
Serena
Description
Serena is a prominent European venture capital firm headquartered in Paris, France, managing approximately $750 million across various funds. The firm positions itself as a partner for ambitious technology companies, investing across a broad spectrum of stages, from Seed to Growth. Their investment strategy typically involves initial cheque sizes ranging from $1.08 million (€1 million) up to $10.8 million (€10 million), with a significant capacity for follow-on investments that can extend up to $32.4 million (€30 million) over the lifetime of a portfolio company.
Serena's investment focus is diverse yet strategic, primarily targeting sectors such as B2B SaaS, deep tech, fintech, consumer tech, and digital health. The firm has a strong track record of identifying and nurturing high-potential startups, with notable successes including unicorns like Dataiku, alongside other successful ventures such as Malt and Cheerz. This diversified approach allows Serena to capture opportunities across different technological advancements and market needs within the European ecosystem.
A distinctive aspect of Serena's value proposition is its "Serena Operating Platform." This unique internal team comprises over 10 operational experts specializing in critical areas such as HR, sales, marketing, technology, finance, and legal. This dedicated team provides hands-on, tailored support to portfolio companies, aiming to accelerate their growth and overcome operational challenges. This operational assistance differentiates Serena from many traditional VC firms, offering more than just capital but also strategic and tactical guidance essential for scaling innovative tech businesses.
Investor Profile
Serena has backed more than 140 startups, with 14 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 59 rounds, about 42% of its total and boasts 23 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in France, United States, Switzerland.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), SaaS.
- Led 6 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1.1M – $10.8M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (28%)
- Seed (26%)
- Series B (20%)
- Series Unknown (10%)
- Series C (7%)
- Pre Seed (4%)
- Series D (3%)
- Series E (1%)
- Private Equity (1%)
- Secondary Market (1%)
Country Focus
- France (76%)
- United States (15%)
- Switzerland (3%)
- Belgium (2%)
- United Kingdom (1%)
- Spain (1%)
- Austria (1%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Saas
- Internet
- Analytics
- Information Technology
- Machine Learning
- Health Care
- Mobile
- E-commerce
Frequently Asked Questions
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