For founders asking how to get funding from C4 Ventures, the pitch is refreshingly direct: ‘Operators backing Entrepreneurs.’ The Paris-and-London boutique VC is run by former tech operators — founder Pascal Cagni was VP and GM of Apple EMEIA (2000–2012), partner Eric Boustouller led Microsoft Western Europe — and its dual thesis on software AI and physical AI (robotics, autonomous systems) targets what it calls the defining technological shift of our time.

Investment thesis

The numbers back the operator story: 54 startups invested since 2014, 12 unicorns, 20+ exits and 2 NYSE IPOs (Riskified, Via). Fund III targets €100 million (launched 23 September 2025, per c4v.com); Fund II was €80 million (2020). The firm typically leads Series A and co-invests in later stages, drawing on 30+ operating partners from leading tech companies for portfolio support.

Sectors, stages and cheque size

C4 Ventures focuses on AI, deep tech, robotics, quantum computing, AI semiconductors, smart hardware, future of work and commerce. Stage: early-stage, leading Series A with later-stage co-investments; Europe, backing founders with global ambition and strong European roots. Cheque sizes: early-stage, typically leading Series A; offices in Paris and London.

Notable portfolio

  • NEURA Robotics — c4v.com Fund III release
  • Graphcore — AI chips — c4v.com Fund III release
  • Alice & Bob — quantum computing — c4v.com Fund III release
  • PsiQuantum — quantum computing — c4v.com Fund III release
  • Arago — c4v.com Fund III release
  • Riskified — NYSE IPO — c4v.com
  • Formlabs — 3D printing — tech.eu

Key people

  • Pascal Cagni, Founder and CEO; former VP & GM of Apple EMEIA 2000–2012
  • Boris Bakech, Co-Founder and Managing Director
  • Eric Boustouller, Partner; former President of Microsoft Western Europe

India connection

No verified India investments; Europe-focused. (Note: the Netherlands-based C4D Partners runs an India fund — a different firm.)

How to apply for funding

Use the contact form at c4v.com/contact (no public founder pitch email was found). A warm intro through its network of 30+ operating partners — veterans of the world’s leading tech companies — carries real weight with this team.

Why it matters for founders

C4 is the VC for technical founders who want investors that have actually shipped product at Apple and Microsoft scale. Its AI-plus-physical-AI thesis is unusually specific, which means a robotics or AI-semiconductor startup gets a team that speaks its language — and a quantum startup gets genuine conviction. If that is you, the c4v.com/contact form is the front door.