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Demeter Partners
Demea Invest (formerly involving Demeter Investment Managers) is a capital, infrastructure and debt investor focused on agriculture, agri-food, and energy and...
Demeter Partners
Demea Invest (formerly involving Demeter Investment Managers) is a capital, infrastructure and debt investor focused on agriculture, agri-food, and energy and ecological transition. It manages 3 billion euros raised from institutional investors, companies and family offices, and has backed 450 startups, SMEs and projects over more than 20 years. The firm has 70 people of 6 nationalities across Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Düsseldorf, Madrid and Montréal.
General information
Firm type
Generalist
Year founded
2005
Location
Region
Europe
Country
France
City
Paris
Corporate office
Paris, France
Additional offices
Lyon, France · Bordeaux, France · Madrid, Spain · Düsseldorf, Germany · Montreal, Canada
Principals
Stéphane Villecroze
Managing Partner
Sophie Paturle-Guesnerot
Managing Partner
Antoine Troesch
Investment Director
Lionel Cormier
Investment Director
Philippe Detours
Investment Director
Eric Marty
Investment Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Demeter Partners source its deal flow?
Demeter sources deals through its deep sector specialization and geographic footprint. The firm maintains six offices across France, Germany, Spain, and Canada, with partners often embedded in regional cleantech ecosystems — Bordeaux for agritech, Lyon for infrastructure, and Düsseldorf for German industrials. Its 20-year track record in the niche also generates significant inbound from entrepreneurs, research spinouts, and co-investors. Additionally, Demeter participates in French tech transfer networks and industry consortia like The Shift Project.
Does Demeter invest solely in France?
No. While France is its home market, Demeter invests across Europe, notably in Germany and Spain, and has an office in Montreal covering North American opportunities. Portfolio companies include German smart-grid software firm Cuculus and Spanish circular-construction company Construcía. The firm's infrastructure vehicles have also executed cross-border projects, such as stationary storage systems in Germany with Renault and Mitsui & Co.
What is Demeter's track record with infrastructure joint ventures?
The firm has a history of partnering with large corporates on infrastructure SPVs. Notable examples include three lighting-efficiency joint ventures with EDF subsidiary Perfesco, the eborn EV-charging network operated under a public-service contract across 11 French departments, and the Tokay stationary-storage projects co-developed with Renault and The Mobility House in both France and Germany. These structures allow Demeter to underwrite project-level risk while providing institutional investors with exposure to contracted cash flows.
Which investment stages does Demeter Partners avoid?
Demeter explicitly focuses on the environmental transition; it does not invest in generalist software, consumer internet, fintech, or life sciences outside of environmental applications. While it covers seed through infrastructure, it does not engage in public-market strategies or hedge-fund-style trading. The firm also avoids sectors it considers incompatible with a sustainability mandate, such as fossil-fuel extraction or conventional chemicals, as indicated by its portfolio composition.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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