HEC Entrepreneurs Fund, HEC Ventures, Closes First Fundraising Round

HEC Ventures is a capital-investment fund born of a partnership between HEC Alumni and Idinvest Partners in January 2020. It is devoted to entrepreneurs from the HEC Paris community. It closed its first-ever fundraising drive in September having raised €20 million, mainly provided by HEC Paris graduates.

Over 130 startups are created every year by HEC Paris students or graduates. The objective of HEC Ventures fund is to encourage the creation of businesses at the heart of the school’s community. This support is translating in very concrete terms into the financing of firms that are just starting up or are developing, as well as accompanying their step-by-step growth, with the help of an experienced financial partner, Idinvest Partners. HEC Ventures thus contributes to the notoriety of the school within the entrepreneurial and technological ecosystems in Europe.

Financing and Counseling, from Seed Onwards

The startups which enjoy HEC Ventures’ support are usually accompanied from their seed phase. The presence at their side of Idinvest and the resources of all the HEC community allow those entrepreneurs retained to be accompanied financially. They are also advised and supported by experts. The only request, in return, is to share and bring alive HEC values within their project, be they the search for excellence, social and environmental responsibility, and diversity inside their teams.

Two Startups with Potential

Since it was launched, HEC Ventures has invested in two startups with great potential:

SpaceFill, a digitalized network of warehouses in all of France which allows for the flexibilization of logistics influxes and the localization of stocks, corresponding to the needs of the clients.
Comet Meetings, French specialists in organization of strategic meetings and company seminars.

HEC Ventures funds has programmed three other investments before the end of 2020. Its long-term objective is to create a portfolio comprised of 25 companies within four years, aimed at reaching a total of 30-40 million euros of funds under management.

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“This first closure underlines the validity of the project and the enthusiasm of the HEC community for this fund. During this health and financial crisis, the alumni have seized the opportunity provided by HEC Ventures to propel the champions of “tomorrow’s world” and, at the same time, to support their school.”

Frederic Jousset, President of HEC Alumni, Co-Founder and CEO of Webhelp