French VC Aquiti's $65M Fund Bets on Founders Outside Big Tech Hubs

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-27

Aquiti, a French venture capital firm, just closed its AVA1 fund at nearly $65 million. The goal? Backing founders building startups in the Greater Southwest of France, from pre-Seed onward. It's a move that challenges the idea that you have to be in Paris or London to get serious capital. ### The Details: What AVA1 Means for Founders Through AVA1, Aquiti invests at pre-Seed and Seed stages, writing initial checks from $108,000 to $3.2 million. They've also set aside substantial reserves for follow-on rounds, aiming to build a portfolio of 25 to 30 companies. That's a lot of dry powder for a regional fund. Jean-François Cochy, General Partner at Aquiti and Head of AVA1, puts it simply: "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. 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." It's a sentiment that resonates. Étienne Boix, co-founder and CEO of portfolio company RelaiSanté, adds: "We chose Aquiti because 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: to make RelaiSanté a category-defining company and transform the way patients access care and support after hospitalisation." ### A Wave of European Early-Stage Funds Aquiti's final close comes amid a flurry of European early-stage fund announcements in 2026. In France alone, Newfund closed a $65 million HEKA fund for BrainTech startups, 360 Capital announced an $92 million close for its Poli360 2 DeepTech fund, and Elaia closed its third DeepTech Seed fund at $145 million. Elsewhere, Germany's Vanagon Ventures completed a $22 million pre-Seed fund, while Lithuania's FIRSTPICK launched a $27 million vehicle focused on Baltic founders. Together, these fund announcements represent $350 million in disclosed fund capital, rising to nearly $415 million including AVA1. That's a lot of money flowing into early-stage startups across Europe. But what's interesting is the regional focus. Aquiti isn't trying to be everywhere; it's doubling down on the Greater Southwest of France. ### Aquiti: A Quarter-Century of Regional Roots Aquiti Gestion is a French private equity firm that has been supporting businesses across Southwestern France for over 25 years, managing over $250 million in assets across regional SMEs and corporate buyouts. To expand into the fast-growing startup ecosystem, the firm launched a dedicated, modern venture capital arm in 2018, known simply as Aquiti or Aquiti Ventures. This specialised, five-investor venture team focuses strictly on pre-Seed and Seed-stage investments in breakthrough technology, healthcare, and climate startups. They pair the institutional stability of a 25-year-old asset manager with the agile, tech-focused mindset of a fund founded in 2018. So far, Aquiti has backed 13 companies, from AI-powered materials discovery at Synboli to new models of care coordination at RelaiSanté. They look to work alongside founders to establish the right governance, make key hires, prepare for future funding, and open doors to potential new customers. ### Why This Matters for Founders Everywhere The takeaway? You don't have to be in a traditional venture hub to raise serious capital. Regional funds like Aquiti are stepping up, offering founders the chance to build where they want to live while still accessing the network and ambition they need to go far. For founders in the US, it's a reminder that the venture landscape is evolving. It's not just about Silicon Valley anymore. Regional ecosystems are growing, and investors are taking notice. So if you're building outside a major tech hub, don't count yourself out. The capital might be closer than you think.