Tikehau Capital is not a startup VC — it is a founder-led global alternative asset manager financing the real economy, and founders should understand it for what it is: a potential growth-stage partner, lender or acquirer rather than a seed cheque. Listed on Euronext Paris and founded in 2004, the firm invests its own balance-sheet capital alongside clients across four asset classes: private credit and direct lending, real assets, private equity, and capital-markets strategies.

Investment thesis

Scale is the story: €52.8 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2025 (official FY2025 earnings). The PE arm backs aerospace and defence, decarbonisation strategies and SME/mid-market buyouts — recent examples include Egis (~€775M via its first continuation fund), Aubert & Duval (aerospace and defence) and ScioTeq (Belgian rugged displays and avionics, acquired 2026). It finances the full capital structure: senior secured loans, unitranche, mezzanine and equity.

Sectors, stages and cheque size

Tikehau Capital focuses on private credit and direct lending, real assets (real estate, infrastructure), private equity (buyout, growth, aerospace & defence, decarbonisation), capital-markets strategies. Stage: full capital-structure financing for established businesses; Europe-centric with 17 offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Cheque sizes: institutional scale — SME/mid-market focus in PE; no seed VC.

Notable portfolio

  • Egis — engineering group — ~€775M via first continuation fund, official Q3 2026 release
  • Aubert & Duval — aerospace and defence PE, official release
  • ScioTeq — Belgian avionics and rugged displays, acquired 2026
  • Schroders — exited at 1.65x gross MOIC, FY2025 earnings

Key people

  • Antoine Flamarion, Co-founder, per tikehaucapital.com
  • Mathieu Chabran, Co-founder, per tikehaucapital.com and Milken Institute
  • Cécile Cabanis, Deputy CEO, per tikehaucapital.com

India connection

Indirect: a strategic partnership with Foundation PE (Asia secondaries covering China, India and Southeast Asia); portfolio company ScioTeq has commercial offices in India.

How to apply for funding

No open application — Tikehau is an institutional asset manager, so engagement is intro-based through its investment teams. Relevant for founders at the growth, buyout or credit stage rather than early venture.

Why it matters for founders

Tikehau belongs on a founder’s radar at the scale-up stage: its credit arms can finance growth without dilution, and its PE arms buy and build mid-market leaders. You will not pitch it at seed — but when you are doing tens of millions in revenue, its four asset classes mean there is almost always a structure that fits. Build the relationship early through its sector teams.