Aquiti's $65M Fund Bets on Founders Outside Traditional Hubs

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-27

Aquiti, a French venture capital firm, just closed its AVA1 fund at nearly $65 million (€60 million). The fund will back founders building in the Greater Southwest of France, from pre-seed onwards. It's a move that challenges the idea that you have to be in Paris or Berlin to get serious capital. ### Why this fund matters For years, founders outside traditional venture hubs have heard the same story: if you want big money, you need to move. Aquiti is betting that's not true. The AVA1 fund will invest at pre-seed and seed, with initial checks ranging from $108,000 to $3.2 million (€100k to €3 million), and plenty of reserves for follow-on rounds. The goal is a portfolio of 25 to 30 companies. "Founders should not have to choose between building where they want to live and accessing the capital, network and ambition they need to go far," says Jean-François Cochy, General Partner at Aquiti and Head of AVA1. "With AVA1, our goal is simple: be the first partner for the best founders in the Greater Southwest, and stay alongside them as they scale." ### A regional approach with a modern twist Aquiti is not a new kid on the block. Its parent, Aquiti Gestion, has been investing in Southwestern France for over 25 years and manages over $250 million (€230 million) in assets. But in 2018, the firm launched a dedicated venture arm to focus on startups. That arm now has five investors and has backed 13 companies, from AI-powered materials discovery at Synboli to new models of care coordination at RelaiSanté. Étienne Boix, co-founder and CEO of RelaiSanté, explains why he chose Aquiti: "The relationship went far beyond capital. From our first discussions, we found a team that combines a genuinely close human relationship with experience in investing and supporting tech companies as they scale. Most importantly, we share the same level of ambition." ### The bigger picture: European funds are on a roll Aquiti's close comes amid a wave of early-stage fund announcements across Europe in 2026. In France alone, Newfund closed a $65 million (€60 million) fund for BrainTech startups, 360 Capital announced an $92 million (€85 million) close for its DeepTech fund, and Elaia closed its third DeepTech Seed fund at $145 million (€134 million). Elsewhere, Germany's Vanagon Ventures completed a $22 million (€20 million) pre-seed fund, and Lithuania's FIRSTPICK launched a $27 million (€25 million) vehicle for Baltic founders. Together, these funds represent over $350 million (€324 million) in disclosed capital, rising to nearly $415 million (€384 million) including AVA1. ### What this means for founders If you're building outside a major hub, this is good news. More capital is flowing to regional ecosystems. Aquiti's team doesn't just write checks; they work alongside founders to set up governance, make key hires, prepare for future funding, and open doors to customers. It's the kind of hands-on support that can make or break an early-stage company. So if you're a founder in the Greater Southwest of France—or anywhere that's not a traditional venture capital magnet—keep an eye on Aquiti. They might just be the partner you need to scale from pre-seed to breakout success.