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Learn which startups Cathay Innovation invests in, what size check sizes they write, and who their partners are (e.g. Denis Barrier).
Cathay Innovation is a global venture capital firm, strategically investing in technology startups across North America, Europe, China, and Africa. It functions as a comprehensive platform, providing capital and support to its portfolio. Its investment thesis prioritizes businesses leveraging technological innovation for significant positive societal and environmental impact.
Established in 2015, Cathay Innovation originated from the collaboration between Mingpo Cai, founder of Cathay Capital, and Denis Barrier, now Co-Founder and CEO of Cathay Innovation. The core insight was to create a global investment vehicle, leveraging Cathay Capital's network to support promising technology ventures worldwide.
The firm partners with emerging technology companies, offering resources for development and expansion. Cathay Innovation's vision is to foster a global innovation ecosystem, empowering entrepreneurs to build enduring companies that achieve commercial success and contribute meaningfully to a sustainable and interconnected future.
Key people at Cathay Innovation.
Key people at Cathay Innovation.
Cathay Innovation is a global multi-stage venture capital firm founded in 2015, affiliated with Cathay Capital, that invests in startups transforming industries through technology, particularly in AI, digital health, fintech, commerce, mobility, and energy sectors. Its mission is to back visionary founders building scalable, socially positive businesses by leveraging a unique global platform that connects startups with over 20 Fortune 500 corporate partners, enabling cross-continental growth and industry transformation. The firm manages over €2.5 billion in assets under management (AUM) and has invested in more than 120 startups worldwide, supporting companies at critical growth inflection points with revenues typically between $5M and $20M[1][2][5].
Founded by Mingpo Cai and Denis Barrier, Cathay Innovation originated from a vision to unify venture capital efforts across multiple continents—Europe, North America, Asia, Latin America, and Africa—while fostering durable relationships between startups and industrial ecosystems. The firm has evolved to focus heavily on vertical AI applications tailored to specific industries, exemplified by its $1 billion Fund III dedicated to AI-driven startups impacting healthcare, financial services, energy, and consumer sectors. This fund is notable for being the largest AI-focused VC fund out of the European Union and is classified under the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, underscoring its commitment to environmental and social impact[1][3][2].
Cathay Innovation rides the global trend of industrial digital transformation, particularly through vertical AI that addresses sector-specific challenges. The timing is critical as industries worldwide seek to integrate AI and digital technologies to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness. Its global footprint and corporate partnerships position it uniquely to bridge innovation hubs across continents, facilitating knowledge transfer and scaling opportunities. This approach influences the broader ecosystem by accelerating the adoption of AI and digital solutions in traditional industries, fostering sustainable growth, and creating new jobs aligned with the digital economy[1][3].
Looking ahead, Cathay Innovation is poised to deepen its focus on vertical AI and sustainability-driven investments, leveraging its large-scale global platform to back startups that can transform critical industries. Trends such as AI integration, digital health expansion, fintech innovation, and energy transition will shape its investment trajectory. Its influence is likely to grow as it continues to connect startups with corporate partners worldwide, driving collaborative innovation and industrial transformation on a global scale. This aligns with its founding vision of uniting capital, technology, and industry to create durable, impactful businesses that address global challenges[1][3][5].