • Obat
    Software & SaaS · since 2022
  • Colette
    Real Estate & PropTech · since 2022 · Exited 2025 (sold to Renée Costes Viager)
  • Virgil
    Fintech · since 2021
  • Smartway
    Artificial Intelligence · since 2021
  • Teale
    HealthTech · since 2021
  • Plume
    Education · since 2021
  • Beamy
    Software & SaaS · since 2021
  • Brainboard
    Software & SaaS · since 2021
  • Legalplace
    Software & SaaS · since 2021
  • Pyxo
    Climate & Energy · since 2021 · Exited 2024 (taken over by Ubi Solutions)
  • Bifrost
    Fintech · since 2021 · Ceased trading 2024
  • Morel
    Food & Agriculture · since 2020
  • Cap Vert
    since 2020 · Majority sold to Ambienta Dec 2021 with minority reinvestment; exited Sept 2026
  • Reecall
    Artificial Intelligence · since 2020
  • Smile & Pay
    Fintech · since 2020
  • Comptoir de Campagne
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2020 · Ceased trading 2024
  • LiveJourney
    Software & SaaS · since 2020 · Exited 2022 (acquired by QAD)
  • RX Solutions
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2019
  • Innovorder
    Software & SaaS · since 2019
  • Monisnap
    Fintech · since 2019
  • DataGalaxy
    Software & SaaS · since 2019
  • Swikly
    Fintech · since 2019
  • Bliink
    Software & SaaS · since 2019
  • Show You
    Software & SaaS · since 2019 · Ceased trading 2025
  • Smartrenting
    Real Estate & PropTech · since 2019 · Ceased trading 2024
  • Multiplast
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2018
  • Lauralu
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2018 · Exited 2026
  • Ocus
    Software & SaaS · since 2018
  • Ellona
    since 2018
  • Touch-Sell
    Software & SaaS · since 2018
  • Tilkee
    Software & SaaS · since 2018
  • Monsieur Gourmand
    Food & Agriculture · since 2018 · Ceased trading 2020
  • Luko
    Fintech · since 2017 · Exited 2023 (sold to Admiral group)
  • Imagine Human
    since 2015 · Exited 2023
  • Les Opticiens Mobiles
    HealthTech · since 2015
  • Fluo
    Fintech · since 2015 · Exited 2020 (sold to Magnolia group)
  • Inovalp
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2014 · Exited 2026
  • Kalray
    Deep Tech · since 2013 · IPO 2018
  • Maxicoffee
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2012 · Exited 2023
  • D.A. Finance
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2012 · Exited 2015
  • Acoem
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2011
  • Robopolis
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2011 · Exited 2017
  • Capel
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2011 · Exited 2016
  • Briconord
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2011 · Exited 2015
  • Woonoz
    Education · since 2011 · Partial exit 2021
  • Amoeba
    Biotech & Life Sciences · since 2011 · IPO 2015
  • Isoltop
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2010 · Exited 2022
  • Dufieux
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2010 · Exited 2015
  • JRC Reflex
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2010 · Exited 2013
  • Sodikart
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2008 · Exited 2023
  • Magnin
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2008 · Exited
  • Nutrisens
    Food & Agriculture · since 2007 · Exited
  • O2
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2006 · Exited 2015
  • Equator
    since 2005 · Exited 2013
  • Isilis
    Fintech · since 2004 · Exited 2014
  • Chemica
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2004 · Exited 2011
  • Insign
    Media & Entertainment · since 2003
  • Atis
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2001 · Exited 2017
  • Coref
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 1996 · Exited 2017
  • Brisach
    Industrial & Manufacturing · Exited
  • Evasol
    Climate & Energy · Exited
  • Pool
    Consumer & E-commerce · Exited

People

  • Théo Dejours
    Investment Manager – Plateforme · source
  • Clément Claude
    Investment Manager – Plateforme · source
  • Bruno Rousset
    Founder; Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board · source
  • Raphaël Rousset
    Chairman of the Supervisory Board · source
  • Ingrid Rousset
    Membre du Conseil de Surveillance · source
  • Loïc Rousset
    Membre du Conseil de Surveillance; Président du Fonds de dotation Domorrow · source
  • Nicolas Rousset
    Membre du Conseil de Surveillance · source
  • Guillaume Rousset
    Président d'Evolem et Membre du conseil de Surveillance · source
  • Sandrine Escaleira
    Directrice Générale · source
  • Marie-Christine Varnier
    Directrice Administrative & Financière · source
  • Christophe Broguière
    Directeur Immobilier · source
  • Julien de Bussy
    Partner – Plateforme · source
  • Alexis Alfonsi
    Partner – Plateforme · source
  • Samuel Saucourt
    Partner – Plateforme · source
  • Victor d'Hérouville
    Director – Plateforme · source
  • Alice d'Hervé
    Director – Plateforme · source
  • Harold Odin
    Analyst – Plateforme · source
  • Oscar de Domecy
    Analyst – Plateforme · source
  • Thomas Rival
    Partner – Start · source
  • Nadia El Idrissi
    Director – Start · source
  • Bertrand Rivoire
    Directeur Administratif et Financier Adjoint · source
  • Reine Ramon
    Directrice RSE · source

Classification

Family Holding. A family's holding company that owns stakes in several separate businesses or invests beyond its own group, without calling itself a family office. How family capital is classified →

FAQ

Evolem is a family holding based in Lyon, France, founded in 1997.

Evolem invests on behalf of the Rousset (Bruno Rousset) family (APRIL (insurance brokerage group founded 1988)).

Evolem invests directly in companies. Its stated asset mix includes private equity, venture capital and real estate.

Evolem invests at Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A and Buyout stages in Industrial & Manufacturing, Software & SaaS, Consumer & E-commerce, Fintech, HealthTech and Real Estate & PropTech.

Evolem's stated ticket size is Up to €40M.

Key people at Evolem include Bruno Rousset (Founder; Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board), Raphaël Rousset (Chairman of the Supervisory Board), Ingrid Rousset (Membre du Conseil de Surveillance) and Loïc Rousset (Membre du Conseil de Surveillance; Président du Fonds de dotation Domorrow).

Evolem's holdings and investments include April, Acoem, Apperton, Nubevia, GlobalPack Solutions, Groupe NA, HYDRUP (Hydroprocess) and Insign, among others.

The most recent publicly reported investment by Evolem is Reecall (€3.5M round led by Founders Future (Evolem as existing investor)), announced in Sep 2026.

No. Evolem invests its own capital and does not raise money from outside investors.