EIC and EuroQuity-Bpifrance host Deep Tech Investor Day in Paris to connect EIC-backed startups with investors
- ›On 7 March 2023 the European Innovation Council and EuroQuity-Bpifrance ran a targeted Deep Tech Investor Day in Paris focused on advanced computing, quantum and semiconductors, and AI and big data.
- ›The event brought together 19 EIC-backed beneficiaries and more than 70 European investors for three pitching sessions and private one-to-one meetings.
- ›Investors and founders praised the efficiency and sector focus of the day but measurable outcomes such as follow-on funding remain to be seen.
- ›The initiative illustrates how public innovation intermediaries seek to bridge deep tech funding gaps but it also highlights limits of single-day matchmaking for capital intensive ventures.
EIC and EuroQuity-Bpifrance Deep Tech Investor Day: what happened in Paris
On 7 March 2023 the European Innovation Council, together with EuroQuity-Bpifrance, staged a Deep Tech Investor Day in Paris. The matchmaking event gathered more than 70 investors from across Europe and 19 EIC-backed companies to present business cases in three focused technology tracks. The goal was to accelerate private financing and partnerships for innovations in advanced computing and electronics, quantum and semiconductor technologies, and artificial intelligence and big data.
Format and scale
The event was structured around three dedicated pitching sessions aligned to the three technology themes. Each session combined panel or jury review and short pitches by participating beneficiaries. In addition to the public pitching slots, organisers scheduled private one-to-one business meetings so that investors and founders could follow up on early conversations. According to organisers, the event convened over 70 European investors and 19 EIC beneficiaries.
Voices from the event
Organisers and participants positioned the day as a practical, sector-targeted matchmaking opportunity. Two jury members who attended offered perspectives on why they participated and on the quality of companies they saw. Rubina Singh, Principal at Octopus Ventures, said she attended to see the startups the EIC had selected and to meet potential co-investors across Europe. Emma Schepers, Senior Investment Associate at Verve Ventures, described the event as a rare, focused convening for deep tech and praised its efficient structure and sustained momentum through the day.
On the beneficiary side, CEO testimonies emphasised the value of concentrated access to investors. Sverre Dale Moen, CEO of sensiBel, said the event would not have been possible for them without EIC partnership and added that the initiative produced several investor meetings. Bodil Holst, CEO of Lace Lithography, reported that the timing matched their fundraising needs and that they made useful contacts with venture funds and other founders.
Why sector-targeted investor days matter for deep tech
Deep tech companies face distinct challenges compared with consumer software startups. They are typically more capital intensive, require longer development cycles, depend on specialised talent and infrastructure, and carry higher technical and regulatory risk. Investors active in deep tech need to evaluate hardware readiness, IP strength, manufacturability and route to market in addition to business model metrics. That creates a smaller pool of suitable investors and makes targeted matchmaking events valuable when they bring relevant VCs, corporate venture arms and technical angels together in one place.
Organisers and programs explained
| Organizer | Role | What they contributed to the Paris event |
| European Innovation Council | EU innovation funder and accelerator | Selection of EIC-backed beneficiaries and Business Acceleration Services facilitation |
| EuroQuity | Matchmaking platform operated by Bpifrance | Event platform, investor outreach and logistics |
| Bpifrance | French public investment bank and innovation agency | Local organisation support and regional investor network |
A cautious assessment and open questions
Participants described the day as productive and efficient. These subjective assessments matter but they do not by themselves demonstrate long term impact. Single-day matchmaking can create valuable introductions and speed up early discussions. However closing rounds in capital intensive areas such as quantum and semiconductors usually requires extended technical due diligence, access to pilot and manufacturing facilities, and follow-on capital commitments. Organisers should track conversion metrics such as term sheets issued, investments closed, co-investor commitments and signed partnerships to assess whether the event produced sustained financing outcomes.
Other limitations to watch include selection bias towards companies already visible to the EIC, geographic concentration of investor participation, and variability in investor specialization. Events that aim to alleviate structural funding gaps must be paired with mechanisms to support follow-through. Public intermediaries may need to provide matchmaking continuity, link companies to testbeds and introduce staged public co-investment that encourages private partners to commit.
Practical tips for founders who attend similar investor days
Founders can increase the value of participating in these events by preparing concise technical milestones, clearly stating required funding amounts and use of proceeds, and identifying the type of strategic investor they seek. Make it easy for investors to assess technology readiness and IP position in short follow-up materials. Request direct one-to-one time with investors who are technically aligned and ask organisers for introductions to corporate partners that could provide pilots or testbeds.
Founders should also treat the event as a first step in a longer process. Collect contact details, follow up within a week with tailored information and be prepared to enter deeper technical due diligence. Public programmes can help with introductions but founders remain responsible for converting interest into term sheets.
Next steps and transparency
Organisers announced that a post-event video would be published. More revealing metrics would be a follow-up report that documents concrete outcomes from the Paris day, including numbers of meetings held, investor commitments, and funding rounds that resulted from contacts made. That data would help assess whether targeted investor days are an efficient lever to unlock private capital for deep tech in Europe.
The public information about the event includes background notes on Bpifrance, EuroQuity and the EIC Business Acceleration Services Investor Programme. A standard disclaimer emphasises that the report is intended for knowledge sharing and should not be read as an official view of the European Commission or other organisations.