
Red River West
Description
Red River West (RRW) is a distinctive cross-border venture capital firm headquartered in Paris, France, with a primary mission to empower ambitious European technology startups in their expansion into the United States market. Founded on the premise that many European innovations struggle with the complexities of US market entry, RRW positions itself as a hands-on partner, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and operational support. Their unique value proposition lies in their deep understanding of both European and American business landscapes, facilitating a smoother and more effective transatlantic growth trajectory for their portfolio companies.
The firm primarily targets European tech companies at their Series A and Series B stages, focusing on those that have demonstrated strong product-market fit and are ready to scale internationally. RRW's investment thesis centers on identifying companies with significant potential for global leadership, offering a comprehensive suite of services that include market entry strategy, talent acquisition, business development, and access to a robust network of US-based experts and potential clients. This hands-on approach is designed to mitigate the inherent risks and accelerate the growth of European champions in the highly competitive American market.
Red River West has demonstrated significant growth in its capital base. Their inaugural fund, launched to support their cross-border strategy, amounted to €150 million. Building on this success, the firm successfully closed its second fund, RRW II, at €250 million in 2023, significantly expanding its capacity to invest in promising European ventures. Typically, RRW's initial investment checks range from approximately $5 million to $20 million, reflecting their commitment to providing substantial capital for companies embarking on their US expansion journey. This strategic funding, combined with their operational expertise, aims to transform European tech innovators into global leaders.
Investor Profile
Red River West has backed more than 22 startups, with 5 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 12 rounds, about 55% of its total and boasts 1 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Series B, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in France, United States, Germany.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Travel.
- Led 2 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $5M – $20M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (41%)
- Series B (36%)
- Series Unknown (14%)
- Series C (9%)
Country Focus
- France (59%)
- United States (18%)
- Germany (14%)
- Belgium (5%)
- Austria (5%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Travel
- Banking
- Financial Services
- Fintech
- Trading Platform
- Social Media
- Video
- Health Care
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