Oleg Tscheltzoff
Description
Oleg Tscheltzoff is a highly accomplished serial entrepreneur who has transitioned into a prominent angel investor, best known for co-founding and leading Fotolia, a groundbreaking microstock photography agency. Fotolia's eventual acquisition by Adobe for $800 million in 2014 solidified his reputation as a visionary in the tech industry. His extensive operational background, particularly in scaling global digital businesses, provides him with a unique and valuable perspective as an investor. Tscheltzoff primarily focuses his investments on early-stage technology companies, often participating in Seed and Series A funding rounds. His portfolio reflects a strong inclination towards B2B SaaS, fintech, and consumer internet ventures, with a notable number of investments in companies with European origins, aligning with his own entrepreneurial roots.
As an angel investor, Tscheltzoff has cultivated an impressive portfolio, with over 15 documented investments that underscore his ability to identify high-potential startups. His track record includes several significant exits, such as Teads, a video advertising platform acquired by Altice for $307 million, and Zenly, a social mapping application that was acquired by Snap for $213 million. He also backed Sendinblue (now Brevo), a marketing automation platform that achieved a substantial exit to Bridgepoint for over $500 million. Beyond these successful acquisitions, his current and past investments feature other high-growth companies like Algolia, Dashlane, Qonto, and Alan, demonstrating his consistent interest in innovative solutions poised for market disruption.
Tscheltzoff is recognized for offering more than just financial capital; his vast network and hands-on operational acumen are invaluable assets to the founders he supports. He frequently serves as a strategic advisor, leveraging his experience in product development, market expansion, and team building to guide portfolio companies. His investment philosophy is characterized by a long-term outlook, backing founders who exhibit strong vision and execution capabilities. Given his history of successful exits and his occasional role as a lead investor in early rounds, his typical first check sizes for promising early-stage companies are estimated to range from $100,000 to $500,000, reflecting his commitment to providing meaningful initial support.
Investor Profile
Oleg Tscheltzoff has backed more than 33 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 6% of its total and boasts 14 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Angel rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in France, United States, Singapore.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Internet, SaaS.
- Typical check size: $100K – $500K.
Stage Focus
- Seed (58%)
- Series A (21%)
- Angel (15%)
- Pre Seed (3%)
- Series E (3%)
Country Focus
- France (61%)
- United States (27%)
- Singapore (3%)
- Japan (3%)
- Germany (3%)
- Canada (3%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Internet
- Saas
- E-commerce
- Analytics
- Information Technology
- Financial Services
- Apps
- Crm
- Brand Marketing
Frequently Asked Questions
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