France’s Time4 VC fund Announces $69M Close to Back Diverse and Rural-based Companies

Time4 VC has reached a $69 million (€50M) first close to support diverse and rural French entrepreneurs often overlooked by traditional venture capital.

This funding is supported by MGEN, Bpifrance, Covéa, BNP Paribas, Christine Kolb, Lenny Vercruysse, and Philippe Oddo (FIDAT Ventures).

The firm aims to expand its support to 200 diverse founders through enhanced mentorship, co-development campuses, and a stronger peer community.

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Time4 VC is Supporting Diverse and Underserved Entrepreneurs

France’s startup ecosystem has grown in leaps and bounds over the last decade, thanks to public support and private investment. However, capital isn’t evenly distributed and often favours familiar faces from elite circles. 

Most venture-backed startups are Paris-based, with founders who come from the same handful of universities. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs from diverse regions, rural areas, and underrepresented backgrounds are often ignored, even though they have great potential. 

Launched in 2025, Time4 is a pre-seed and seed fund alliance that seeks to tackle this issue by finding and funding “atypical” founders all across France. The VC firm is backed by the partnership between Daphni, Les Déterminés, Live for Good (through Entrepreneurs for Good), and HEC Paris.

While Daphni brings VC expertise, Les Déterminés scouts talent on the ground, having worked with over 2,500 entrepreneurs from priority areas. Live for Good accelerates impact with 850+ alumni, nearly half from diverse backgrounds, and HEC Paris leverages its academic network. 

Time4 takes an inclusive approach, investing $139,000 (€100K) to $1,159,000 (€1M) and offering a 24-month tailored acceleration program. The program includes mentoring, operations bootcamps, peer campuses, and VC-Ready prep, all in partnership with JPMorgan Chase. 

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Notably, it’s not just about tech; Time4 supports a broad range of founders. Early investments include startups such as Leviathan Dynamics (deep-tech decarbonization), Wish One (gravel bikes), Flotte (eco-friendly rainwear), and Cominty (enterprise AI OS).

The fund’s strengths lie in hyper-local sourcing, from urban neighborhoods to rural Occitanie, and in a diversity mandate that welcomes founders outside QPV, RSA recipients, and those with disabilities. This alliance also supports safer scaling.

What’s Next on The Horizon 

Samir Matki, who previously worked with Impact Partners and the Occitanie sovereign fund, is currently leading operations. The fund targets a $139 million (€100M) final close, aiming to fund 60 startups and expand the VC Ready program to support 200 diverse founders, prioritizing economic success and social impact. 

It offers a 24-month tailored acceleration program, including mentoring, operations bootcamps, peer campuses, a stronger peer community, and VC-Ready prep, in partnership with JPMorgan Chase. 

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Unlike Paris-centric funds, Time4 uses hyper-local sourcing across urban and rural areas. It has a strong diversity mandate welcoming founders from underrepresented backgrounds, including those outside QPVs, RSA recipients, and people with disabilities. The ultimate goal is to drive international visibility and high-profile exits to inspire the next generation of founders.

Main Image: France’s Time4 VC team