Kima Ventures
Xavier Niel's Paris business-angel vehicle, launched in 2010; backs two startups a week with 150k one-off tickets, ~100 deals a year at any stage or sector; portfolio includes Alan and Pennylane.
USEFUL FOR Founders · Co-investors
Xavier Niel's business-angel vehicle, founded in 2010 and described by a Kima partner in 2017 as investing only Niel's money. Not Niel's other investment entities, and not New Wave, the separate seed fund with outside LPs set up in 2021 with Niel's support.
Family & background
- FAMILY
- Niel (Xavier Niel)
- WEALTH ORIGIN
- Telecoms (Iliad / Free)
- HEADQUARTERS
- France
- FOUNDED
- 2010
- OUTSIDE CAPITAL
- No — own capital only
Investment approach
- GEOGRAPHY
- France
- STAGES
- Pre-SeedSeed
- ROUTES
- Companies (own capital)
- STRATEGIES
- Direct investments
- LATEST DEAL
- Shiplog (Pre-seed) · Aug 2026
Overview
Kima Ventures calls itself the most active business angel in the world and says it backs two startups per week, investing 150k one-off tickets in 100 new deals per year at any stage, deal size or sector. It was founded by Xavier Niel in 2010, and a Kima partner said on BFM Business in 2017 that it is not a fund but a business angel investing only Xavier Niel's money. Its portfolio page lists 982 companies (October 2026), among them Alan, Pennylane, Airbyte, Agicap, Sorare, Harmattan AI, Zenly and Shiplog. In 2021 its portfolio was reported at about 1,000 startups, and since 2018 it has directed 90% of its investments to French founders. Jean de La Rochebrochard runs Kima (French Tech Journal, 2021).
Holdings & investments (8)
People
- Jean de La RochebrochardPartner (associé); runs Kima · source
Frequently asked questions
Kima Ventures is a single family office based in France, founded in 2010.
Kima Ventures invests on behalf of the Niel (Xavier Niel) family (Telecoms (Iliad / Free)).
Kima Ventures invests its own capital into companies. Its stated asset mix includes direct investments.
Kima Ventures invests at Pre-Seed and Seed stages.
Key people at Kima Ventures include Jean de La Rochebrochard (Partner (associé); runs Kima).
Kima Ventures's holdings and investments include Alan, Pennylane, Sorare, Airbyte, Agicap, Harmattan AI, Shiplog and Zenly.
The most recent publicly reported investment by Kima Ventures is Shiplog (Pre-seed), announced in Aug 2026.
No. Kima Ventures invests its own capital and does not raise money from outside investors.