Bio
I chose to invest in photonics not because it is easy, but because it's hard...ware!
For over 15 years I have financed and commercialised European deep tech, including 8+ years as Managing Partner of VIGO Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on photonics. I have screened more than 1,000 early-stage companies across Europe, Asia and North
America. Our portfolio spans five EU countries and Canada; those companies have raised over EUR 100 million, with 8 of 10 securing follow-on rounds from institutional and corporate investors.
Today I am building Photonics Catalyst, an angel & expert network and ecosystem platform that gives investors and corporates early, curated access to photonics companies sourced globally, before they circulate widely. Photonics sits on the critical path of
European competitiveness and strategic autonomy: AI infrastructure, sensing, energy, security and defence. The best companies of this transition are being founded now, and my work is making sure the right capital sees them first.
I invest personally as well: deep tech companies, from photonic quantum computing to fabless semiconductors, with board and observer seats along the way. I serve on private and public boards of deep tech companies, and as an expert and jury member for European
innovation instruments including the European Innovation Council, PhotonHub Europe or Tech Tour.
I also share what I've learned as a speaker (Laser World of Photonics, VivaTech, CERN Venture Connect, OPTICA, EPIC and Future of Computing events) and since 2012 mentor to deep tech founders through, amongst others: Creative Destruction Lab, Tech Tour, PhotonHub
Scaling Club, EIC Scaling Club, EuroCDP.
