360 Capital Partners

High-Level Overview

360 Capital Partners is a Paris-based venture capital firm that has been backing visionary founders since 1997, establishing itself as a pioneering force in European early-stage investing over nearly three decades.[2] The firm invests across the full spectrum of early-stage development—from pre-seed through Series B—with a concentrated focus on deep tech, climate tech, and digital-first solutions that address critical market challenges.[4][5] Their investment philosophy centers on identifying ambitious entrepreneurs pursuing disruptive technologies with the potential to reshape industries while contributing to sustainable economic growth.[2] Beyond capital deployment, 360 Capital provides operational support, mentoring, and strategic guidance, leveraging an extensive network of industry experts to help founders navigate scaling challenges across European and international markets.[4]

The firm's sector expertise spans a diverse range of technology verticals, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics, autonomous vehicles, fintech, SaaS, IoT, digital health, and advanced manufacturing.[3] With approximately $38 million in assets under management and a track record of 42 exits to date, 360 Capital has demonstrated consistent ability to identify and nurture companies that achieve meaningful market success.[1] The firm's impact on the European startup ecosystem reflects its role as an early validator of emerging technology trends, having been among the first European investors to recognize opportunities in robotics, machine vision, neuromorphic sensing, and space-tech.[2]

Origin Story

360 Capital Partners emerged in 1997 during the nascent stages of the European venture capital market, positioning itself at the intersection of technological innovation and entrepreneurial ambition.[1][2] The firm's founding coincided with the early internet era, and its partners demonstrated prescient judgment by recognizing the transformative potential of eCommerce and digital business models. During the 2000s, 360 Capital successfully rode the first wave of digital transition, investing in emerging B2C and B2B plays across multiple sectors while most European investors remained cautious about technology investments.[2]

As the European venture capital ecosystem matured and technology trends evolved, 360 Capital deliberately shifted its investment thesis. Over the past decade, the firm has increasingly concentrated on deep-tech and climate-tech initiatives, recognizing these domains as critical to addressing both market opportunities and societal challenges.[2] This evolution reflects not merely a tactical pivot but a strategic commitment to backing technologies with dual value creation—substantial market returns coupled with meaningful contributions to sustainability and social progress. The firm's Milan and Paris offices, staffed by experienced partners including Alessandro Zaccaria, Alexandre Mordacq, Cesare Maifredi, and Fausto Boni, provide geographic proximity to key European innovation hubs.[6]

Core Differentiators

Prescient Trend Anticipation

360 Capital has consistently demonstrated the ability to identify emerging technology waves before mainstream adoption. The firm was among the first European investors to back companies in robotics, machine vision, neuromorphic sensing, and space-tech—sectors that have since become central to technological transformation.[2] This pattern of early recognition extends to climate-tech, where 360 Capital launched dedicated funding vehicles to support innovations in energy storage and waste recycling before these domains achieved widespread institutional attention.[2]

Integrated Support Model

Rather than functioning as a purely financial intermediary, 360 Capital combines capital deployment with operational mentoring, strategic guidance, and network access.[4] This hands-on approach recognizes that early-stage founders require more than funding—they need experienced advisors who understand European market dynamics, regulatory landscapes, and scaling challenges specific to deep-tech and climate-tech sectors.

Diversified Portfolio Across Complementary Sectors

The firm's portfolio spans interconnected technology domains—from autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing to digital health and fintech—creating natural synergies and cross-portfolio learning opportunities.[3][5] Notable portfolio companies include Exotec (warehouse automation), Circular Materials (critical materials recovery), and companies focused on long-duration energy storage and maritime domain awareness.[5]

Long-Term Partnership Philosophy

360 Capital emphasizes sustainable growth and value creation over rapid exits, positioning itself as a committed partner through multiple funding rounds rather than a transactional investor.[4] This approach aligns founder incentives with the firm's own success metrics and enables deeper involvement in strategic decision-making.

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

360 Capital operates at a critical inflection point in European technology development. The firm's emphasis on deep-tech and climate-tech reflects broader market recognition that Europe's competitive advantage lies not in replicating Silicon Valley consumer platforms but in pioneering fundamental technological breakthroughs in robotics, advanced materials, energy systems, and industrial automation.[2]

The timing of 360 Capital's strategic focus proves particularly significant given accelerating climate imperatives and the European Union's commitment to technological sovereignty. By backing companies addressing energy storage, circular materials, and sustainable manufacturing, the firm positions itself at the intersection of regulatory tailwinds, capital availability, and genuine market demand. European governments and institutional investors increasingly prioritize climate-tech and deep-tech investments, creating favorable conditions for firms with established expertise and networks in these domains.

360 Capital's influence extends beyond individual portfolio outcomes. As a visible European venture capital success story spanning nearly three decades, the firm validates the viability of building world-class technology companies outside the United States. This demonstration effect encourages both founders and capital to remain in Europe rather than gravitating toward Silicon Valley, gradually strengthening the continent's innovation infrastructure and reducing brain drain.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

360 Capital Partners stands positioned to benefit from structural tailwinds reshaping European technology investment. The firm's three-decade track record of anticipating technology trends, combined with its concentrated focus on deep-tech and climate-tech, aligns with both market forces and policy incentives that will likely intensify over the coming decade.

The critical question for 360 Capital's evolution concerns capital scale. With approximately $38 million in assets under management and two funds currently in market, the firm operates at a scale appropriate for early-stage investing but potentially constraining for later-stage follow-on investments in successful portfolio companies.[6] Demonstrating successful exits and strong returns from current portfolio companies could unlock opportunities to raise larger subsequent funds, enabling the firm to maintain ownership stakes through Series B and beyond.

Looking forward, 360 Capital's influence will likely expand as climate-tech and deep-tech mature from niche investment categories into mainstream institutional priorities. The firm's early positioning in these domains, combined with its operational support model and European network, creates durable competitive advantages. As European technology companies increasingly compete globally—particularly in robotics, advanced manufacturing, and energy systems—360 Capital's role as a trusted early-stage validator and strategic partner will become increasingly valuable to founders, limited partners, and the broader European innovation ecosystem.