French Sharks is a structured co-investment club connecting early-stage startups in Blockchain, Fintech, AI, and Cybersecurity with a curated network of 6,000+ investors across 7 European countries via the Gateway platform.
Non-dilutive financing support and structured equity raise preparation with our expert team. Initial diagnostic is free. If eligible, we build your roadmap with our All-Inclusive or Raise-Only packages.
Free 30-minute strategic assessment. We define your exact funding needs, timing, and eligibility for non-dilutive instruments (CII, CIR, BPI, zero-rate loans).
Complete financing mapping, prioritization, and a structured 6-month action plan covering non-dilutive levers and equity raise preparation.
Dossier assembly, investor materials, pitch preparation, and managed introductions to our investor network and Gateway co-investment clubs.
Access professionally vetted early-stage opportunities across France and Europe. French Sharks is not an accelerator or incubator. It is a structured co-investment club, open and entirely free to join.
Every startup undergoes professional due diligence before reaching your inbox. Terms are pre-negotiated in favor of club members.
French Sharks co-invests alongside VCs, angels, and European partner clubs via Gateway. Access deals beyond France across 7 countries.
Valuation, ticket minimum, exit conditions, and fees are disclosed upfront before any commitment. No hidden costs ever.
Monitor your investments and referral commissions through a single dashboard on the Gateway platform.
French Sharks operates on Gateway, an Austrian co-investment platform connecting European investment clubs. This gives every deal access to a broader investor base across the continent and every investor access to pan-European dealflow.
Our team selects and vets the most promising projects, then accompanies them through the entire process. Every deal is reviewed collectively.
Created French Sharks after leading La Place Fintech at Palais Brongniart. 160+ events, 5,000+ connections. Now focused on structured fundraising in Blockchain, Fintech, AI, and Cybersecurity.
Managing Director at Chatsworth Securities. Advises founders and investors on corporate development, M&A, capital raising, and cross-border expansion between Europe and the United States.
Expert in wealth structuring and high-value project development at the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship, and events. Bridges investors, executives, and project leaders.
Raised $70M+, built and sold a Next40 scale-up (200 employees), advised 100+ founders. Created Ember to help entrepreneurs structure decisions before the market corrects them.
French Sharks is a structured early-stage co-investment club based in Paris, France. It connects startups seeking funding with a curated network of over 6,000 investors across 7 European countries. French Sharks is not an accelerator or incubator. It operates on the Gateway co-investment platform, an Austrian platform connecting European investment clubs for cross-border deal sharing and syndication.
Yes. Joining French Sharks is completely free with no membership fees and no commitment. Fees apply only at the point of investment and are disclosed transparently for each deal before any commitment is made.
French Sharks provides a structured 6-month fundraising preparation program. This begins with a free 30-minute strategic diagnostic, followed by a complete financing roadmap covering both non-dilutive instruments (CII, CIR, BPI grants, zero-rate loans) and equity raise preparation. The team then handles dossier assembly, investor materials, pitch preparation, and managed introductions to the investor network.
French Sharks focuses on early-stage companies in four key technology sectors: Blockchain and Web3, Fintech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Cybersecurity. The team evaluates startups across these verticals through a collegial due diligence process before presenting them to the investor network.
Investors join French Sharks for free and access curated dealflow through the Gateway platform. Every startup is professionally vetted by the French Sharks expert team. Deal terms including valuation, minimum ticket size, and exit conditions are pre-negotiated and disclosed upfront. Investors can also access deals from partner clubs across Europe through Gateway's co-syndication network.
Gateway is an Austrian co-investment platform that connects European investment clubs. French Sharks operates on Gateway to give each deal access to a broader pan-European investor base and to give its investors access to dealflow from partner clubs in other countries. Currently, the network spans 30+ club partners across 7 countries.
French Sharks partners with specialists in CII (Credit Impot Innovation), CIR (Credit Impot Recherche), BPI grants and subsidies, and zero-rate loans. These non-dilutive financing instruments help startups maximize their available capital before or alongside an equity raise, reducing dilution for founders.
French Sharks is based in Paris, France, with a pan-European investment reach through its Gateway partnership. The club holds monthly meetings in Paris where investors and founders meet to create synergies and discover new opportunities. The team includes advisors with cross-border expertise connecting France, Europe, and the United States.