Nicolas Douay

Nicolas Douay is a prominent early-stage investor in the French startup ecosystem, distinguished by his dual experience as a successful founder and a key figure at a leading talent investor. Prior to his investment career, Douay co-founded Keldoc, a medical appointment booking platform. Keldoc achieved significant traction before its acquisition by Doctolib in 2021, a major exit that provided Douay with invaluable operational experience in scaling and exiting a tech company. This background as an entrepreneur deeply informs his approach to identifying and supporting nascent ventures.

Currently, Douay serves as VP & Investor at Entrepreneur First (EF) Paris, a renowned talent investor that backs exceptional individuals before they even have a team or a concrete idea. In this capacity, he plays a crucial role in the selection, development, and funding of high-potential founders at the very earliest, pre-seed stage. His investment thesis is heavily influenced by EF's unique model, which prioritizes talent and disruptive potential, often focusing on deep tech, artificial intelligence, and B2B SaaS solutions. He seeks out ambitious individuals with the drive and capability to build impactful companies from scratch.

Beyond his institutional role at EF, Nicolas Douay also actively engages in personal angel investments. He frequently co-invests alongside EF or participates in follow-on rounds for promising EF alumni companies, demonstrating a continued commitment to the ventures he helps cultivate. His typical first check sizes for personal investments can range from approximately $25,000, while his involvement with Entrepreneur First means he is also instrumental in deploying initial investments around $85,000 (equivalent to €80,000). Founders benefit not only from his capital but also from his hands-on operational guidance, drawing directly from his experience building and exiting Keldoc. He provides strategic advice, leverages his extensive network, and offers mentorship crucial for navigating the challenges of early-stage company building.