Aster

Aster is a prominent European venture capital firm headquartered in Paris, France, with additional offices in major innovation hubs like San Francisco and Tel Aviv. The firm specializes in industrial innovation and digital transformation, focusing on sectors such as energy, mobility, new industrials, and smart cities. Aster operates with a unique corporate venturing model, leveraging deep industry expertise and strategic partnerships to accelerate the growth of its portfolio companies. This approach allows them to identify and support startups poised to disrupt traditional industrial landscapes.

A distinctive feature of Aster is its backing by major industrial corporations, including Schneider Electric, Solvay, Orano, and TotalEnergies. This corporate LP structure provides portfolio companies with unparalleled access to large-scale industrial partners, facilitating commercialization, market access, and strategic collaboration. Aster typically invests across various stages, from seed to Series B, and occasionally later, seeking companies with strong technological foundations and significant market potential. Their investment thesis emphasizes long-term value creation through a combination of financial capital and operational support.

Aster's typical initial investment for first cheques ranges from approximately $1 million to $11 million, with the capacity for significant follow-on funding as companies scale. Over its history, Aster has built a substantial portfolio, having invested in more than 60 companies globally. The firm manages several funds, with total assets under management reportedly around $540 million, underscoring its significant presence in the deep tech and industrial tech venture landscape. Their strategic approach aims to foster successful exits and drive the digital and sustainable transformation of industries worldwide.