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Holnest
Jean-Michel Aulas founded Holnest after building Cegid into a listed enterprise-software company and turning Olympique Lyonnais into a listed entertainment...
Holnest
Jean-Michel Aulas founded Holnest after building Cegid into a listed enterprise-software company and turning Olympique Lyonnais into a listed entertainment group that owns its stadium. The office remains 100 percent owned by the Aulas family and operates from Lyon. Holnest allocates across venture, growth equity, real estate and sports holdings. It participates in direct co-investments and SPVs rather than fund commitments. Confirmed holdings include stakes tied to LDLC Arena and Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu. Activity spans France and wider Europe with additional exposure noted in South America. The team consists of family member Alexandre Aulas as CEO and long-time associate Patrick Bertrand as COO. No additional offices are disclosed. The firm maintains Club Holnest, a private angel network of approximately twenty members, and supports the Olympique Lyonnais Foundation. Holnest’s structure centers on the family’s operating-company heritage, with Jean-Michel Aulas retaining board roles in European football governance that inform sports-asset decisions.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
2018
Location
Region
Europe
Country
France
City
Lyon
Corporate office
10 rue des Archers, 69002 Lyon, France
Principals
Jean-Michel Aulas
Founder
Alexandre Aulas
CEO
Patrick Bertrand
COO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Holnest?
Alexandre Aulas serves as CEO and Patrick Bertrand serves as COO. Jean-Michel Aulas remains involved in setting investment direction.
How does Holnest source proprietary deal flow?
The firm draws on Jean-Michel Aulas’s network from Cegid and football governance plus the Club Holnest angel network of roughly twenty members.
Is Holnest structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Holnest functions as a single-family office owned entirely by the Aulas family while deploying capital through direct co-investments and SPVs at seed to Series B.
Does Holnest participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The office focuses on direct co-investments and SPVs rather than committing to external funds.
What investment stages does Holnest typically target?
Holnest targets seed, Series A and Series B rounds.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Wealth originates from Jean-Michel Aulas’s founding of Cegid and his ownership of Olympique Lyonnais.
Does Holnest maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The firm supports the Olympique Lyonnais Foundation as a separate philanthropic vehicle.
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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