Nicolas Dessaigne

Nicolas Dessaigne is a distinguished angel investor and the co-founder and former CEO of Algolia, a leading search-as-a-service platform. His extensive experience in building and scaling a successful B2B SaaS company, which notably raised over $300 million in funding from top-tier investors, provides him with unique insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by early-stage startups. Dessaigne's transition into angel investing leverages this operational expertise, positioning him as a valuable partner to founders.

Dessaigne's investment thesis strongly aligns with his belief in "culture-first" companies, emphasizing the importance of strong team dynamics and a robust organizational foundation for long-term success. His portfolio primarily focuses on developer tools, API-first companies, B2B SaaS, and infrastructure software. He seeks out innovative solutions that address fundamental problems for developers and businesses, often identifying promising ventures at their nascent stages. His keen eye for disruptive technology is evident in his early investments in companies that have since achieved significant market recognition and growth.

As an active angel, Dessaigne has made over 30 investments, participating in seed and early-stage rounds for high-profile companies such as Vercel, Plaid, Replit, Linear, and Supabase. His involvement extends beyond capital, as he often provides strategic guidance on product development, go-to-market strategies, and scaling operations. Furthermore, his role as a Venture Partner at Y Combinator underscores his deep integration into the startup ecosystem and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of tech innovators. Founders benefit not only from his financial backing but also from his mentorship and access to a vast network of industry contacts.

Dessaigne's investment approach is characterized by a blend of strategic foresight and a founder-friendly ethos. He looks for ambitious teams with clear visions and a commitment to building impactful products. His track record with Algolia and his subsequent angel investments demonstrate a consistent ability to identify and support companies poised for substantial growth, making him a highly sought-after angel investor in the Silicon Valley ecosystem.