Private Equity FundPuts its own capital into companiesLAST VERIFIED Oct 2026 · 18 SOURCES

Audacia

Also known as Audacia SA, Groupe Audacia

Paris management company listed on Euronext Growth (founded 2006 by Charles Beigbeder): minority growth capital in French SMEs, deeptech VC funds, coliving real estate; €950M+ AUM (June 2026).

HEADQUARTERS: Paris, France
FOUNDED: 2006
AUM: €950M (2026)
OUTSIDE CAPITAL: Yes
TEAM LISTED: 8 people

Focus

STAGES: Pre-SeedSeedSeries ASeries BGrowth
SECTORS: Deep Tech Space Climate & Energy HealthTech Industrial & Manufacturing Consumer & E-commerce Real Estate & PropTech
ASSET MIX: Private equityVenture capitalReal estate
GEOGRAPHY: FranceEurope

Investment arms & vehicles

Expansion Ventures
Space and defence VC management company; exclusively controlled and fully consolidated by Audacia since April 2025 (49.14% of voting rights)
Quantonation
Quantum and physics-based deep tech VC management company (Quantonation Ventures); fully consolidated by Audacia (45.18% of voting control at end-2025)
Exergon
Energy-transition VC fund launched and incubated by Audacia in 2024 (Exergon GP more than 50% held by Audacia); own SGP Exergon Ventures since July 2026
Calderion
Industrial and technology VC fund for next-generation fuels (Calderion First SLP), launched by Audacia in November 2025
Sorbonne Venture
Healthtech seed fund launched by Audacia with Sorbonne Université in collaboration with Aloé Private Equity (the fund's management company)

Overview

Audacia is an independent AMF-authorised management company founded in 2006 by Charles Beigbeder and listed on Euronext Growth since October 2021. It runs three businesses: minority development capital in French family SMEs (Constellation holdings, the Straton defence fund, Procession, and formerly ISF-TEPA vehicles and part of the Obligations Relance mandate led by Tikehau), deeptech venture (Quantonation, Expansion, Exergon, Calderion, Sorbonne Venture and a retail FCPI), and coliving real estate. It says it has invested more than €1bn in over 400 companies since 2006; its assets under management passed €950M at 30 June 2026.

Investment thesis

Minority equity and quasi-equity for growing, profitable French family SMEs and mid-caps (Constellation: €1–3M tickets; Straton: €2–10M in dual civil/defence SMEs of the French defence industrial base; Procession: €1–5M), and venture investments in five deeptech themes: quantum, new space, energy, clean molecules (neo-fuels) and healthtech.

PORTFOLIO (12)

2CRSINOTABLE
Industrial & Manufacturing
Girod Médias
Media & Entertainment
David Industries
Industrial & Manufacturing
Ninkasi
Food & Agriculture
Les Petites Canailles
Consumer & E-commerce
Maison L’Orgeril
Food & Agriculture
Atlantis Télévision
Media & Entertainment
H2SITE
Climate & Energy
Mantle8
Climate & Energy
Graforce
Climate & Energy
Khimod
Climate & Energy
Mitico
Climate & Energy

People

Charles Beigbeder
Founder and President · source
Olivier de Panafieu
Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général); founding partner of Calderion · source
Cédric James
Deputy CEO (Directeur Général Délégué) · source
Gabriel Viellard
Secretary General · source
Thomas Schmitz
Investment Director - Partner · source
Guillaume des Courtis
Partner · source
Constance d’Avout
Partner · source
Romain Andrieu-Guitrancourt
Head of Investor Relations · source

Frequently asked questions

Audacia is a private equity fund based in Paris, France, founded in 2006.

Yes. Audacia invests its own capital in private companies.

Audacia invests at Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B and Growth stages in Deep Tech, Space, Climate & Energy, HealthTech, Industrial & Manufacturing, Consumer & E-commerce and Real Estate & PropTech.

Audacia's stated ticket size is €1M–€10M.

Key people at Audacia include Charles Beigbeder (Founder and President), Olivier de Panafieu (Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général); founding partner of Calderion), Cédric James (Deputy CEO (Directeur Général Délégué)) and Gabriel Viellard (Secretary General).

Audacia's investments include 2CRSI, Girod Médias, David Industries, Ninkasi, Les Petites Canailles, Maison L’Orgeril, Atlantis Télévision and H2SITE, among others.

Audacia states that it accepts submissions through its official contact page.

Yes. Audacia manages capital from outside investors.