Valeureux Raises Millions for Science: French Investment Fund’s Unique Approach
For three years, the Valeureux investment fund, based in Tours, has made it its mission to finance science-based projects, very early in their growth. It notably participated financially in the development of Guillaume Brachet’s treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
You might imagine them on the other side of the Atlantic or in Paris. Yet, did you know that an investment fund has been based in Tours for three years? The Valeureux fund is also almost unique in France because it specializes in a very particular niche, that of Early Deep Tech.
For the translation, the founder of Valeureux, Philippe Nussbaumer, takes care of it. “Early to say early and then deep tech for the notion of disruptive technology.” Nothing to do with real estate or retirement homes. In short, Valeureux invests in companies based on science, whether in the field of health, climate or industry.
A risky bet each time
Companies that, moreover, are at the very beginning of their development. “We financed, such as, ClearDrop which cleans solar panels without water and without contact. At the time we started…
## Funding Early-Stage Projects: The Challenge of Initial Capital
The text highlights the difficulty of securing initial funding for projects, specifically noting that obtaining the first €100,000 is often the most challenging hurdle. This sentiment is echoed by many entrepreneurs and investors. Securing seed funding remains a significant obstacle for startups and innovative ventures.Enterprise Capital reports that while seed funding activity has fluctuated, the initial stages remain competitive.
## Valeureux and investment in Innovative Projects
Valeureux has participated in funding five projects, including the work of Guillaume Brachet,a researcher at the University of Tours who is developing a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The fund invests between €200,000 and €1 million per project.### Guillaume Brachet and Parkinson’s Disease Research
Guillaume Brachet’s research focuses on innovative approaches to treating parkinson’s disease. The University of Tours has recognized his work with an innovation prize.
## future Investments
Valeureux anticipates funding five to seven additional projects in the near future. The text does not specify the sectors or types of projects targeted for future investment. As of January 9, 2026, ther are no publicly available updates regarding specific projects beyond those already mentioned.