Diaspora Ventures: Bridging France and Silicon Valley for Startup Success
Diaspora Ventures is a new U.S.-based venture capital fund with a unique mission: to empower French entrepreneurs with global ambitions. Founded by Ilan Abehassera and Carlos Diaz—two French natives with over a decade of experience in the U.S. tech scene—the firm targets early-stage startups looking to scale internationally from day one.
The Investment Thesis: Unlocking Global Potential
The fund’s core philosophy is simple yet powerful:
- Talent Recognition: France produces world-class engineers and product designers.
- Barrier Breakdown: Many lack access to critical resources like funding, networks, and market expertise to expand beyond borders.
“We believe France’s entrepreneurial talent deserves a global stage,” states their website. Diaspora Ventures aims to provide the missing link for these founders.
Meet the Founders: Serial Entrepreneurs Turned Investors
Ilan Abehassera: A Track Record of Innovation
- Co-founded Producteev, a task-management tool acquired by Jive Software in 2012.
- Launched Ily, a pioneering family communication device predating Amazon’s Echo Show.
- Currently developing Willo, an AI-driven toothbrush replacement.
Carlos Diaz: Bridging Continents
- Co-founded a digital agency acquired by Atos.
- Previously led The Refiners, a seed fund helping European startups navigate Silicon Valley.
- Pivoted to Diaspora Ventures after global challenges disrupted The Refiners’ model.
Why Diaspora Ventures Stands Out
Unlike traditional French VC funds operating in the U.S., Diaspora Ventures emphasizes:
- Speed: Streamlined decision-making to close deals faster.
- Focus: Early-stage investments (\(100K–\)200K checks) in 10–20 startups annually.
- Flexibility: Leverages AngelList’s Rolling Venture Funds to continuously grow its $3M+ LP base.
Strategic Advantages
- Network Effect: Backed by prominent investors like Kima Ventures and Breega.
- Proven Experience: Founders have angel-invested in successes like Algolia and Cowboy.
- Market Timing: Launched amid growing demand for cross-border startup support.
The Road Ahead
Diaspora Ventures represents a new model for international startup funding—one that combines local expertise with global vision. For French founders eyeing Silicon Valley, this could be the catalyst they’ve been waiting for.
Image Credits: Diaspora Ventures
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