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Kima Ventures operates as an active early-stage investment fund, providing capital and strategic support to emerging startups globally. Its core offering focuses on rapid, standardized seed investments, deployed frequently across diverse sectors and geographies. The firm distinguishes itself through a high-volume approach, backing multiple new companies weekly.
The fund was co-founded in March 2010 by Xavier Niel and Jeremie Berrebi. Their initial insight identified a global need for streamlined, accessible early-stage funding, shaping a model focused on prolific investment activity. Niel, a prominent European entrepreneur, leveraged his experience to establish a platform empowering early innovation broadly.
Kima Ventures primarily supports ambitious startup teams worldwide, offering crucial initial financial backing to develop and scale operations. The firm's long-term vision is to be the world’s most active business angel, fostering innovation by identifying and supporting promising ventures at their earliest stages.
Key people at Kima Ventures.
Kima Ventures was founded in 2010 by Jeremie Berrebi (Co-founder).
Kima Ventures was founded in 2010 by Jeremie Berrebi (Co-founder).
Key people at Kima Ventures.
# High-Level Overview
Kima Ventures operates as one of the world's most prolific early-stage investment firms, functioning as a "high-frequency business angel" that backs approximately 2-3 startups per week globally.[1][2] Founded in 2010 and based in Paris, France, the firm has deployed capital into over 800 startups across diverse sectors including software, fintech, healthcare, consumer products, AI & deep tech, and cleantech.[2] The firm's core mission centers on democratizing access to seed capital and founder support, providing standardized €150,000 investment tickets alongside mentorship, network access, and strategic guidance to help early-stage entrepreneurs accelerate their growth trajectories.
Kima Ventures' investment philosophy emphasizes rapid decision-making, sector agnosticism, and geographic diversity. Rather than specializing in particular verticals, the firm backs ambitious founders building innovative solutions across any stage and deal size, from pre-seed through Series A.[4] This approach has yielded impressive outcomes: the portfolio includes 17 unicorns and 111 exits to date, with notable portfolio companies including Wise, Front, and Oyster.[2] The firm's prolific pace and consistent check sizes create a distinctive model that prioritizes volume, speed, and founder-centric support over traditional venture capital gatekeeping.
Xavier Niel founded Kima Ventures in 2010, establishing the firm during the early stages of the modern venture capital boom.[2][7] The founding reflected Niel's vision to create a more accessible investment vehicle for early-stage entrepreneurs, moving away from traditional venture capital's lengthy due diligence processes and restrictive check sizes. The firm's evolution has been characterized by scaling its investment pace while maintaining disciplined, standardized ticket sizes—a model that has proven remarkably durable over fifteen years of operation.
The leadership team includes Xavier Niel alongside Jean De la Rochebrochard and other key partners such as Alexis Robert (General Partner) and Chloe Timsit (Partner), who collectively bring extensive experience navigating the tech and startup ecosystems.[2][7] This institutional knowledge has enabled Kima Ventures to develop deep networks across geographies and sectors, positioning the firm as a trusted first institutional check for founders seeking both capital and credibility.
Kima Ventures' most distinctive feature is its systematic approach to early-stage investing. The firm commits €150,000 per investment as a standard ticket, with flexibility to range from €50,000 to €2,000,000 depending on deal structure.[6] This consistency enables the firm to process roughly 100 new deals annually—a volume that would be impossible under traditional venture capital models requiring extensive partner meetings and consensus-building.[4] The standardized ticket size also signals founder-friendly terms and reduces negotiation friction.
Unlike specialized venture funds, Kima Ventures maintains intentional sector agnosticism, backing startups across software, fintech, healthcare, consumer products, AI, cleantech, web3, and hardware.[2] Geographic reach spans globally with particular strength in Europe (24% of portfolio), though the firm actively invests worldwide.[5] This diversification reduces concentration risk while positioning the firm to identify emerging trends across multiple domains simultaneously.
Beyond capital deployment, Kima Ventures provides structured mentorship, customer acquisition support, marketing guidance, and product development advice.[3] The firm's extensive network—built over 15 years of prolific investing—creates tangible value for portfolio companies seeking introductions, partnerships, or operational expertise. This support model transforms the firm from a passive capital provider into an active accelerator of founder success.
The portfolio's 111 exits and 17 unicorns demonstrate the firm's ability to identify and nurture companies with significant upside potential.[2] These outcomes validate the investment thesis that high-frequency, founder-friendly capital combined with network support can generate outsized returns at scale.
Kima Ventures exemplifies a broader democratization trend in venture capital, where technology and operational efficiency enable firms to serve founders previously excluded from institutional funding. The rise of "micro-VCs" and "angel syndicates" reflects market recognition that traditional venture capital's high minimum check sizes and lengthy decision cycles create friction for early-stage founders. Kima Ventures' model—standardized tickets, rapid deployment, and global reach—aligns with this shift toward more accessible, founder-centric capital.
The firm's prolific investment pace also positions it as a leading indicator of emerging startup trends. By backing 100+ companies annually across sectors, Kima Ventures gains real-time visibility into which technologies, business models, and founder profiles are gaining traction. This vantage point influences broader ecosystem narratives around promising sectors and emerging opportunities.
Furthermore, Kima Ventures' success has validated the "high-frequency business angel" model, influencing how other firms structure early-stage investment vehicles. The firm's ability to generate strong returns while maintaining high volume has challenged traditional venture capital's assumption that rigorous due diligence requires extended timelines and smaller portfolios. This influence extends beyond capital deployment to shape founder expectations around investment speed and terms.
Kima Ventures stands at an inflection point where its proven model faces both scaling opportunities and competitive pressures. The firm's 15-year track record and 800+ investments demonstrate that high-frequency, founder-friendly capital can generate institutional returns. However, the proliferation of similar models—from other micro-VCs to emerging platforms—suggests the market is becoming more competitive.
Looking forward, Kima Ventures' evolution will likely center on deepening founder support services, potentially moving beyond capital and mentorship into operational infrastructure (recruiting, legal, accounting). The firm may also expand its geographic footprint beyond Europe, capitalizing on global demand for accessible seed capital. Additionally, as portfolio companies mature, the firm's ability to follow on in later rounds or facilitate secondary transactions could unlock new value creation opportunities.
The broader trend favoring speed, accessibility, and founder empowerment in venture capital suggests Kima Ventures' model will remain relevant and influential. As traditional venture capital grapples with fund size inflation and decision-making delays, firms like Kima Ventures that prioritize founder experience and rapid deployment will likely capture an increasing share of early-stage capital flows. The question is not whether the model works, but how the firm will evolve to maintain competitive advantage as the category matures.
