Daphni
Paris-based venture capital firm backing European tech startups, founded in 2015.
Last refreshed: 4 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for Daphni
Mentioned in: Astral raises GBP23m for modular fusion
UK Startups and InnovationWhat is Daphni?
Why did Daphni invest in Astral Systems?
How much does Daphni manage?
Background
Daphni co-invested in Astral Systems' GBP23m Series A, backing the Bristol deep-tech firm's modular fusion reactor technology alongside Mercia Ventures, Tees River, Speedinvest and Playfair Capital.
Founded in Paris in 2015, Daphni backs European startups with international ambitions across financial services, software, adtech, digital health and fintech, and builds a community of more than 300 entrepreneurs, operators and researchers into its investment model. The firm manages more than EUR500m, has made over 100 investments including three unicorns, and closed its latest vehicle, Daphni Blue, at EUR260m in January 2026.
The Astral Systems round marks a move into deep, hardware-heavy energy technology alongside Daphni's more typical software and consumer bets, and reflects the broader pattern of French and European capital co-investing in UK fusion and energy-tech startups rather than ceding the sector entirely to US or domestic funds.
