Elaia’s Fifth Digital Venture Fund (DV5) Announces First Close at €120 Million to back the best of European Tech

Elaia, backing ambitious tech entrepreneurs with capital and care, has announced the first closing of its fifth Digital Venture Fund (DV5), converging at €120m, reaffirming its mission to back enduring, IP-driven ventures that define the future of European technology. Mimic Robotics, a Zurich-based physical AI company, marks DV5’s first investment, highlighting its focus on breakthrough technologies from leading European hubs. As demand grows for next-generation infrastructure, DV5 is positioned to capture Europe’s opportunity in AI-driven robotics.

Backed by two decades of experience scaling disruptive startups, the Elaia DV5 team supports founders building long-term industry-defining solutions.

The strong first close signals continued investor confidence in Elaia’s proven Digital Venture strategy.

DV5 is built on the belief that breakthrough technology creates value only when transformed into category-defining companies. With deep technical and operational expertise, the team works hands-on to help startups reach product-market fit and scale effectively.

Investing €1 million to €15 million from Pre-Seed to Series B, DV5 backs European B2B tech companies with global ambition.

Pauline Roux, Managing Partner at Elaia, highlighted the firm’s track record of generating strong returns by backing complex, high-impact technologies spanning AI, cybersecurity, Techbio, and industrial innovation. Portfolio companies such as Mirakl, Shift Technology, Vibe.co, iBanFirst, HarfangLab, Dexory, and SeqOne illustrate the ability to identify disruptive potential early and support its path to market leadership.

Ongoing partnerships with former and current founders, who serve as advisors and investors in Elaia’s funds, reflect the long-standing relationships built across the European ecosystem.

DV5’s first close brings together renewed backing from long-standing partners and new institutional investors, including Bpifrance (investing on behalf of the French State under the France 2030 initiative and through its Spark fund), MACSF, BNP Paribas, SMABTP, Arundo Re, and Groupe AG2R LA MONDIALE.

The milestone reflects strong investor confidence, with additional support from the Lazard Frères Gestion team playing a key role in achieving this initial close.

Xavier Lazarus, CEO and Co-Founder of Elaia, emphasized that over the past two decades, the strongest returns have consistently come from backing foundational technologies that underpin entire sectors.

As a full-stack investor with the ability to deploy capital across stages, Elaia is positioned through DV5 to advance its mission of accelerating Europe’s most resilient, high-growth companies.